Making a plumb bob on a lathe

[bob starkey]

I would like to ask if you thought about making a plumb bob on a lathe?

I had a nice brass plumb bob at work. I have seen makeshift ones done on in a rush of the moment of need in old tool chest.


Thanks

[Rick Bailey]

Sure,
why not? May be a fun project.
Maybe lame up some nice light and dark wood.
Should be easy to do.
Give it a shot and see how it turn out.:)

[John K Jordan]

Are you thinking of making one from wood or brass? I've turned a lot of brass and aluminum on my wood lathe, mostly with Thompson tools, and it works fine but is slow. Making the whole thing on a wood lathe would take a while.

I might consider making a plumb bob from a heavy wood like cocobolo and just make a brass tip. 360 brass is one of the best types for machining.

334718

JKJ

[bob starkey]

I thought of a wood type body with pewter metal heated to pour in for a tip and add weight. I have not done anything like this but think it could be done.
I have a supply of pewter sold by Track Of The Wolf left over from a project.

[Dale Miner]

I thought of a wood type body with pewter metal heated to pour in for a tip and add weight. I have not done anything like this but think it could be done.
I have a supply of pewter sold by Track Of The Wolf left over from a project.

Pewter is soft and in my opinion too soft for a plumb Bob tip. Brass would be my choice for use and looks (more traditional). Granted, brass can not be cast into a wooden object, but a dense hard wood can be drilled and tapped and a brass bolt screwed in.

[Reed Gray]

I seem to remember plumb bob kits from years ago, but have no idea where. I would go for a brass tip as well. I am old school enough to have used one. Heavier is better, so a wood like lignum vitae or cocobolo would be nice.

robo hippy

[Paul Williams]

A google search for plumb bob images turned up several possibilities. Check out http://www.purelycustom.com/?s=plumb+bob&post_type=product for a good looking brass screw in point. Google also turned up lots of small cylinder plumb bobs that could be embedded in a wood blank to provide the wait and look you want.

[John K Jordan]

Maybe this would help?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&ved=0ahUKEwirw5mxvubLAhUJKx4KHXx5CCkQFggzMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.plumbbobcollectors.info%2Fmed ia%2F%2FDIR_42117%2FDIR_198101%2Fda268e9ad50baf87f fff8021fffffff1.pdf&usg=AFQjCNE8FdExSK_OmE8QL7Eo8Uwp4EsgpA&sig2=_m3GWA_aP9cLVaA_HHvH5w&cad=rja

[allen thunem]

craft supplies did or does have a kit