In this article we will introduce you to the basic rules for making products that you can turn on a lathe with your own hands. Woodturning is an artistic processing of wood, from candlesticks to balusters for flights of stairs. The turning process is quite complex and consists of several components: the choice of workpiece and tool, determining the speed of rotation of the workpiece, turning directly and subsequent finishing. Sometimes the finished product requires varnishing, intermediate polishing and drying. But first, let's choose a template. The rules are simple, the first step is to determine the dimensions of the finished product.
Suppose we need to carve a candlestick. There is a drawing where all dimensions are indicated, length - 45 mm, diameter - 48 mm at the base, and 35 mm - diameter of the top where the candle will be inserted. The workpiece is selected with the calculation - the length is plus 8 cm if your wood lathe is equipped with a cam chuck, and the length is plus 4 cm if the machine spindle is with a faceplate. The thickness of the workpiece should be with a margin of 20 mm, that is, with a given diameter of 48 mm, the workpiece will need a diameter of 68-70 mm.
The type of wood from which you will carve a candlestick is of great importance. The fact is that turning wood is possible only when using hard varieties. Conifers are categorically not suitable, you can immediately forget about them. They lend themselves well to turning: beech, ash, pear, apple, cherry, oak, hornbeam, walnut and others of about the same hardness. In addition to hardness, the texture of the material matters. Wood turning works give good results if the wood is beautiful. Solid varieties in the finished product will not look. For example, beech, hornbeam and pear have a texture with a slightly pronounced pattern, while ash, apple and walnut, on the contrary, have a very interesting, bright pattern, especially on a transverse and diagonal cut.
But the texture of an adult white acacia tree is especially beautiful, the pattern in divorces resembles the famous malachite stone, besides, acacia wood is also green. Some Arfrican varieties have good textural appeal. For example, the padduk is a true brick red color, the Kewazingo variety has a dark chocolate hue, and the makore wood is the color of coffee with milk. The most noble colors of rosewood wood, it is difficult to convey this texture in words. Wood turning is possible on any hard material, and the choice of wood is entirely up to you.
We install our workpiece in the machine, clamp one end into the cams, and support the other end with the center of the tailstock. The center can be rotating or stationary, in any case, its spout will reliably support the future candlestick. But still, it is necessary to tighten the back gauge from time to time, not forgetting that turning woodwork at home requires increased attention and accuracy so that the workpiece does not accidentally fly out of the machine. Next, select the rotation speed. For turning a product with a diameter of 38 mm, the spindle speed of 350 - 450 rpm will be optimal. For grinding and polishing the product, the speed will need to be approximately doubled.
First, you need to grind the workpiece along its entire length so as to level its surface and get the right smooth cylinder. A flawless, flat surface is needed for marking. All dimensions from the drawing are transferred to the surface of the workpiece. To do this, we measure all the indicated lengths and apply marks with a pencil. Then we start the machine and put a pencil on the rotating part at the marked points, we get smooth circular borders. After this operation, you can start turning the product. But at the same time, it is necessary to constantly monitor the process, it is better to measure it again so as not to make mistakes in the calculations. Turning woodwork is a fascinating and creative business, with the right approach it can be a lot of fun.
