In this article we will introduce you to the basic rules for the manufacture of products that you can do with your own hands on a lathe. Turning woodwork is an artistic processing of wood, ranging from candlesticks to balusters for flights of stairs. The turning process is quite complex and consists of several components: selecting the workpiece and tool, determining the speed of rotation of the workpiece, directly turning and subsequent finishing. Sometimes the finished product requires varnishing, intermediate polishing and drying. But first, select the workpiece. The rules are simple, the first thing is to determine the dimensions of the product in its finished form.
Suppose we need to grind a candlestick. There is a drawing where all dimensions are indicated, length - 45 mm, diameter - 48 mm at the base, and 35 mm - the diameter of the top where the candle will be inserted. The workpiece is selected with a calculation - the length is plus 8 cm if your wood lathe is equipped with a cam chuck, and the length is plus 4 cm if the machine spindle with a face plate. The thickness of the workpiece should be with a margin of 20 mm, that is, for a given diameter of 48 mm, the workpiece will need a diameter of 68-70 mm.
Of great importance is the
type of wood from which you will grind a candlestick. The fact is that turning wood is possible only when using hard varieties. Conifers categorically do not fit, you can immediately forget about them. They lend themselves well to turning: beech, ash, pear, apple tree, cherry, oak, hornbeam, walnut and others of about the same hardness. In addition to hardness, the texture of the material matters. Wood turning works give good results if the wood is beautiful. Solid grades in the finished product will not look. For example, beech, hornbeam and pear have a texture with a slightly pronounced pattern, and ash, apple and walnut, on the contrary, differ in a very interesting, bright pattern, especially in the transverse and diagonal sections.
But the texture of an adult white acacia tree is especially beautiful, the pattern in the stains resembles the famous malachite stone, besides the acacia wood is also green. Some African varieties have good texture appeal. For example, a padduk of real red-brick color, the Kevazingo variety has a dark chocolate shade, and the wood is coffee-colored milk with milk. The most noble coloring of the rosewood wood, in words this texture is difficult to convey. Woodworking is possible on any solid material, and the choice of wood is entirely yours.
We install our workpiece in the machine, one end is clamped in the cams, and the other end is propped up by the center of the tailstock. The center can be rotating or motionless, in any case, its nose will reliably support the future candlestick. But still it is necessary to tighten the back gauge from time to time, not forgetting that turning woodwork at home requires increased attention and accuracy so that the workpiece does not accidentally fly out of the machine. Next, select the rotation speed. For turning a product with a diameter of 38 mm, the optimal spindle speed is 350 - 450 rpm. For grinding and polishing the product, the speed will need to be increased approximately twice.
First you need to grind the workpiece along its entire length so as to level its surface and get the right smooth cylinder. A flawless, even surface is needed for marking. All dimensions from the drawing are transferred to the surface of the workpiece. To do this, measure out all the indicated lengths and apply marks with a pencil. Then we start the machine and on a rotating part we apply a pencil at the marked points, we get smooth circular borders. After this operation, you can begin to grind the product. But at the same time, it is necessary to constantly monitor the process, it is better to measure once again, so as not to err in the calculations. Turning woodwork is a fascinating and creative affair, with the right approach it can bring a lot of pleasure.