Woodturning how safe

[fizzy]

The only time I ever used a woodturning lathe was when I was about 12 in school. Wouldn't let us near a metal turning lathe - only wood.
I was pretty good at it and enjoyed using them.
Now the the thought of it fills me with dread - how can it be safe to hold a sharp chisel by hand and stick it into a fast spinning thing

I quite fancy having a go again though - is it as dodgy as it looks? Metal turning lathes are bad enough.

 

[h-dom]

Not a woodturner but I have a wood turning lathe and have used it a few times. As long as you use the rest and don't jam the chisel in then it's fine, you're really just running the chisel along the wood rather than sticking it in.

 

[My Old Landy]

It is a great hobby, I have always found it very relaxing. Lots of things to make

 

[DAPPH]

The only time I ever used a woodturning lathe was when I was about 12 in school. Wouldn't let us near a metal turning lathe - only wood.
I was pretty good at it and enjoyed using them.
Now the the thought of it fills me with dread - how can it be safe to hold a sharp chisel by hand and stick it into a fast spinning thing

I quite fancy having a go again though - is it as dodgy as it looks? Metal turning lathes are bad enough.

I'm using that antique metal working lath I have in my mancupboard Fizzy . Plenty of WD 40 on on the ways and in cozy places ... any dust soon makes it easy to hand brush or vacuum it off so there is no reason not to use the lathe .

The cutting tools being so restrained and able to move in minute increments ...... there is no worry about long handled chisels , stumbling forward with the chisel in your hands onto the piece being turned or having your hands close to rotating wood . You need to have the spindle sped down between 450 & 650 rpm and have sharp cutters or a round nosed insert striper on most woods and perhaps up the speed when using sand paper or wet & dry to burnish to a high spec .

That pen I gave you , was made on my lathe . Now I've got a bit of experience I can turn very soft stabilized spalted beech down to 1.8 mm bigger diameter than the guts of the pens & clutch pencils . I couldn't do that on a wood lathe with long handled chisels .

 

[Lazurus]

Its all down to like everything else experience and good technique

 

[cocker]

Wood turning seems wrong , sticking your hands in there with fast spinning things but it's all about technique .
Proper absorbing hobby once you get going !
First purchase really needs to be a good face shield and some good dust protection . I use a trend air shield pro , a bit spendy but you'll end up getting something similar if you stick at it .
The first few "flyers" will make you pucker up a bit ! !

 

[mike os]

Very … comparatively… they generally won’t kill you unless you are stupid

 

[JimmyS]

I've got my father's old wood lathe. I don't do much turning as never get time but quite enjoy it. Had a few things flying but generally only with the skew chisel, which was a bit unnerving.

 

[frank horton]

I will teach my wife as she desperatley wants to turn....
I have a vari speed Poolewood and a monster Wadkin RS......
for outside turning, as for tools cutting the wood the gap between wood and rest should be very small so the only leverage is also very small.....
what gets a bit scary is if u are hollowing out a big deep bowl / vase BUT u WONT be doing that yet....
there are wood turning clubs all over the UK......so join up and learn or better yet get a 1 to 1x2 day course with an expert......
PS I plan to turn wood items at least a meter across with a starting weight of around 1 ton.....
but as a beginer u'll stay clear of that stuff.....
it's great fun all the same.....
PS if u buy a lathe get something decent ...£800 - 1000 will get u a solid cast iron Brit built lathe......
Dont bother with the likes of Axminster and their Chinese copy machines....
get a used one from someones estate and with it u'll get tooling and prob a load of wood blanks......
machines are at a premium right now, I'd be getting a UNION graduate or jubilee...solid machines and u will always get ur money back, even in a couple of years....
On ebay right now theres a Myford ML7 starting at 100 but it'll reach about 400 I guess but it has tools....
make sure u get something with chucks...many dif types and makes but a new one depending on thread size can start around £200....

 

[Lazurus]

I've got my father's old wood lathe. I don't do much turning as never get time but quite enjoy it. Had a few things flying but generally only with the skew chisel, which was a bit unnerving.

That is definitely the hardest tool to master, and it does bite!!!! For those who don't have the time to master traditional tools some of the newer carbide tools are supposed to give decent results

 

[h-dom]

I will teach my wife as she desperatley wants to turn....
I have a vari speed Poolewood and a monster Wadkin RS......
for outside turning, as for tools cutting the wood the gap between wood and rest should be very small so the only leverage is also very small.....
what gets a bit scary is if u are hollowing out a big deep bowl / vase BUT u WONT be doing that yet....
there are wood turning clubs all over the UK......so join up and learn or better yet get a 1 to 1x2 day course with an expert......
PS I plan to turn wood items at least a meter across with a starting weight of around 1 ton.....
but as a beginer u'll stay clear of that stuff.....
it's great fun all the same.....
PS if u buy a lathe get something decent ...£800 - 1000 will get u a solid cast iron Brit built lathe......
Dont bother with the likes of Axminster and their Chinese copy machines....
get a used one from someones estate and with it u'll get tooling and prob a load of wood blanks......
machines are at a premium right now, I'd be getting a UNION graduate or jubilee...solid machines and u will always get ur money back, even in a couple of years....
On ebay right now theres a Myford ML7 starting at 100 but it'll reach about 400 I guess but it has tools....
make sure u get something with chucks...many dif types and makes but a new one depending on thread size can start around £200....

I've got a myford ml8, wouldn't say it's the best machine but it's fine for what I do, handles and the like

 

[cocker]

That is definitely the hardest tool to master, and it does bite!!!! For those who don't have the time to master traditional tools some of the newer carbide tools are supposed to give decent results

I only use carbide tipped tools now , except for parting/grooves .
The constant grinding/touching up thing soon becomes a bit of a chore !

 

[mike os]

I only use carbide tipped tools now , except for parting/grooves .
The constant grinding/touching up thing soon becomes a bit of a chore !

How’s the finish?

 

[cocker]

How’s the finish?

The finish is not too bad , faster seems to be better .
I try to keep the speed at one below scary !

 

[Gareth J]

Make yourself a pole lathe? Much safer

 

[bourbon]

that's not me, that's Mike our wood turner

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

As with any tool. It's the tool using it that makes it dangerous.

 

[grim_d]

View attachment 359803that's not me, that's Mike our wood turner

I get that it's probably supposed to be "ye olde wood turning" but Mike really needs some eye protection.

 

[Tangledfeet]

Sharp tools, find the bevel and use it for support - very satisfying, especially on green wood and the ribbon shoots over your shoulder!

 

[bourbon]

I get that it's probably supposed to be "ye olde wood turning" but Mike really needs some eye protection.

our blacksmith really needs Full PPE as well, steel toe capped boots, eye protection, ear defenders as well, if we are being really safe. I must have a full face screen and also boots with a leather flap over them because I use Molten metal. Best be extra safe and give our cooks full aprons and maybe a cute tall hat as well. Oh and make sure that the kids on the show don't get anywhere near anything remotely dangerous. Get real. our group is one of the most respected living history group in the country,. We are also adults and every activity is carefully thought out. And supported by 20 pages of RAMS, thank you for your input.