A wood lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation. A wood lathe may have a stand which sits on the floor and elevates the lathe bed to a working height. Some lathes are small and sit on a workbench or table. Almost all lathes have a bed a horizontal beam. An exception is woodturning lathes designed for turning large bowls, which in its basic configuration is little more than a very large floor-standing headstock.
Wood turning can be a satisfying and addictive experience, it is in itself a complete unit capable of producing finished work. You can duplicate parts to repair chairs, dig into a burl to make a bowl or make your own custom candle sticks. Wood lathes come in many sizes, from small pen lathes to huge bowl turning machines.
Picking the right wood lathe can only be done by knowing exactly what you want it to do, and know what each type of lathe can do. Generally speaking, the more speeds the better. If you are turning large diameter stock or roughing out you need to use a slower speed and the smaller the diameter and as you finish the piece, the faster you can go. Some variable speed models can go from zero upwards.
With proper technique and practice you can make some remarkable pieces on a wood lathe. The wood lathe will allow you to complete a piece in a few hours. A wood lathe is a tool that turns wood to be cut or grooved with chisels. Using a lathe is a mixture of common sense, craftsmanship and knowing the machine.
Building a lathe from scratch is a complex and sometimes frustrating task. In hindsight, I believe that a good second hand propriety built machine can prove more satisfactory. However, I can give the sum of my experiences in producing a unit which is versatile and capable of producing high quality work.
Creating a wood
project requires certain tools to perfectly cut, drill, carve, or shape
the wood. So that you can efficiently produce a well-made wood product,
your tools must be sharped and maintained at all times. There are 11
basic woodturning tools used in wood working: roughing gouge, spindle
gouge, bowl gouge, skew chisel, parting tool, hallowing tool, scraper,
bowl saver, auger, chatter tool, and wire.
Woodworkers will be amazed at the complex operations that are possible using the tools they already have by using the tools and accessories. Will be able to make spiral cuts and turn spindles using their table saw, turn their drill press into a lathe, and turn their router into a duplicator.
