TOOL REST POSITION
Mount the tool rest in place about 1/8" away from the work and 1/8" above the workpiece centerline (Fig. A7.) This position may be varied to suit the workpiece and the operator. Place a guide mark on the tool rest shank as an aid to quick and accurate resetting.
Fig. A8
ROUGHING A CYLINDER
Fig. A7
Fig. A9
Use the large gouge in the first turning operation to smooth the sharp corners of the workpiece. Run the lathe at low speed and hold the gouge in the manner shown in Fig. A8. Start the cut about 2" from the tailstock end and continue to the end of the tailstock. Make the second pass beginning about 2" or 3" to the left of the first cut. Advance again toward the tailstock, and merge with the previous cut. Toward the end of the live center, roll the gouge in the opposite direction (Fig. A9) to carry the final cut off the live center end of the workpiece. Do not make the roughing cut in one continuous movement. This action would tear long slivers from the corners of the workpiece. Neither should you start the cut directly at the end of the stock. You can safely carry the cut from the center of the stock toward and off either end once the first roughing cuts have been made.
The position of the gouge involves two or three important angles. (1) You can advance the tool along the workpiece either from right to left or from left to right. Left to right (from headstock to tailstock) is preferred since this action throws chips away from you. (2) Roll the gouge over slightly in the same direction as you advance the cut. (3) Hold the tool well up on the workpiece, with the bevel or grind tangent to the revolving surface (Fig. A10).
This position will give a clean shearing cut. When pushed straight into the workpiece (Fig. A10), the gouge has a scraping action, (normally a poor practice in spindle turning). Continue the roughing cut until the workpiece approaches 1/8" of the required diameter. Once you have a cylindrical form, you can change your turning speed to the second or third speed setting.
NOTE: Continue to move the tool rest inward toward the workpiece | Fig. A10 |
to keep a safe distance between the two. |
POSITION OF THE HANDS
Hold the tool handle in a natural position. This hand position provides leverage for the tool by moving the chisel in or out. The position of the tool rest hand is a matter of individual preference, rather than a “set” or “proper” position. However, a
Fig. A11
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