Complete Newbie with VERY basic questions

[John Marron]

So, I attempted my first turning yesterday, but was stymkied before I even got started!

I had purchased a few cheap bowl blanks from an online source to practice on, since I don't have access to a chainsaw yet. I also decided (based on some advice here) to just mount the blanks to the lathe faceplate. That's where the problem came in. The wood I have is too hard to screw onto the faceplate manually, but every time I tried to screw them on with my drill, the screws broke off in the blank before they were tight. I ruined two blanks this way (I'm assuming its not safe to turn the blank with pieces of metal screws in them...) I was using #8 1.5" wood screws. I watched some more videos, and I think I'm doing what I'm supposed to, but don't want to ruin more blanks. In one video I watched, the turner said she used sheet metal screws. Are these stronger? Is that the solution - to use stronger screws?

I may have to look into a screw chuck at this point.

I'm dissapointed, but undaunyted!

Also, I got a lead on a local wood worker's group that offers a turning class, but not until April. I'm also looking for someone local who wouldn't mind doing a little mentoring.

John

[Dennis Ford]

I am not sure how big of blank you are working with but 1-1/2" screws are pretty long. I usually use #10 x 1" sheet metal screws with a face-plate. With my face-plates, that puts the screws about 5/8" into the wood. I sometimes drill pilot holes for hardwood if it is dry. Note: 1" screws are NOT long enough if put into end grain.

[Keith Buxton]

john there is a local woodturning group near you here is a link to their web site http://www.alabamawoodturners.com/ looks like they meet the 2nd Saturday of the month this ill be a great place to get a lot of help

also pre drill the holes in your wood to put the screws in easier

[David Castonguay]

Hi! I am also a new turner and I can echo the comments above.

* My local club is 2.5 hours away and meetings have not fallen on open days in my calendar, but the one meeting attended was a revelation. There is nothing like turning with an expert standing at your shoulder.

Youtube became a substitute and my wife jokes during the evening as we sit by the fire that "I am watching wood turning porn again." You will quickly identify with turners like Robo Hippy or Sam Angelo, Peace, Havens, Lyle Jamison, etc...... and binge watch the videos that illustrate issues that come up.

Have NO FEAR to experiment, but turn with CAUTION.....Face shield!!! Dust mask when sanding!! Stand out of the line of fire!! Cultivate a heightened sense of hearing and touch....the sounds of the wood being sliced and feedback we feel through the tools have taught me a lot about when things are going well and when things are about to be FUBAR!

Learn different ways to safely attach bowl blanks: face plate, wood screw, scroll chuck (spigot or recess) and multiple ways to reverse the bowl: donut chuck, cole jaws, jam and friction drive.

Identify a cheap wood source. Neighbors cutting trees, local orchards, town workers trimming trees for power lines. I'm lucky, I split about 8 cords of wood each year for out 1773 farmhouse and so I get to experiment without any gnawing sense of guilt that I am screwing up an expensive piece of wood.

This is an enormously fun art form....it can also be frustrating, so when something goes awry, take a step back, breathe and try again the next day.

I turned my 16th bowl today: 10" diameter, 8" tall, Flame grain white birch from the wood pile. ENJOY the JOURNEY!Op. 2, no.1.jpg

David

[Alex Zeller]

You will want to drill a pilot hole. Beside being easier to screw into the wood is much less likely to split with a pilot hole. I use #12 screws that are an inch long because they are the largest that fit through the holes on my face plate. I can't say what size bit I use but it's pretty small and I only go about 3/4" of an inch into the wood. I also like the #12 screws because they have a #3 philips head. If you have a saw I would go to the lumber yard and buy a 2x6 that's free of knots and cut it up into blanks. Pine will split pretty easy so drill a pilot hole and make sure you are wearing protective clothing. Home Depot often has cut offs in their cull bin for real cheap. If you own a chop saw you can even cut it into an octagon shape. Don't worry about looks or technique, you just want to get your feet wet. Being only 1 1/2" thick I would only turn the edge, not the face. Once you feel comfortable being able to secure it to the face plate and turn something from a block to round then I would move on to the blacks you bought.