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Thread: Looking for project ideas combining metal and wood

  1. #1

    Looking for project ideas combining metal and wood

    My Uncle gave me a 1960s era Atlas/Craftsman lathe as a retirement gift. I have it assembled and spent the last several weekends cleaning up rust and getting it back in service.

    It has several chucks, both metal and wood turning centers and tools, and rests for the wood tools. Quite a nice package.

    I'd like to make him a gift with it as appreciation.
    Since I can turn both metal and wood I'm trying to come up with ideas.

    I'm thinking of things like a wooden vase with a turned metal base or a lip on the mouth, or a cup, or capped box or something similar. I have a lot of maple on my property and will probably down one for the wood to make it more "personal". Aluminum or steel for the metal parts.

    Just was wondering if you all might have some ideas. Photos would be great, tough to find the correct search words.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    NE OH
    Posts
    2,615
    If he's a wine drinker....woodcraft sells a wine stopper kit that combines metal and wood. You could turn the metal part yourself instead of buying the kit. Chrome plating might be an issue though.
    --I had my patience tested. I'm negative--

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    E TN, near Knoxville
    Posts
    12,298
    An Atlas metal cutting lathe is excellent, especially one with the things for wood turning.

    I can thing of a zillion things but to start simple, how about some tool handles with metal inserts. I've made a bunch of these:

    Handle_adpater_brass_01.jpg handle_adapters.jpg

    These are easier with my metal lathe but I have even turned aluminum, brass, and steel on the wood lathe with standard woodturning tools. This takes longer but allows some free-form for creative expression. (Sorry, I don't have good pictures of just the metal turnings.)

    aluminum_brass_plastic_small.jpg

    BTW, if you are not familiar with him, look up some of the hundreds of metalworking videos on youtube by "mrpete222", also known as Tubal Cain. Maybe search youtube with something like "mrpete222 atlas lathe" for specifics on that lathe but other less specific videos on metal turning are worth the time, IMO!

    JKJ

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Caulk View Post
    My Uncle gave me a 1960s era Atlas/Craftsman lathe as a retirement gift. I have it assembled and spent the last several weekends cleaning up rust and getting it back in service.

    It has several chucks, both metal and wood turning centers and tools, and rests for the wood tools. Quite a nice package.

    I'd like to make him a gift with it as appreciation.
    Since I can turn both metal and wood I'm trying to come up with ideas.

    I'm thinking of things like a wooden vase with a turned metal base or a lip on the mouth, or a cup, or capped box or something similar. I have a lot of maple on my property and will probably down one for the wood to make it more "personal". Aluminum or steel for the metal parts.

    Just was wondering if you all might have some ideas. Photos would be great, tough to find the correct search words.

    Thanks

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    2,758
    A yoyo allows for creativity

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Lummi Island, WA
    Posts
    665
    Jeff - check out the work by William Moore - an artist in both wood and metal in Oregon. Beautiful work incorporating both. Great for inspiration.

    Here’s a link to an article on him that was in the AAW Journal: http://aawcontentsource.org/aaw_cs1_...2404p43-45.pdf
    Last edited by Jeffrey J Smith; 01-10-2020 at 6:09 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Youngstown, Oh
    Posts
    204
    Used a piece of copper pipe to make a vase insert in an inside out turning. Made a bushing using Corian to seat it in the top and made the bottom seat small enough to keep the pipe in place. The copper bottom was cut from a copper vase found at the thrift store.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
    I saw a demonstration of a turned bowl with a pewter rim and decorations that were poured from melted pewter ingots and then finish turned. Absolutely gorgeous stuff especially against black walnut or ebony. Unlike most metals, pewter forms can be made of folded cardboard and duct tape wrapped around the bowl. I am sure there are several Youtube videos about the process.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Ottawa, ON Canada
    Posts
    1,468
    I make pens using my Taig micro lathe to turn the metal parts, and a Jet mini for the wood parts.
    Grant
    Ottawa ON

  9. #9
    Thanks for the ideas.

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