Turning Brass on wood lathe?

[jason lambert]

I would like to turn a 1.5" brass rod to have a point on the end. Basically I want to make speaker spikes. Anyhow is this possable on a wood lathe 3520b?

[Dewey Torres]

Creeker Mike Henderson has done this on a Jet to make brass hammers. Check out his website

[jason lambert]

intresting he uses a file, guess that will work thanks for the link.

[Steve Busey]

"Speaker spikes"??? Is that for when the speech goes a little bit long??

[David Walser]

Jason,

Your high speed steel tools are harder than brass and can be used to turn your brass rod. (Many of us use brass or copper plumbing fittings to make a ferule for tool handles. This often requires a small amount of shaping on the lathe.) For what you are trying to do, I'd suggest using one or more of the following:

• Parting tool
• Scraper (preferably something small)
• Hollowing tool (the 1/4" square bits used for hollowing were intended for turning metal on metal lathes)

Keep the speed down and take very light cuts. You'll do fine. I've used an occasional spritz of WD-40 to lubricate the cut, but I'm not sure that helps.

Experience has taught me to cover my lathe and the surrounding area with newspaper or something else to catch the metal filings. Those puppies are sharp and will spread all over the shop quickly if you're not careful.

HTH

[Jerome Hanby]

I use files to turn down the brass coupler I used as a ferrule on my wife's Thompson bowl gouge. It worked pretty well, if you have something to hold it (a chuck I'm guessing), I don't think it would be a problem. Not sure I'd use my "normal" turning tools...

[David Walser]

... Not sure I'd use my "normal" turning tools...

In Alan Lacer's turning videos he demonstrates using "normal" turning tools for turning down a brass ferule, so I'd think it would be considered an acceptable practice. A file will work too, it'll just take (a lot) longer.

I've only turned brass or copper a handful of times. It's not difficult (or I wouldn't have been able to pull it off). Based on my experience, I'd use my parting tool or round nose scrapper to do most if all the shaping and reserve my file for "sanding" any rough edges left by the tool. YMMV.

[Jerome Hanby]

In Alan Lacer's turning videos he demonstrates using "normal" turning tools for turning down a brass ferule, so I'd think it would be considered an acceptable practice. A file will work too, it'll just take (a lot) longer.

I've only turned brass or copper a handful of times. It's not difficult (or I wouldn't have been able to pull it off). Based on my experience, I'd use my parting tool or round nose scrapper to do most if all the shaping and reserve my file for "sanding" any rough edges left by the tool. YMMV.

I may have to pick up some harbor freight chisels next time they have them on sale and give that a try. My filing didn't seem like it took all that long, but I was only dealing with about 3/4 of an inch...

[David Epperson]

Using a file and or sandpaper you can turn just about anything between spinning centers - including steel.

[Allen Neighbors]

I've turned Brass, Copper, and Aluminum on my 1640... Mild steel, too, if you take into account the number of times I've gouged my chuck with a careless trick using a bowl gouge.
Just use a slow speed and take light cuts, as has been said.

[Wyatt Holm]

Everyone else has already said it, it looks like. I would use a scraper or a parting tool. Brass turns okay. I have done steel also, but be sure to use some lubrication, it helps it cut better.
Wyatt

[Phil Thien]

Is there some reason you don't want to buy manufactured spikes?

[M Toupin]

HSS cutters are used for turning steel with a metal lathe. In fact, those 1/4"X1/4" and 3/8"X3/8" cutters most hollowing rigs use ARE metal working cutter blanks. Using your HSS scraper will work fine for turning brass which is relatively soft, just take light cuts.
Mike

[Jeff Nicol]

Brass is very easy to turn, you just need sharpe tools and take light cuts. I made a tool that has a piece of 1/8" carbide round stock in it and use a diamond card to keep it sharpe and I can get hair fine curls to come off with that. I use a small skew that works good too. Then sand it and buff it out. You could rig something up that would work like a crossslide and get the taper set and do it that way. That may be more than you want to try!

Should be no problem,

Jeff