Face plate

[bobby lynn]

Have this piece of 26" spalted hackberry and wondering what type and length of screws that are needed to attach it? Would it be better to use this face plate attached to a 10 or 12 inch round piece of plywood then attach to wood?

Used this 3" face plate on a 23" piece of sycamore with 3" lag bolts last week and it seemed to work okay.

[Robert McGowen]

The 3" lag bolts sound okay, but I personally would use at least a 6" faceplate. That is a lot of force on that little 3" one. The plywood is not a good idea at all. It would surely delaminate from the forces of turning that giant blank.

[Greg Just]

I agree with Robert - at least a 6" faceplate. Also, trim the corners of the blank if you can before you start to turn.

[Dennis Ford]

+1 on using a larger faceplate.

[David E Keller]

I think you're ok with that faceplate and the tailstock. Larger would be better, but I'm guessing if you had a larger one, it would be screwed to that piece of wood. I'd definitely knock the corners off of it before spinning it

[alex carey]

I'm with David, as long as it's between centers that faceplate will due fine, at least until it is fully round. Like everyone said though, knock off the edges as much as you can.

By the looks of it you have the 3520 which means you can't fit that guy between centers so personally I think you'd be better off waiting and getting a bigger faceplate. My suggestion would be the 6" from One way. It's the last largest faceplate your lathe will ever need.

[bobby lynn]

Thanks fellows. I'll have to turn it outboard so I guess I'll have to order a bigger faceplate.

[Ron Bontz]

Hmmm, Wish I had that problem. He shoots! He scores!:)

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree with all. A bigger faceplate of at least 6" and 3" screws should be fine. Post some pic's when done.

[Richard Madison]

Hey Bobby. If it hasn't been said yet, Welcome to the forum.

Hope you will show us that piece when finished. Spalted hack is wonderful stuff.

Where abouts is England, AR? Lost my Arkansas map when I moved from Fayetteville to Texas about 35 years ago.

[Paul Atkins]

Also bandsaw the thing as round as possible!

[bobby lynn]

Richard, England is about 20 miles south of Little Rock.

[Richard Madison]

Thanks Bobby. Agree with others' suggested use of a 6" faceplate and max. number of screws.

[Jim Sebring]

Somewhere in the not-so-distant-past I read that a workpiece should not be more than 4 times the faceplate diameter. Looks like a 6-8 incher is about the right size.