Wood Lathe Induction Process

      by Richard Lawrence 14th July 2023        

• Allowing you to use the lathe safely.

• Allowing you to adjust the lathe and equipment to your needs.

• Not to teach you to be a wood turner.

Risk to yourself and other hackspace members.

• Parts of you or others coming into contact with spinning parts of the lathe.

• Clothing and other items becoming entangled.

• Cutting or stabbing yourself or others with the chisels or other items.

• Parts of the lathe or wood leaving the lathe and hit you or others.

• Dust is the most common and likely risk. Some woods are toxic, mostly exotic timbers Teak, Rosewood, etc. Do not turn Willow, the dust can cause Nasal Cancer.

Risks to the equipment.

• Spinning parts of the lathe contacting fixed parts of the lathe

• Chisels being damaged.

• Do not hit any part of the lathe with a hammer, lots of parts are cast iron and will shatter.

Risks to the wood you are working on.

• Can lead to some of the other risks above.

• It is really your problem and part of the learning process.

      Describe catches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yhkeUP6Mf8

• Clothing, jewellery, hair, shoes, etc.

• Safety equipment.

• Protect eyes and face.

• Protect lungs from dust. Some woods are toxic.

• Protect ears? Depends what you are doing.

• Safe working environment.

• Tools and equipment are in good condition.

• Be Sensible. Start small and practise the simple things first.

• Always spin wood with your left hand before turning on the lathe. This prevents you turning on the lathe with your left hand while you are spinning the wood with your right hand.

• Don’t leave items on the lathe bed while using the lathe. They fall off onto your feet or get caught up in your work.

• Always turn off the lathe when not working on the wood. Especially NEVER leave the lathe spinning unattended.

• Keep the floor you are standing on clear of saw dust and chippings.

• Always put the chuck key back on the wall immediately after use.

• Never adjust the tool rest when the lathe is spinning.

• Always leave plenty of time, rushing leads to accidents.

• Headstock end. Turning and moving headstock.

• Removing chuck. Not normally necessary covered at end of induction.

• Changing jaws. Not normally necessary covered at end of induction.

• Removing taper items.

• Direction control On/Off switch. Running in reverse covered at end of induction.

• Speed control.

• Changing belt positions. Not normally necessary covered at end of induction.

• Banjo.

• Tool rest. To be removed when not being used.

• Tailstock end.

• Removing Spinning Centre and other taper components.

         Mention centre on Spinning Centre can slip back in to unit and how to fix it.           

• Give the lathe a good visual check over.

      Check it is in the Standard Configuration.
      Check clear to turn on.

• Put on safety equipment.

• Turn on and adjust speed.

• Listen and look for any problems.

• Finding the centre.

• Securing the wood.

• Setting up the Tool Rest.

      Set so cutting point is just above centre line.

• Always stand to one side when starting the lathe for the first time and listen and look for any problems.

      Chisels need to be sharp.
      What speed?

• Using Roughing Gouge safely.

      Turning Square to Round.  
      Rubbing the bevel.
      For large blanks cut of corners first. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgRTSXdv0LI

• Using Spindle Gouge safely.

      Spindle turning.
      Using the correct part of chisel. Just off centre avoid using tip.
      Avoid cutting up hill initially.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUo6HrQ5Ey8

• Using Skew Chisel safely.

      I recommend beginners only use it for V cuts.
      Can be used like a plane.

• Using the Parting Tool safely.

      How to avoid tool jamming with deep cuts.        

• Using Scrapers safely.

      Tool rest must be higher.
      Usually only used on bowls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlIlSxn11VM

• Wear a mask and ensure all extraction is turned on. Think about others in the space , especially if sanding toxic woods.

• Different grits and paper types. NEVER use cloth backed sand paper.

• How to sand safely.

      Remove Tool Rest.
      Turn extraction on.
      Consider wearing a mask.
      Sand below work.
      Hold paper lightly.
      Only sand inside with fingers if there is plenty of space, else use paper wrapped round something like a pen.

• NEVER use cloth on the lathe as fibres can become entangled.

• Oils, waxes, sealants.

• Food safe finishes.

      This is a discussion only.

• Mounting wood.

• Safely turning.

• Using Bowl Gouge safely.

Rarely needed.

Used when you want to cut wood on the other side when bowl turning. Consider turning the Head Stock slightly instead.

Sometime used when sanding, but rarely necessary.

      Always ensure any item (normally chuck) that is mounted on drive end of the Lathe is secured as necessary for reverse operation. 
      If not secured they will spin off the Lathe and fly across the room.         

       Always leave the belt on the high speed setting when you have finished using the lathe.         

      Always leave the chuck fitted when you have finished using the lathe.	 

       Always leave the standard jaws in the chuck when you have finished using the lathe. 

• Put everything back on the rack.

• Leaving the Lathe in Standard Configuration.

• Make sure the lathe speed is turned down.

• Clean lathe.

• Clean floor and wall.

      You may need a mask while doing this.

• Oil lathe if required.

• Practice.

      You don’t learn to turn by watching videos.

• Watch videos they will help!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0HLKwomml0