Rob Price
12-18-2011, 8:53 PM
This is from a recent issue of Wood magazine. I had been contemplating a lathe for the past year, I flagged this since they mentioned it was a 'great beginner project.' When I finally bought the lathe I knew I wanted this to be one of my first attempts- mainly because they spelled out how to do it, and they posted a video how to do it as well. I decided to laminate it because I didn't have any stock thick enough and wide enough to make the base out of one piece. I figured, if I have to have glue lines, I might as well try a laminated blank. I didn't appreciate at the time, that doing it this way, meant all my center holes had to be PERFECT since the lines run up the spindle. Oh well, I think it turned out okay. I used African Mahogany, Walnut, and Maple. This was also my first time using General Finishes Woodturner's finish. Assuming it holds up to use, it's my new favorite finish. I didn't even finish on the lathe. I just wiped on thin coats (they dry in less than 5 minutes in my heated basement) sanding in between coats. I worked my way through my micro mesh pads two at a time between coats. The final coat is 'as is.' I haven't rubbed it or buffed it yet, I'm gonna let it cure for a week.
I have another set of blanks glued up- this one is for my mom, the next will be for the wife. I'm going to change a few things on the spindle, I don't like the notch they have at the top, it really can't be seen and it creates a tight spot to clean up the top cove- I had a catch and had a big chunk fly off the top. It glued back on, and since the platter is up there you can't see it, but I'm leaving it out next time, just a gentle flow from the top cove the the bead on the base.
I made the platter on the router, I couldn't get it mounted flat with the spur drive center. I'm thinking next time using the center screw on my chuck, and using the largest set of jaws I have to keep the platter sqaure. Any thoughts?
Thanks for looking!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GfPQ42YeszA/Tu6VaBDdgzI/AAAAAAAABfg/KIU0NwLRJDc/s640/IMG_1311.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bOf9qv33qFE/Tu6VZG7uiaI/AAAAAAAABfY/MKaj2tPWwmw/s640/IMG_1296.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CRZIevOxmx8/Tu6VagbW9aI/AAAAAAAABfo/kYQQKz78l5c/s640/IMG_1312.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4uC0BaLOJlI/Tu6VbY3f-7I/AAAAAAAABfw/4bQdXOs0-Ck/s640/IMG_1316.JPG
I have another set of blanks glued up- this one is for my mom, the next will be for the wife. I'm going to change a few things on the spindle, I don't like the notch they have at the top, it really can't be seen and it creates a tight spot to clean up the top cove- I had a catch and had a big chunk fly off the top. It glued back on, and since the platter is up there you can't see it, but I'm leaving it out next time, just a gentle flow from the top cove the the bead on the base.
I made the platter on the router, I couldn't get it mounted flat with the spur drive center. I'm thinking next time using the center screw on my chuck, and using the largest set of jaws I have to keep the platter sqaure. Any thoughts?
Thanks for looking!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GfPQ42YeszA/Tu6VaBDdgzI/AAAAAAAABfg/KIU0NwLRJDc/s640/IMG_1311.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bOf9qv33qFE/Tu6VZG7uiaI/AAAAAAAABfY/MKaj2tPWwmw/s640/IMG_1296.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CRZIevOxmx8/Tu6VagbW9aI/AAAAAAAABfo/kYQQKz78l5c/s640/IMG_1312.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4uC0BaLOJlI/Tu6VbY3f-7I/AAAAAAAABfw/4bQdXOs0-Ck/s640/IMG_1316.JPG