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 A lathe is a machine tool which spins the workpiece to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation (Wikipedia ). Lathes perform the machining operation known as "turning." While turning, material is removed from a workpiece by rotating it against a tool. Turning is a central production operation in the manufacture of many metal, plastic and wood parts. Lathes can be either manually operated or computer controlled (CNC). Lathes can have many differences, unique features and accessories to facilitate a wide range of jobs.
Wood Lathes
The simplest lathe type is the wood lathe. As the name suggests, it is designed for turning wood. Wood lathes are small machines consisting of a bed, headstock, tailstock and tool rest. Unlike with what is found on a metal-working machine, there are no precision ways since the cutting tools are moved by hand and not by machine power. A steady hand and good skill is needed to control the cutting tool to accurately turn smooth curves and complex contours on the work piece. The spindle is driven by a belt connected to a motor, and speed differentiations are made by manually moving the belt to one of many pulleys mounted to the back of the spindle.
Lathe tools are held by hand against the work, with the support of the tool rest. The tool rest is adjustable and is clamped to the bed at a position that best suites the operation at hand.
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 Wood turning has been and continues to be one of the most popular woodworking methodologies. It's not difficult to learn how but to get good at it can take years and years ... and the results can be outstanding. What I particularly like about woodturning is that you can spend a couple of hours in an evening for example, and actually start and finish the same project. This fact gives many woodworkers the encouragement to start woodturning, and once bitten, many can not resist the thrill of turning for the rest of their lives. |
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 As a novice to wood turning I seem to have had more bad luck than good, but the good news is I am learning as I go along. I acquired some cherry from a neighbor who I shamed into giving me a few pieces which would have otherwise all ended up in the fireplace. The wood was quite green when I got it although it had been cut in the winter when much of the sap had receded into the roots. My fear was that in turning it green it might crack as it dried, so I investigates ways to avoid this.
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Link to purchase the Micro Turning Set & Turning Mandrel and Bushings
Treen is a term used to describe any of a number of small, utilitarian items made from wood. Treen, literally means "from a tree" and can cover anything from carved kitchen ware such as spoons and porringers, to turned boxes and bowls. Though the word has been out of general use for some time, it is returning and is particularly apt for the many small hand turned objects now being made.
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By Alice Weniger's Biographical Page
Monday May 10, 2004
Instructions by Alice Weniger at Alice's Workshop
Making pens is very simple, inexpensive, and doesn't require much time. A great gift any time of the year.
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Woodwork Topics 
