Turning and mortices

[Aragorn]

Hi folks
Forgive my ignorance, but is it safe to turn a piece of wood that has mortices cut into it?
I'm have only moderate experience with woodturning, so thought I'd better check.

Thanks!

 

[Cutting Crew]

Hi Aragorn,

I must admit I have never turned timber having a mortice in it, but, I have turned hundreds of pieces of timber having voids, bits missing, splits, shakes, gaps, holes etc. I suppose these are similar although not as neat as a mortice.

Most of these pieces were mounted on some form of face plate, rarely between centres as I would guess you would turn something with a mortice in it, a chair or table leg for example.

Are you going to turn the area where the mortice has been cut? If you are, use a reasonably high speed on the lathe and more than likely you won't even realise it's there whilst you're turning. A word of warning though, if you are going to sand the piece on the lathe take extra care when working near the area with the mortice.

CC

 

[Aragorn]

Thanks CC
I will be turning the morticed area, so it's reassuring to know I'll barely notice. As for sanding - I thought that might be the dodgey bit. I'll take care.

 

[Anonymous]

You should have no problem turning pieces with small mortices in, but you might get some vibration if the mortice is big and offcentre as in a farmhouse table leg for instance. In this case I cut a piece of scrap to fit in the mortice than hold it in place with masking tape while you turn it. has never failed yet!

Turner