First Turning Project

[DavidCBaker]

I've loved woodworking forever, but have always wanted to get a wood lathe. Last year I ordered my dream lathe, a Robust American Beauty. Took months for them to get it to me, but it came and I set it up.

Finished my first turning project on it yesterday and used a cheap Amazon lightbox to get a shot of it. I'll include some steps along the way, too. You experienced turners are likely to see some bad technique, but I'm learning. I coated this one with a rubber finish inside to keep the water out. The outside is three coats of poly and then buffed wax. My wife was happy, but I'm proud.

 

[Trevin]

Enjoy!  That is a VERY nice lathe.
Trevin

 

[DavidCBaker]

Thank you. The lathe is way beyond my abilities.

 

[dltflt]

Beautiful vase. I love the lathe. I alwAys thought i would get one at some point but now i have no room.

 

[CeeJay]

That is a beautiful piece.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Birdhunter]

That’s a darn nice piece. What did you use to hollow it out?

Suggestion.... you need some very serious dust collection.

Suggestion... look at negative rake scrapers. I just started using them. Marvelous tools. If you are interested, I can tell you what I use.

 

[mrFinpgh]

Wow.  Great first turning and great first lathe.

I really hope you had a lot of practice runs or something first.. that turned out way too nice for a first time.  [big grin]

 

[Cheese]

Nice turning...did you know beforehand that the circular spiral grain would present itself in the final product?

What rubber product did you use on the inside?

Nice lathe, never heard of that one before but then I'm more a metal guy.  [smile]

The bed is really interesting and the swing seems to be huge. Curious what the item is on the far RH side of the lathe that's holding the metal pads/blanks?

 

[six-point socket II]

Beautiful!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[RJNeal]

Congratulations on your lathe and first turning.
What a beautiful piece.
Enjoy!
Rick

 

[thudchkr]

The bed is really interesting and the swing seems to be huge. Curious what the item is on the far RH side of the lathe that's holding the metal pads/blanks?

I believe that Robust’s tilt-away tail stock holder. You slide your tail stock onto it and it rotates 90 degrees away from you allowing unrestricted access to the end of the lathe. When you slide the headstock down to that end, makes for much simpler hollowing.

 

[Cheese]

I believe that Robust’s tilt-away tail stock holder. You slide your tail stock onto it and it rotates 90 degrees away from you allowing unrestricted access to the end of the lathe. When you slide the headstock down to that end, makes for much simpler hollowing.

Thanks for that......that's pretty slick.

 

[DavidCBaker]

That’s a darn nice piece. What did you use to hollow it out?

Suggestion.... you need some very serious dust collection.

Suggestion... look at negative rake scrapers. I just started using them. Marvelous tools. If you are interested, I can tell you what I use.

I used Woodpecker's UltraSheer Round Tool, mainly, except for some of the square tool when shaping the sides.

I already have good dust collection: an overhead one, as well as a PowerMatic PM2200.

 

[DavidCBaker]

Wow.  Great first turning and great first lathe.

I really hope you had a lot of practice runs or something first.. that turned out way too nice for a first time.  [big grin]

No practice runs. Just watching YouTube videos and reading a few books first. I guess I was lucky.

 

[DavidCBaker]

Nice turning...did you know beforehand that the circular spiral grain would present itself in the final product?

What rubber product did you use on the inside?

Nice lathe, never heard of that one before but then I'm more a metal guy.  [smile]

The bed is really interesting and the swing seems to be huge. Curious what the item is on the far RH side of the lathe that's holding the metal pads/blanks?

No, that grain was a wonderful surprise! When you hold the piece and turn it this way and back, it also seems like a hologram.

Rubber product is Flex Seal Liquid Black. Pour some in and roll it around, and then drain the excess. Easy to use! I taped the rest of the product up to keep it from messing up other parts.

The later poster is correct. It's a marvelous invention, esp. with a gas operated tilt. Can do it with one finger.

 

[Euclid]

Woodturning has never been an area of particular interest to me (although I do admire the products of it), but you appear to be making a very fine job of it, David.

And your beautiful new machine, with that lovely "hewn out of solid stone" look is enough to make me want a lathe!
(Is there a proper name for that kind of finish?)

 

[DavidCBaker]

Woodturning has never been an area of particular interest to me (although I do admire the products of it), but you appear to be making a very fine job of it, David.

And your beautiful new machine, with that lovely "hewn out of solid stone" look is enough to make me want a lathe!
(Is there a proper name for that kind of finish?)

That thing came in an 800lb crate. It was huge. I had to unload it from the freight truck with my big ag tractor and pallet forks. It's a huge hunk of metal!

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Wow - nice first turning. And on a Robust! That's the Festool of lathes.

Few years back I bought a PM 3520B and don't get enough time on it - I keep getting sucked into flat work projects.

Mike