Events Calendar
Turning Tops
Saturday 17 June 2006, 08:00am - 09:30am
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We were seeing double after Ron's class this week on using the Vega Midi-Lathe Duplicator. Seeing how easy it is to set up and use the duplicator may encourage some of our members to order one from SMPT. It is a very useful tool if you plan to make a lot of something on the lathe.
To make the duplicator more efficient Ron added two simple, but very helpful upgrades. Replacing a couple of hex head bolts with star knobs and adding a pair of calibrated spacers enables Ron to remove and re-install the duplicator in seconds. This allows him to do hand work to smooth and/or sand a part with minimal switchover time. Another suggestion from Jim Myrick was to mount the duplicator on the back side of the lathe orienting the cutting tool upside down so that it would cut from the back instead of the front without reversing the rotation of the lathe. Obviously, tools and techniques will always be improved by woodworkers like Ron pushing for faster production.
In the second part of the class Ron demonstrated how he makes his spinning tops. Always looking for a quicker way to get it done, Ron uses an interesting combination of tools and techniques to make top turning a production process. Most interesting was the Veritas Dowel and Tenon Cutter he uses to make the axle dowel that it fits perfectly in a precut hole in the each disc blank. A custom made set of tailstock cups were useful in holding the spindle steady during various phases. Amazingly, Ron can make a top from a pre-made blank in just a few minutes.
Thanks Ron for a very interesting and informative class.
Paul Proffitt - President
To make the duplicator more efficient Ron added two simple, but very helpful upgrades. Replacing a couple of hex head bolts with star knobs and adding a pair of calibrated spacers enables Ron to remove and re-install the duplicator in seconds. This allows him to do hand work to smooth and/or sand a part with minimal switchover time. Another suggestion from Jim Myrick was to mount the duplicator on the back side of the lathe orienting the cutting tool upside down so that it would cut from the back instead of the front without reversing the rotation of the lathe. Obviously, tools and techniques will always be improved by woodworkers like Ron pushing for faster production.
In the second part of the class Ron demonstrated how he makes his spinning tops. Always looking for a quicker way to get it done, Ron uses an interesting combination of tools and techniques to make top turning a production process. Most interesting was the Veritas Dowel and Tenon Cutter he uses to make the axle dowel that it fits perfectly in a precut hole in the each disc blank. A custom made set of tailstock cups were useful in holding the spindle steady during various phases. Amazingly, Ron can make a top from a pre-made blank in just a few minutes.
Thanks Ron for a very interesting and informative class.
Paul Proffitt - President
Location Stone Mountain Power Tool Corporation / Kentec, Lilburn, GA