My Progress

[DaveL]

Well having started down The Slope TM I thought I should keep you all informed on my progress. :roll:
Here are the tools that came with the lathe

I then bought these from Proops

And I have been putting them to good use, nothing fancy but still good fun, two file handles in beech

followed by two in walnut

I then found an oak off cut so here is a smaller one in oak

Then I found the pictures of the screw drivers that some of you have been making, had a little bit of the oak left

And tonight I cut a bit off the lace wood I got from Yandles

Still need to trim the end off that, but I am definitely hooked on this spinney type of thing.

I do need a few more tools and some sanding sealer along with some finer sand paper.

 

[stevebuk]

nice set of handles dave, in fact the 3 tools that came with it, i am still using the same gouge for my pens now.
well done.

 

[CHJ]

Learning to handle those tools well Dave, don't forget your HSS tools will quite happily turn brass for your ferrules if you have some old pipe connectors around.

__________Here's a couple more ideas for you to try. (I use Masonry Nails for the Awls)
_________ _____ _____click on images for larger view

 

[Blister]

Looking good dave , Do you give lessons :wink:

If you get stuck with anything just shout :lol:

Have fun

 

[Woodmagnet]

Dave.

 

[PowerTool]

Nice work,Dave - useful pieces,and a great way of using up leftover timber

Andrew

 

[maltrout512]

Nice work Dave. It's great feeling using something that you have made. Keep up the good turning.

 

[loz]

Walnut handles !! - Your're so posh............

 

[wizer]

Well done Dave. I am so tempted down this slope after watching your journey. I really don't have the room in my shop. I'll want a play if you have a bash next year

 

[DaveL]

Well I had today off work, using up my holiday before the end of the year, spent some time in the shop.
Finished off the lace wood handle that I did last week and turned 2 more walnut handles

And as there have been pictures of mushrooms I thought I would have a go

I did the 2 pine ones first, from a bit from the wood burner pile. The first one has come out like a drawer handle. :roll: But as they say practise makes perfect, still got a way to go but the oak ones from a old fence post and lastly walnut don't look too bad to me.

I have found that Chronos do a slightly cheaper chuck that will fit the headstock spindle so hope Santa will bring me one. [-o<

 

[Paul.J]

Looking good Dave

 

[hpl]

HI Dave,

Looking good there, looks like you are getting a clean finish on the pine, always a sign of the tools cutting well/being used correctly. Nice to see the walnut being used.

Johnny B

 

[wizer]

Dave you're a natural at this.

 

[greggy]

well done dave, i recognise the walnut one,, its a shaggy ink cap :wink:

 

[DaveL]

Thanks for the comments, I do find this great fun.
I have tried turning lots of off cuts and still have a few more types of wood to try.
Johnny the walnut is lovely to turn the finish I can get on it is so nice. 8)
I now have a range of abrasives that go up to 1200, makes a big difference to the finish.
I don't have any sanding sealer, having looked round there appears to be at least 2 if not 3 types, could one of you please give me advice on what I should buy? I want to wax over the top of it, Allen (blister) had some I used on the oak bowl I turn at his place but I cannot remember which type it was. :roll:

 

[Blister]

Thanks for the comments, I do find this great fun.
I have tried turning lots of off cuts and still have a few more types of wood to try.
Johnny the walnut is lovely to turn the finish I can get on it is so nice. 8)
I now have a range of abrasives that go up to 1200, makes a big difference to the finish.
I don't have any sanding sealer, having looked round there appears to be at least 2 if not 3 types, could one of you please give me advice on what I should buy? I want to wax over the top of it, Allen (blister) had some I used on the oak bowl I turn at his place but I cannot remember which type it was. :roll:

Dave , it was std cellulose sanding sealer , its all I ever use , and when dry and de nibbed , wax over the top

:wink:

 

[DaveL]

Well I have just had a sort thought the other stuff that Dave gave me when I picked up the lathe, found a part tin of Chestnut cellulose sanding sealer. So I am all set up on the finishing front.
I cut some walnut blanks and left the glue drying on the brass pen tubes. I will try and turn them tomorrow.

 

[Jenx]

Hi there Dave -- I don't know if this would be 'accepted practice', but I was told to dilute Cellulose sanding sealer 50/50 with cellulose thinners, before applying.
I've been doing so, and it seemed to improve things .. :duno:
( forgive me if thats something 'obvious' that everyone should know as a matter of course... an 'auld heid' told me to do it, when i started out )

 

[TEP]

Mornin' all.

What has not been mentioned is the 'Cellulose Sanding Sealer', in fact any sanding sealer is not a durable finish. Even when finished with wax. Sanding sealer's are what they say on the tin, for sealing the wood pores in preparation for the final finish. If used on their own with just a wax finish it will deteriorate over time, and quite quickly if the item is being handled.

These days I always finish off with a couple of coats of a finishing oil on top of the sealer if I am looking for a satin finish, and a melamine or lacquer finish if I want a gloss finish. All can be waxed if wished when completed.

The idea of 'bashing' the sealer down 50/50 is when it is used on tight hard grained timbers which don't absorb the sealer very well, it stops you building high ridges of sealer when buffing up. It also means you have to put double the coats on a absorbent timber, but I always use 50/50 for ease of application. Also where a lot of people make a mistake is not keeping the thinned sealer stirred, you should always shake the container of thinned sealer before using just to bring up the solids which settle very quickly. Also it should all be sanded off before the next coat, the idea being to fill the grain and pores of the work not to build up a finished coat on the surface.

Also I believe that we should be using a shellac based sealer beneath friction polishes as the friction polish is shellac based. I don't think the cellulose and shellac finishes are really compatible, (although I stand to be corrected on this) and must admit to using cellulose under friction polish myself.

SO I suggest if you wish to have a long lasting finish on your work use something other than a sealer as a final coat.

 

[DaveL]

Well I turned the pen blanks this evening and made a pencil!

I use the sanding sealer, neat as I don't have any thinners, yet.
I then used some Osmo hardwax oil gave a nice matt finish, I am pleased with it.

I think I need to turn the wood down a bit more or shape the ends slightly, but as this was my first attempt I an quite pleased to have a usable pencil and not a selection of spare parts that might be useful some time. :roll: