DeWalt LA200 HOW to Turn Spindles, Centering the Workpiece, Mounting the Workpiece

HOW TO TURN SPINDLES

Spindle turning is turning a workpiece attached to the lathe centers, and is used for chair and table legs, lamp stems, etc. You can use either a scraping or cutting technique for spindles. The cutting technique, by virtue of faster wood removal and a cleaner surface, is the preferred method.

CENTERING THE WORKPIECE

Wood stock for any spindle turning should be approximately square, and the ends should be square with the sides. Two common methods of determining the center are shown in Figs. A2 and A3. In Fig. A2, a distance a little more or a little less than one-half the width of the stock is set off from each of the four sides. The small square set off in the center can then be used in marking the true center. The diagonal method, Fig. A3, consists of drawing lines from corner to corner, with the intersection marking the center of the workpiece.

Fig. A2 Fig. A3

After marking each end, mark the true center with a punch awl or dividers (Fig. A4). If the stock is hardwood, drill the centers to a depth of about 1/8”. Place the spur or live center against one end of the workpiece and strike it with a mallet to seat it (Fig. A5). In hardwood, make a starting seat for the spur center by sawing on the diagonal lines, and drilling a small hole at the intersection. After driving the center, hold the center and the workpiece together and fit both immediately to headstock spindle. If you are not using a ball-bearing center, oil the end of workpiece at the tailstock center. Place the lubricant on the wood either before or after it is put on the lathe. Many turners use beeswax, tallow, or a wax-and-oil mixture as a lubricant. A ball-bearing center is ideal because it eliminates lubricating. If you plan to remove the workpiece from the lathe before completion, make an index mark as a guide for re-centering (Fig. A6). A permanent indexer can be made by grinding off one corner of one of the spurs.

Fig. A4 Fig. A5

MOUNTING THE WORKPIECE

Mount the workpiece by moving the tailstock to a position about 1" or 1-1/2" from the end of the workpiece, and locking it in this position. Advance the tailstock center by turning the feed handle until the center cup makes contact with the workpiece. Do not support the workpiece on the center pin alone. Always have the rim of the center cup imbedded at least 1/8" into the workpiece. Continue to advance the center while slowly rotating the workpiece by hand. After the workpiece becomes difficult to turn, slack off on the feed about one-quarter turn and lock the tailstock spindle.

Fig. A6

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