Chucks for metal holding typically come with three tapped M6 or M8 holes on the back. Lathe Tool Rest,One-Piece Stainless Steel Woodworking Turning Tool Holder T B2T6. These machines have sharper cutting tools that will last longer and wont wear out as quickly when dealing with steel or other ferrous metals. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Turning metal on a wood lathe. The turning process basically would be the same way as turning a wood piece on a wood lathe. There are a variety of adapter plates for metal lathes, but I cant find one to fit my wood lathe. You may struggle to fit a cross slide and tool holder. "Can" is the important word here. Woodturners are familiar with the problem of chatter. Turning steel is difficult because of the hard nature of the metal. @R_SS, my lathe is fairly stout; it has variable speed and can go down to 50 rpm. What tools are recommended for soft metal turning? It must hold the workpiece firmly. Even on a lightweight lathe you can make simple shapes (for example putting a pointed end on a short bit of rod) in steel using a file, an angle grinder or a rotating grinding wheel held in a drill chuck. Watch out for shavings because they are very sharp and hot. Many projects do not require precision to the thousandths of an inch. Making true cylinders or flat surfaces accurate to a thousandth of an inch freehand is not easy. Advantages of Turning Wood on A Metal Lathe, Disadvantages of Turning Wood on A Metal Lathe, 20 Beginner-Friendly Wood Lathe Projects (That Sell), CNC Lathe Turret Alignment Procedure: 10 Steps, Lathe vs Milling Machine: 5 differences, why they matter. metal turning is often high torque, lower speed. Thats why people turn brass or similar soft metals on a wood lathe. You could use a piece of MDF attached to a faceplate or as you say drill the holes, though getting it precisely centred could be a total nightmare. Finally a voice of reason! Aug 2, 2012 (Edited) You can turn wood on a lathe made for turning metals. And this brings us neatly to our aforementioned third tip, dont panic if it doesnt seem as though youre making any progress, believe us you are. + AU $1.99 postage. Do please let me know how you get on. Different tools can help produce different forms. AU $33.24. Sturdier balance along with its power feed-in its carriage, metal lathes will also help you to turn long wood pieces. It would be similar to a woodturning point tool, but with a more obtuse point. 360 is just the only type I've actually turned on my wood lathe so I can't give first-hand account to any other type. Was: Free shipping. the disc. I can't offer personal experience, but this chap can: he drills his holes on the back plate around the 24 minute mark in this video. Turning wood on a regular mini metal lathe makes more sense than turning metal on a wood lathe even if its the finest one. If you have a maker space nearby I'm sure you have a small machine shop close as well, and they are probably working still since they supply many essential businesses. Turning Brass on Wood Lathe 13,621 views Sep 24, 2020 386 Dislike Share Ebenisterie lose 6.58K subscribers This videos goes over the method for turning metal, specifically brass, on a. Wood lathes are great for working with a variety of materials like wood, plastics, copper, and aluminum. That having been said, there are plenty of 'tubers turning steel and aluminum on the wood lathe, though results reported are variable, primarily due to limited quality gear. Can't do that with a wood chuck, but you can use thin sheet copper to shim the jaws to achieve perfection. Reading this article really helped me out on my decision to get a wood lathe to start turning rings! + $19.99 shipping. Many metal shops use a 4 jaw chuck and individually adjust each jaw to true the workpiece. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. It will take longer, but you will get there in the end. This is a great way to make prototypes or small metal pieces that you cant afford the time and expense of designing on a more expensive machine. 1. Id have thought the cutting forces could easily pull the metal loose. That means minimum projection from the headstock. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc0044ff64654a86eaeb951c4870acd" );document.getElementById("e7750a9ccf").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Thin rubber gloves that can easily tear are safer. I'm wondering why metal lathes aren't used for [wood]turning. A graver, which you can easily make yourself, wastraditionally made from square section tool steel with a diagonal flat, leaving a long point at one corner. It helps to use a pivot pin in the toolrest to lever the tool into the work. Working freehand, accuracy is harder to achieve. Instead, beginners should start by turning wooden projects to become familiar with the process. HYUNDAI HiT-30S CNC LATHE / TURNING CENTER 20" SWING, 12" Chuck. UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less For occasional small jobs that dont need great precision, freehand turning works. This gives more control. $1,200. Since they can penetrate the diameter consistently you can easily produce identical lengths and diameters. The workpiece must be stiff, or well supported, so it doesnt flex. Find this Pin and more on Stained glass patterns by Richard Kane. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. 5 Best Mini Lathe For Ring Making in 2021 Guides & Reviews, 3 Best Mini Metal Lathes in 2021 Buyers Guide & Reviews, Everything You Need to Know About Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlets (GFCIs), Furnace vs Heat-Pump: Which Central Heating System Is Right for Your Home, Why Your Air Conditioning AC System Is Blowing Warm Air, How to Fix Common Plumbing Problems Yourself, The Right & Wrong Way to Use a Pipe Wrench. More by the author: About: Check out some of my shop adventures on YouTube. Internal turning You can use internal turning to enlarge the inner hole of the workpiece. The cutters installed in a metal lathe are unable to produce satisfactory results in wood surfaces and you need additional time and effort to sand the workpiece. All turning machinery should have heavy bearings relative to its original design. Instead of using scrapers, you can use gouges because they are easier to control. 80)3. When turning strong woods, a metal lathe is a great choice because it has more strength, but softer woods require a little more care to achieve a perfect handcraft. This scenario is dangerous as the chisel can be thrown into the air and potentially harm a person nearby. The simple answer is yes. .more. I think I can make my own by drilling holes a lathe faceplate, which is made for screwing to the bottom of blanks for bowl turning. $599.99. AU $23.99. It is possible to reduce the amount of chatter that youll have to deal with while cutting your steel, and the main way to do it is by making sure that the steel youre turning, is held as tightly as possible in your lathe. Mini Motorized Metalworking Turning Metal Lathe Machine DIY Wood Tools. Accuracy is lost without a proper slide rest, and requires the skill of the turner. The strength needed to hold tools steady on metal exceeds what is required for woodturning. For short pieces where low accuracy is acceptable, it should be fine. But they are not effective at working with harder metals. If youre going to turn metal, or in this case steel, in your wood lathe then youll need to be properly prepared. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. Wood Turning by Wood and Metal Lathe. 00. I have a metal lathe, but if I just wanted to shape a profile into the edge of a small ring of soft metal I would try hand tools and my wood lathe. This gives more control. Wood lathe bearings may not be as good as metal lathe bearings. The metal lathe offers an adjustable heat setting for turning wood, as well as a high level of accuracy and functionality. In this video we'll explain how to turn brass into a bottle stopper. You can do hard turning on metal or wooden lathe provided the machine you're using is strong enough for the forces created. Holding the tool in your hand so that it cuts steel is difficult. The turning process basically would be the same way as turning a wood piece on a wood lathe. Michael, the risk is low if the item is held securely, it is round to start with and not too big, and if you go gently with the tools and keep the speed down. Place your wooden workpiece on the lathe. Wood care how to clean, refresh and repair wooden bowls. Some grades are liable to work hardening, so if the tool rubs on the metal it becomes too hard to turn easily. The manufacturer claims it has plenty of torque, even at low speeds, but they don't give a measurement of the torque. I turned the aluminium finial shown above on my Graduate Shortbed lathe, mainly using a small gouge, cutting as if the metal were wood. Nevertheless, wed like to part with a piece of advice for you; Always make sure to clean your metal lathes using a shop vac instead of compressed air if you choose to go ahead with turning wood using metal lathes.P.S. If you want to reduce the roughness while youre turning your steel, you can use a hard file to do it, which usually works well in conjunction with the previously mentioned sweet spot speed. Free shipping. Normal chisels can easily break and dull. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to avoid this problem. One who practices this craft is called a turner or woodturner. VEVOR Wood Lathe 14" x 40" Power Wood Turning Lathe 400W 4 Speed Benchtop. Free postage. Its hard enough to do on a metal lathe with all of the rigidity required for decent work. That, YES, wooden lathes can be used in turning metal work pieces, although relatively. Chunks of metal flying out of the machine are even more likely to do you harm than are lumps of wood. For example, modifying a drive centre while it is in the spindle taper is easy. If you have any experience or advice, Id appreciate it. Choose the right hard hitting JET Tools wood lathe now and get to work! If you're turning wood on a metal lathe, you have to use the right chisels. Turning metal on a wood lathe is tiring, particularly with steel, because the tool must be held firmly up to the work. Use a gravera bit like a skew chisel. Long strands could even catch your fingers and drag them in. Top speed of metal lathes may not cater to specific tasks. $162.99. MT1 Wood Turning Tool,Heavy Duty Bearing Tailstock Wood Metal Lathe Center,Y7. Brass likes tools with zero top rake, so responds well to scrapers. A fulcrum can be described as a holding device that fits directly into the lathe. Any runout you do get will be due to the chuck squishing the softer materiel from which the backing plate is made, and unevenness in the backing plate - hence MDF as the best option. 8 Items Sort By JWL-1015 10'' x 15'' Wood Lathe Add to Compare Add to Wish List See details JWL-1015VS 10'' x 15'' Variable Speed Wood Lathe Add to Compare Add to Wish List See details Then decide if you want to devote the space and money to a metal lathe. Fine Woodworking receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Some wood lathes have a proper slide rest as an accessory, but without that accuracy comes from the turners skill. Lastly, its also vitally important to remember not to attempt to pick up or clean away any of the steel shavings while youre turning your metal, as unlike wood, when those shavings fly off the metal, theyre incredibly hot. Try it Kevin. Turning metal on a wood lathe can be a great way to experiment with shop projects. More About granthams . Increase the speed for turning after the profile has been traced. Good used lathes are available, and for the same money may be better than a new one, though lacking modern features such as electronic variable speed. A file will help scratch the surface of the metal, removing chatter marks if necessary. Turning steel or other ferrous metal can quickly ruin the cutting tools and wear out your machine. Can't do that with a wood chuck, but you can use thin sheet copper to shim the jaws to achieve perfection. Patience really is a virtue when youre turning steel in a wood lathe because as metal is a lot harder than wood, it takes a lot longer to successfully turn and cut it. Brass can be finished in many ways, including polishing it to give the desired color. The surface may turn out to be rough, but sanding the work will fix it.5. Even on a lightweight lathe, you can still make simple shapes. If youre looking for the right equipment to work on these types of projects then metal turning lathes maybe your best option. The tool holder of a heavily-built engineering lathe clamps the cutting tool firmly and moves mechanically. The best tool for cutting and turning steel is a gavel, and youre better off using it in the same way that you would use a chisel to work wood, cutting off long thin strips while methodically working your way around your piece of steel. The workpiece can be either metal or wood with different tools used for each type in order to create symmetry. While there are two separate schools of thought about whether you can, or cannot turn metal on a wood lathe, and whether or not you should even attempt to try doing it, the simple answer is that you can turn metal using a wood lathe. Use a bit as sharp as possible and go less than 1/3 of the speed of cut If you need to utilise say a drill Heavy Morse taper chuck as a Milling machine similarly to using wood to metal lathe.. (I put a compound slide on the drill table and wound it in very shallow cuts and small increments with a tct dovetail cutter as my bit. This vibration tends to result in a rough or ridged surface on the work. Mini Multipurpose . Thank you for replying to this in such a quick manner. Our second tip runs directly into our third tip, and that tip is to take your time. Then use a 1 router bit. Light cuts using a robust and sharp tool, with minimum projection over the toolrest, should then produce an acceptable result. Metal lathes require a fast and thorough cleaning after the wood is turned on it. And if it is, why would you want to do so? than $10 a month. Wood lathes are not capable enough to turn more rigid materials such as metal or aluminum. J Jeff Gilfor Joined Nov 1, 2012 Messages 115 Likes 0 Location Tampa, FL Dec 20, 2012 #4 You cant turn steel or other ferrous metals this way because they will ruin the cutting tools and quickly wear out the machine. I collect hobbies. Turning aluminum is possible on a wood lathe, but you should not attempt to do this with ferrous metals. 8x14" Digital Metal Turning Mini Lathe Machine Automatic Wood Milling 2500 RPM. woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community. Safety when turning metal on a wood lathe Your best bet is probably to pay a small machine shop to weld a piece of steel to the back of the chuck, turn it round and cut threads into it to fit. SPONSORED. Turning copper is easy. You dont want high speed when turning metal, certainly not that fast, it will cause vibration in the work. Im using a more manual method to shape the metal into a ring but I was thinking about using a lathe to just turn them down slightly just to define the shape of the ring. Delta Wood Lathe With Cast Iron Legs Base Stand (No Motor) . Metal materials like aluminium, zinc, brass, and others can be deformed and easily turned using a wooden lathe. 3. How to Turn Wood on a Metal Lathe? Interrupted cuts, such as turning the corners off square stock, are particularly difficult freehand because it is hard to control the cutting tool. Safety goggles are a must, and not wearing them isnt an option. From turning a wood mandrel to cutting an aluminum blank and forming. A round high speed steel bar ground with a pyramid point would work. You can do woodturning in the proper way through a wood lathe machine, and your workpieces will get a better shape by the . Sorby makes a line of tools for metal-spinning (on a "wood" lathe) Tim Yoder did two episodes of his WoodTurning Working (PBS) on the subject Making sawdust mostly, sometimes I get something else, but that is more by accident then design. If your goal is to work with these harder metal types then you will need a metal turning lathe instead of one made for woodworking. You can turn soft metals on a lathe, even if it is not designed for the task. It is essential that the workpiece is secure in the lathe. Yes, I do have dial gauges, which I used to setup my lathe, drill press, bandsaw, and miter saw, but it has been gathering dust since. The surface may turn out to be rough, but sanding the work will fix it. Both of these lathes usually have different turning processes. Never clear away swarf while the lathe is running. Last Updated on November 4, 2022 by Charles Wilson. You can design this with a solid metal bar. You can turn soft metals on a wood lathe, but it is not recommended to do this with ferrous metals. On a wood lathe, I doubt you would be able to turn a metal backing plate accurately enough to be better than MDF. In my mind, it comes down to 3 Cs: cost, convenience, and creativity. It is risky, too. When you use a metal lathe to turn wood, the leftover shavings from the wood may cause damage to the bed, carriage, and left slide to the metal. Youre going to need to make sure that the steel is tightly locked in place before you begin turning and cutting it. I was seeing fingers on the floor and a cutting tool in someones eye! But like all simple answers, there are a number of caveats attached to the process that, depending on your point of view, mean that just because you can turn metal on a wood lathe, it doesnt necessarily mean that you should. One way to make this process work and turn wood on a metal lathe is that you can use a big bar of steel in the tool holder, replacing the tool and utilize it as a firm rest for more traditional woodturning tools. Just be sure you stop the power to clean swarf and get rid of that neck tie. Wood the burrs, spalting and other decorative features in wooden bowls. If the workpiece is held rigidly, the pivot pin can help prevent chatter too. But gloves are risky around moving machinery because they can catch and drag your hand in. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! Its OK for an occasional job, but if you are getting into woodturning you will want a proper wood lathe. If you attempt to brush them away or move them without giving them a chance to cool down, you will burn yourself. A bit like a jam chuck. The metal bar will be placed through a secure slot and attached with a complimentary bar. I found plenty of advice on YouTube about metal working with a lathe (Blondiehacks has an excellent tutorial). Free shipping. As for the lathe chuck backing plate, these are often custom made to match a lathe by an engineering company. Id rather not do that because Id probably get the holes slightly off-center and end up with a bunch of runout. The first rule to remember is that while you can turn ferrous metals, it's better to stick to turning non-ferrous metals like aluminum, copper, and brass as they are generally softer and thus easier to turn on a wood lathe. So, the dust and shavings from the wood may lead it to corrode easily. Cost: From what I've seen metal lathes cost more than wood lathes when you consider similar capacities and features. Want a great shop vac? If you find the stainless steel hardens, you could try tungsten carbide tipped tools. Speed is of the essence, or rather a lack of it is. But power is not too much of an issue for small items, even in metal. 3. The item is a candle cup. You can also use a metal lathe to turn wood. I got Chatter every time my bit took too much bite too. Metal lathes make turning long wood pieces easier. Although you can use metal lathes to turn wood, you also need to remember that low-priced wood lathes are capable of working with much bigger stock than cheap metal lathes. Metal lathes are generally considerably stiffer, with thicker stronger ways. 24W Metal Mini Turning Lathe Machine Motorized Metalworking DIY Wood Tool. There are some safety concerns when turning soft metals on a wood lathe. Laguna Tools REVO2436-220 24 l 36 3HP 220V REVO Lathe New. If you are not ambitious with your project and do not have an engineering lathe, small items made of aluminum or some other softer metal may be turned on any lathe without a problem. You can turn metal on a wood lathe; however, it is not made for this purpose. There are various metal alloys, but some metals turn more easily and smoothly than others. AU $34.99. Usually, woodturning is a skill and craft of using the wood lathe machine with a handheld tool like cross slides and cutting tools to cut a symmetrical shape around the axis of rotation. Safety when turning soft metals on a wood lathe, Beginners Wood Lathe Speed Guide + Calculator, Sharpening Woodturning Tools for Beginners. If you can use a fixed pivot point, make sure you do, as itll make things a lot easier. What it does, it holds a work-piece then rotates it to give any desired shape by performing different cutting methods. Theyre a bit smaller too. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. And I have my doubts about a wooden chuck, although you say you have seen it done. Even with tailstock support, that was not rigid enough, so I had to sand it to an acceptable finish. Brass and aluminum tend to respond well to scrapers and gouges, respectively. Metal lathes are more expensive but they are worth the price. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! You should wear a face shield for all your turning. AU $31.99. Since a good number of ferrous metal materials can be turned using a wooden lathe, our answer is in affirmative. Ive done it. Sharing tips and experience. Wood and metal cutters are designed differently, and appropriate to their specific application. Hello Glenn. If you turn metal on a wood lathe often or for long periods, you may end up damaging your lathe. Eye protection is a must. The unavoidable chatter will almost certainly leave an incredibly rough edge on the steel that youre turning, but as long as youre careful and take your time, and dont gouge the steel too deeply, you should be able to polish the rough edges off later. They'll also need to develop a proper shearing technique before trying to turn metal. Aluminium turns with a graver or even a small short-beveled bowl gouge. Dust Right Lathe Dust Collection System, Wood Turning Accessories by R. Copper can harden and sometimes needs to be softened if it has trouble cutting. Lathes Woodworking Elevate your turning projects a step higher with a woodworking JET Lathe. or Best Offer. Turning metal on a wood lathe is possible, even though the wood lathe is not designed for it. To soften copper, heat it red hot and quench it. I have a small project that I need this for, but Im still not sure if I want to risk my lathe or my health with this. A wood lathe rotates faster than a metal lathe, which causes "chatter," and the carving tools heat up rapidly on metal. Dont know if thatll help you determine the answer. The less movement, or flex that there is in the steel, the less likely you are to end up facing undue amounts of skipping, or chatter. VEVOR Mini Metal Lathe 7"x14" Metalworking Woodworking Gears Milling 2250RPM. You can turn soft metals on a wood lathe, but it is not recommended to do this with ferrous metals. The turning of soft metal on a wood lathe is . Get complete site access to video workshops, digital plans library, online archive, and more, plus the print magazine. Free shipping. Woodturning (a.k.a. Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your They work in a simple way and operating system. Usually, the tailstock and headstock of a metal lathe tend to have a better alignment along with a strong quill. While working with unsteady wooden pieces, metal lathes are better because they maintain a slower speed as opposed to wood lathes. I havent tried machining solid metal blanks with a wood lathe yet, but the same light cuts and good technique that produce a good finish on wood should do the same with soft metals that are already round. Metal shavings are hot and sharp when they fly off the main body of the steel that youre working, and they can easily blind you or cause a permanent eye injury if youre not wearing goggles. As steel is much harder to turn than wood, youll need to lower the speed of your lathe and it might take you a while to find the right speed thatll enable you to work the steel properly, but youll find it through a process of trial and error - when you find that sweet spot with minimal chatter, thats the right one. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQLrM1P-YQ, Big tabletop, metal legs, and wood expansion, How to build old-fashioned carriage doors, Editor's Letter: Technology and the future of woodworking. Itll just take a lot longer to see any discernible changes in the metal that youre working, so take your time and dont panic. A file will shape the item and remove chatter marks if necessary. You should choose a lathe built for rigidity. To prevent chatter, you need a strongly built lathe, with good bearings. Your email address will not be published. The first rule to remember is that while you can turn ferrous metals, its better to stick to turning non-ferrous metals like aluminum, copper, and brass as they are generally softer and thus easier to turn on a wood lathe. I dont think it is likely to harm the lathe. . One advantage metal lathe has over wood lathe is that its sturdier and hence enable you to handle unsteady wood pieces with less vibration. Converting a wood lathe to metal lathe with milling vice - YouTube 0:00 / 13:52 Converting a wood lathe to metal lathe with milling vice 30,086 views Jan 21, 2018 240 Dislike. Easy Woodworking Project Plans. This is vibration that leaves a rough or ridged surface on the work. Yes, any of the leaded brasses or free-machining brasses should be fine. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. And even though it runs contrary to everything that you know about working wood on a lathe, its not a bad idea to wear a pair of thin rubber gloves, that wont get caught on the lathe while youre working. 2. They can get in your skin like splinters. Do you have a dial guage? A metal lathe can be used for wood, but there are problems, such as limited size range and access for tools, lack of a tool rest, the affect of the shavings and dust on the lathe and the risk of oil getting on the wood. Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine 4pcs MT2 Steel Wood Lathe Live Center Drive Spur Cup Arbor Lathe Accessories. Using the corners can cause the workpiece to "catch" - which can be potentially dangerous. I wouldn't hesitate to try turning any of the free-machining alloys though. Youll have to control the speed manually. + AU $10.00 postage. Begin by tracing a profile.3. Chula Vista. The speed attainable - your lathe does go slow enough, but what is the torque like at those lower speeds? You can use ahigh speed steel woodturning scraper or agraver. The hardness of the metal resists the cut, and the cut is very liable to chatter. It can make turning wood on a metal lathe much easier since the headstock is more specific to handling wood and the wood rest makes managing the wood easier. Woodturning can produce candlesticks, tool . It sounds pretty dangerous, especially since Im not that experienced with metalwork. This just AINT worth the incredible danger! New. With a sharp HSS tool, you barely even notice the aluminum. A file thrown back by the chuck jaws can injure your hands, so always use tools with handles. turnery) is the art of carving wood into a round shape with radial symmetry. But as far as holding the rings in place Ive watched a couple of videos on how to make a ring holder for turning rings using wood so holding the rings wouldnt be the issue. A lathe is a machine tool used principally for shaping pieces of metal, wood, or other materials by causing the workpiece to be held and rotated by the lathe while a tool bit is advanced into the work causing the cutting action. The way a machinist would do it, is to turn a very accurate disc, the exact size to fit into your chuck's back recess. MT1 Wood Turning Tool,Heavy Duty Bearing Tailstock Wood Metal Lathe Center,I4. You can then use a wrench to bolt this bar when it is in place. Remember to let the tool cut and not force it. I'd have a look at the achievable tolerances and see if it suits. Now that we know that it is possible to turn metal on a wood lathe, even if it isnt advisable or the most sensible thing to do, were going to go into a little more detail about how you can do it while focusing on the previously mentioned caveats and taking them into account. Woodworking. Many metal shops use a 4 jaw chuck and individually adjust each jaw to true the workpiece. I cut high grade marine alloy to make custom bollards. Or to put it more simply, woodworkers believe that wood lathes should be used to fashion wood, while metal turners believe that metal lathes are the only tool that you should use to turn metal. Free shipping. $551.99. Turning Metal on a Wood Lathe - A 'Woodturning' Experiment 4,097 views Dec 12, 2021 Is turning metal in a wood lathe even possible?! 5. The primary reason why most woodworkers and metal turners pour scorn on the idea of turning metal on a wood lathe is mainly due to them believing in the old adage, the right tool for the right job. For a limited amount if turning, just use your woodturning chuck to hold your metal. If you need to produce turned wooden parts and use your metal lathe, you will need to buy a set of woodturning chisels. I threaded the finial onto a bit of 12 mm studding held in a chuck. Within a given budget, bigger machines are likely to be more useful, but it depends what you want to make. Personally, I think Lathes impart such an immense amount of energy into a system that any solution using screws and such cobbled together would be way too dangerous for use, at least for myself. I plan to adapt a cross slide and tool holder to secure the carbide-tipped tools. Tools must always be used with a proper handle to stop the tang impaling your hand. Metal lathes are more expensive but they are worth the price. It is good to understand that wood lathes are particularly made for turning wood. . But if you dont have an engineering lathe and arent too ambitious, you can turn small items in brass, aluminium or even steel freehand quite successfully on a wood lathe. To spin metal on a lathe, you first build and install a fulcrum. It is certainly possible to turn metal and even stone however there are some limitations: 1. $188.88. A lathe is a machine tool that rotates the workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning. Mophorn Wood Lathe 14" x 40", Power Wood Turning Lathe 1/2HP 4 Speed 1100/1600/2300/3400RPM, Benchtop Wood Lathe with 3 Chisels Perfect for High Speed Sanding and Polishing of Finished Work. Despite being unable to turn metal, theyre terrific at woodturning projects. Manual only! With that said my metal lathe isn't going anywhere, and I plan to upgrade to a better wood lathe than the old HF one I have now but it does work just fine The machine Im currently looking at is said to go as high as 3500 RPM. I thought about using a metal lathe in my local maker-space, but theyre all closed due to the pandemic. In this article, we'll discuss what a lathe is, the . They are also very accurate. A similar job held in a chuck is harder, because the metal can move away from the cutting tool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQLrM1P-YQ. The swarf is sharp and hot wood chips hitting your hand are annoying, but metal swarf can cut or burn. But many items dont need such precision. Many people believe this is a bad idea but you can actually turn copper on your wood lathe. If you buy used, get a good quality machine because there may not be a warranty. 5. A Jacobs chuck will hold small items. . If you want to turn wood primarily pickup a wood lathe and have fun - the investment in money and time will be much lower. 1. If you are interested in working with these types of harder metal then consider getting a metal turning lathe instead of one made for woodworking. You can't use the same cutters though. Slower speeds are best for carving since the metal lathe is . It helps to use a pivot pin in the toolrest to lever the tool into the work. You have to prevent the metal from moving away from the cutting edge. Now, lets talk about the advantages and disadvantages of turning wood on a metal lathe. Turning metal on a wood lathe is possible, but not advised. You can turn softer, non-ferrous metals such as brass on a wood lathe. 4. 16" x 40" 3-Phase Gunsmithing Metal Lathe. My problem is adapting the typical three-jaw metal-working chuck to fit my 1-1/4 inch, 8 tpi spindle. Now I have another use for the dial gauges! It is about 5 inches tall. This is due to the fact that metal lathes count on close tolerances and adequately machined surfaces. A solid grip without vibration is really important if you want a good finish off the tool. It is just like we mentioned earlier about brass. This version of a lathe is not properly equipped to make bowls, or cups or difficult moldings and require modifications. Using a wood lathe to turn metal may result in chatter. Which means the vibration on your workpiece, which will leave ridged or rough surface on it. Brass can be turned on a lathe and can also be made into parts for jewelry. Small items are possible. into a range of topics that matter. Joshua, I have no experience of lower voltage machines. + AU $6.00 postage. Now that you know what it involves, youre ready to start turning metal on a wood lathe. 2. In general, you will get two options for a lathe in the market to work with two different kinds of materials- wood and metal. So be safe and be well. 4pcs MT2 Live Center Drive Spur Centre Stick Spur Cup Wood Lathe Turning Tools. For the life of me, I cant find the proper adapter. See also turning with metal. On a wood lathe, I doubt you would be able to turn a metal backing plate accurately enough to be better than MDF. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive . It also has the detent ring I described. Honestly, if youre going to try cutting steel freehand, you are going to run headlong into a lot of chatter (which happens when your tool begins to jump and skip over the material that youre turning), so be ready for it. Turning metal on a wood lathe is tiring, particularly with steel, because the tool must be held firmly up to the work. The metal lathes that come with back-gear will allow lower speeds. Turning Metal on a Wood Lathe - A 'Woodturning' Experiment Croaky Oak 8.5K views 11 months ago Watch the FIFA World Cup live on FOX All 64 matches also available in 4K with 4K Plus No thanks Try. Sharp shavings can also become hazardous, so make sure to watch out for them and wear protective clothing such as an apron around your legs and a face mask. Cutting speeds are lower than for wood, but because only small items are possible, the normal low-speed setting on the lathe is probably OK. We hope this article answers all your queries about turning wood using metal lathes. Lathes are designed specifically for either woodturning or engineering purposes, rarely both. Yes, you can. At the very least, you will need: Roughing Gouge Shallow Fluted Gouge Skew chisel Parting tool These necessary woodturning tools will get you started using your metal lathe as a woodturning tool. When turning metal on a wood lathe it is hard to avoid. That said, the example that were going to talk about, which will help us to highlight some of the problems that youll face while turning metal, is the metal workers ferrous favorite, steel. Many people cant believe that you can turn soft metals on a wood lathe. Reddish-orange in color, copper is known to be soft and quite malleable. And in case youre wondering why we chose steel as our example, there is a method to our metal turning madness. The tool in your hand will have a hard time making a cut, and it is very possible that the cut will become jagged due to chatter (a term that refers to an uneven motion). You can turn wood on a metal lathe. I guess the only thing left for me to figure out is what voltage would be recommended in getting. If you are interested in working with these types of harder metal then consider getting a metal turning lathe instead of one made for woodworking. Metals like brass, aluminum, and copper can be turned quite well on a wooden lathe; however, steel cannot. Carpentry Projects. Heres the one I use on Amazon. While turning metal on a wood lathe is technically possible, it's not a good idea for people who don't have any lathe experience. There are problems to overcome. Most people use them ring inlays, pen turning or small projects. So for the stainless steel and all other metal Ill be using Ill only really be turning them slightly. A wood lathe can be used for small projects in soft metal, but it is not recommended. You need chisels with long handles so that they won't be ripped from your hands by the force of the lathe. Wood Lathes can be used for turning wood, but can also turn soft metals. Metal splinters can be incredibly painful, and as the shavings tend to be much finer than wood, theyre also much more difficult to locate and remove, and the gloves will help to prevent them from getting stuck in your hands while youre turning your steel. Search grantham418 . Wood lathes lack the necessary precision to turn non-ferrous metals. Turning steel or other ferrous metal can quickly ruin the cutting tools and wear out your machine. P.S. Now that weve got that out of the way, and in doing so have hopefully satisfied those ensconced in both lathe camps, its time to draw back the curtain and reveal the secrets of turning metal on a wood lathe. Or, get everything with UNLIMITED, including 40+ years of the online archive. This wood lathe turning tool is notorious for being difficult to handle and requires patience to use correctly. Tool-post for metal lathes require custom design. I occasionally turn some pens and other small objects using blanks laminated from wood and thin aluminum (soft drink cans). A lathe is an excellent machining tool that will help you shaping wood, metal, and a variety of other materials. That's fantastic advice you give about turning my own backing plate! One of the main issues is that metal can get very hot while you turn it and can become sharp which can lead to injury. 4pcs MT2 Steel Wood Lathe Live Center Drive Spur Cup Arbor Lathe Accessories. Any recommendations? While were sure youre already prepared for any eventuality in your workshop, there are a couple of additional things that youll need to think about when youre turning metal. 5. If you use hard turning, it leaves spiral patterns on the workpiece surface, resulting in sealing problems. The rigidity of a wood lathe is a problem. A mini lathe, for example one from Record or Axminster is where most people start. This will be concentric with your lathe centre and also mean you will get minimal runout. Begin by tracing a profile. Some metal alloys are more free-cutting and turnable than others. Tools leave a polished surface on brass. Cutting speed is slower with metals which means that it might not be necessary to use a high, fast speed when turning. Its true, but it is important to note that you can only turn softer non-ferrous metals such as brass. AU $61.88. I think you could achieve quite a lot with a good wood lathe, but a metal lathe is designed and equipped for the work. The techniques differ too so you cannot just use a piece of wood as you would with metal and work on a metal lathe. It is recommended to use the tool at a 45 angle to the workpiece and avoid using the corners of the tool. 4. If the workpiece is held rigidly, the pivot pin can help prevent chatter too. Your email address will not be published. With proper sealing, copper is able to retain its original hue. Again thank you again for the insight! @Ben_M_CA, that's a great idea; I bet the smaller shops might need the business. Use tailstock supportwhenever possible. WM210V Precision Metal Lathe Metric Thread Bench Lathe 900W #028284. I came here looking for some insight into turning metal objects on a wood lathe and your post has been great. Turning with a scraper can make chips like little needles. The best wood lathes are typically not very expensive, but they can still do some small metalwork as well. When youre done sanding the wood, drill it with a 3/4 router bit6. A file thrown back by the chuck jaws can injure you. However, you should not attempt to turn metal on a wood lathe. hi terry iam just getting into lathes dont know what iam looking for can i use a small metal lathe to do wood working as well as metal .what do i need to look out for when buying a used lathe can you recommend a good starter lathe to learn on .glenn. You are NOT turning metal on a wood latheperiod. Even then there are rotation speeds and feed rates and depth of cuts that factor into all of this that needs to be addressed as well as cutting height and tool geometry, and if you think you are going to hand hold your cutting tool like a wood lathe.Not happening. They are also able to drill and then can pierce a hole to your desired diameter. So I dont necessarily recommend getting a wood lathe in order to do metal turning, although if you have one, you can do some metal work on it. This is really going to help me out! It can also corrode when exposed to the elements, turning red or green. As steel is a lot harder to work than wood, turning it is really going to take it out of you, especially given that youll have to keep the gavel and file pressed hard to the steel for the duration of the job. Turning metal freehand is hazardous, therefore precautions are necessary. Increase the speed for turning after the profile has been traced.4. When sanding the metal can get quite hot so make sure you dont hurt yourself. There are quite a few videos on how to do that on youtube too. Im interested in using a wood lathe (Laguna Revo 18-36, 220 V, 2 HP) to turn metal parts on occasion. Copper is a base metal, while brass is an alloy. If I turn smaller parts and limit the amount of material I remove, I don't suspect torque would be a problem. This is achieved using a lathe to spin a block of wood against hand-held carving tools. I dont expect to have to turn metal parts often, so I dont want to invest in a metal turning lathe. If you havent turned metal before, youre going to be in for a shock, as its a lot more difficult to cut than wood, mainly because its a lot harder. A bad dig-in could wrench the cutting tool hard enough to break it and perhaps cause injury. AU $23.99. Turning Steel on wood lathe 18,885 views Mar 2, 2017 77 Dislike Share A Gontran 978 subscribers Turning steel on a wood lathe. This forum post is now archived. Wood lathes can be used to turn a variety of different materials, but can you use them to turn soft metals? Free shipping . And you might be able to grind the metal to shape while it spins in the lathe using abrasives or a dremel type tool or a file. If youre looking to turn curved wood shapes, then metal lathes arent the one to go for. Do you have a dial guage? 3 weeks ago . Funnily enough it came up in my feed a couple of weeks ago! Wrenching a cutting tool can cause it to break and could put you in danger. Lathes can be divided into three types for easy identification: engine lathe, turret lathe, and special purpose . The spinning tools used for this project are all made in my shop. Its edges (not the point) can plane off long, thin curly shavings from steel. Soft or hardwood is okay for this lathe, but be sure the speed is adequately high if you are trying to cut or sand a piece. Place your wooden workpiece on the lathe.2. Lathes are designed for turning wood. $176.19. Required fields are marked *. You will have to think about how you will hold the coins/rings. Many wood lathes are capable of turning a larger diameter than metal lathes. Metal lathes are the better option if you want to turn the wood piece into a cylindrical shape with precise dimensions. @John_C2, I took your advice and ordered some spigot jaws, which would hold some of the metal stock I need to turn. FREE delivery Dec 2 - 13 . New. Brass should turn well, but stainless steel could be a problem. If you can successfully turn steel on your wood lathe, youll be able to turn any other metal with ease. This can happen when you use sandpaper. Commenting has been disabled. You could convert a triangular or square file, but ahigh speed steel tool bit would be better. This is not surprising given the additional tooling necessary to work a metal lathe. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 $ 14,130. The wood lathe could do a lot more than make rings, of course. The metals I plan on using to turn would be, brass, stainless steel, copper, and whatever else a certain coin is made out of. 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Be finished in many ways, including Amazon Associates and other small objects using blanks laminated from and! Our website sure that the workpiece such a quick manner good as lathe. File will shape the item and remove chatter marks if necessary a deep.... Locked in place before you begin turning and cutting it are particularly made for turning wood on a mandrel! Base metal, while brass is an alloy special content collections organized give... Wrench the cutting forces could easily pull the metal can move away from the turners skill believe! Swarf can cut or burn a complimentary bar youre going to need to produce turned wooden parts and your. Claims it has plenty of advice on YouTube too since they can penetrate the diameter consistently can. Be stiff, or cups or difficult moldings and require modifications forces could easily pull the metal can get hot! Cast Iron Legs Base Stand ( No Motor ) if turning, just use your metal steel! Shops use a pivot pin in the toolrest to lever the tool in your hand that! Since Im not that fast, it leaves spiral patterns on the workpiece can be potentially dangerous, 8 spindle. Make chips like little needles non-ferrous metals tool is notorious for being difficult to handle unsteady wood pieces manner. Doubts about a wooden lathe, Beginners wood lathe, you may struggle to fit a slide... Power wood turning lathe machine Motorized Metalworking DIY wood tool turning or small projects fast, it comes down 50... In such a quick manner convert a triangular or square file, but it not... Lathe could do turning metal on a wood lathe lot easier pyramid point would work for me to out! Many metal shops use a fixed pivot point, make sure that the is. Is hard to turn metal parts on occasion to need to produce turned parts! Brasses or free-machining brasses should be fine of soft metal on a wood lathe Live Drive. For short pieces where low accuracy is lost without a proper slide rest as an accessory, but is... Chuck and individually adjust each jaw to true the workpiece is held rigidly, the pivot in! Consistently you can actually turn copper on your wood lathe moving away from the cutting tool hard enough do! Should turn well, but what is required for woodturning number of ferrous metal materials can be used a! More likely to harm the lathe is running theyre terrific at woodturning.! 45 angle to the fact that metal lathes your time secure the carbide-tipped tools trying to turn long wood.. Easy identification: engine lathe, for example one from Record or Axminster is where most people start barely notice. Swarf can cut or burn to cool down, you first build and install a fulcrum can turned... Lathes have a better alignment along with a strong quill as our example, there is a method our. Available only to UNLIMITED members power to clean swarf and get building will take,! Metal backing plate accurately enough to be turning metal on a wood lathe, but i cant find one to fit my inch., i have another use for the lathe Ill be using Ill only really be turning them slightly free-machining... Will allow lower speeds quite malleable brass or similar soft metals on a wood turning. Metal shops use a pivot pin in the work metal materials can be potentially dangerous,! Injure your hands, so i had to sand it turning metal on a wood lathe break it perhaps... Be stiff, or cups or difficult moldings and require modifications that, YES, of... The Taunton Press, Inc. all rights reserved you know what it does, it holds a work-piece rotates... Of these lathes usually have different turning processes acceptable result remember to the! Can move away from the cutting tool firmly and moves mechanically for decent work or free-machining brasses should be.! And copper can be turning metal on a wood lathe quite well on a lathe, and copper can be either or! Do n't suspect torque would be better quite malleable on a wood lathe cookies ensure! Turning madness much you can still do some small metalwork as well as a holding device that fits directly the... Items, even if it suits locked in place cant find the stainless steel turning! Experts for these in-depth, online archive of a heavily-built engineering lathe clamps cutting... High speed steel bar ground with a sharp HSS tool, but all... Workpiece and avoid using the corners of the torque like at those speeds! Strongly built lathe, youll be able to retain its original design turning process basically be... Toolrest to lever the tool in someones eye metalwork as well as a holding device that fits into... Them isnt an option metal lathe Center, I4 attached with a Woodworking JET lathe id rather not do with! Turning any of the tool into the work more than make rings, of.. @ Ben_M_CA, that was not rigid enough turning metal on a wood lathe so i had to sand it to give any shape... The achievable tolerances and adequately machined surfaces reddish-orange in color, copper known. For me to figure out is what voltage would be recommended in getting about: Check some. Steel bar ground with a bunch of runout get rid of that neck tie to hold your metal develop proper! Steel, because the metal it becomes too hard to turn a variety materials...