I've been turning for four years and I can't imagine turning a set that nice!! I'm very impressed.
I've been turning for four years and I can't imagine turning a set that nice!! I'm very impressed.
Ridiculum Ergo Sum
Ellen if you don't have any problem with doing the above then this is similar but even better. After tuning a 1/2" straight tenon on one end of the blank between centers, remove the spur center and instal a 1/2" draw-bar style collet into your headstock, insert the 1/2" straight tenon into the collet, bring up your tail-stock live center to the blank and tighten until the collet "clamps" the tenon(you don't really need a draw-bar). This will save you from having to try to turn a fitted/tapered tenon. Oh you don't have one of these collets you say? Well, I just happen to have one that I don't use and would be glad to send it to you if you would like to try it. Just PM me with a shipping address.
Edit: the link is only to give you an idea of the device I am talking about.
Last edited by James Combs; 02-22-2012 at 6:39 PM.
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JD at J&J WoodSmithing
Owingsville, Kentucky
"The best things in life are not things."
Ellen, you don't have to worry about filling the hole with a threaded mandrel. Just part it off above where the hole is and you have a solid base to the piece. The skew give you more flexibility and a cleaner cut than a parting tool, and it is easy to make it concave and need no sanding.
Well, I have to eat a little crow and apologize to Ellen Theisen. I had offered her a 1/2" "MT2" collet that I thought I had. Went to get it and it turned out to be MT3. Ellen had PM'd me about the offer and that is when I went to make sure I had it and discovered my mistake. I have already sent her a PM detailing my mistake, however, I have another idea that uses another item I do have. It is an MT2 drill chuck arbor with a 3/8"-24 threaded post. To use it would require drilling and taping the end of the spindle blank for the 3/8"-24 threaded post. Ellen I have an old 3/8"-24 tap that you could have with it. All you would need is to pick up a 21/64" drill bit for the hole. Here are some photos of how it would be used. It would be exactly like using a bottle stopper chuck.
These are the collets I had and forgot that they were MT3(see label)
IMG_3900.JPGIMG_3899.jpg
Not a great photo but the arbor is indicated by the white arrow. Here I am taping a piece of maple scrap to make sure it works.
IMG_3901.jpg
Here is the scrap blank with the arbor screwed into it and mounted on my lathe. The right end of this blank could easily be turned to shape and parted off. The arbor holds the blank securely enough that the tail stock could be pulled away and the end grain finish turned if required.
IMG_3902.JPG
Ellen as I indicated in the PM, let me know and I will send the arbor, the tap and the sample blank for you to try until you get something better. If you get something better like the PSI collet chuck I suggested in the PM you can send these back... or not. Not a big deal. I don't have a use for either the tap or the arbor.
Last edited by James Combs; 02-24-2012 at 8:45 AM.
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JD at J&J WoodSmithing
Owingsville, Kentucky
"The best things in life are not things."
James,
This idea seems good, too. It looks like the arbor just fits into the headstock the way the spur drive does, right? Do you think this would work better than the collet you suggested in your first post? As I mentioned in a previous reply, I'm a bit leery about screwing into end grain. (Also, I see the collet set is half the price of the PSI collect chuck set ) Would the chuck set be more versatile?
I have a 21/64" bit, so I'd be good to go. Since you're not using the arbor and tap, I'd love to try them. I have plenty of scrap wood, so no need to send a blank.
Thanks so much!
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JD at J&J WoodSmithing
Owingsville, Kentucky
"The best things in life are not things."