Duiker
Established Member
Perhaps this is a daft question but if you were turning a spindle and wanted to cut as perfect a semicircle (convex or concave) as possible, how do you do it?
Turning Circles
- Thread starter Duiker
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Taffy Turner
Established Member
The short answer is - practice! :roll:
This is one of the measures of how good a turner really is - by how nearly perfectly semi-circular his/her beads and coves are. (Mine very rarely are by the way!)
Sorby do make a special tool for this, with an interchangaeble end for doing various sizes of coves and beads, but it is a bit expensive for what it is, and being a scraper, doesn't leave a great finish from what I have seen. This results in heavy sanding being required, which half the time ends up spoiling the profile. See here for details of the tool
http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/
Coves are turned using a spindle gouge with a rolling and sweeping motion. Beads can also be done with spinde gouge, but I find them easier to do using a 3/8" beading and parting tool, or even a small skew chisel, although watch out for the dreaded catch!
Have a look here for an enourmous amount of information, including a downloadable beginner's guide to turning.
http://www.turningtools.co.uk/
The guide is here http://www.turningtools.co.uk/wtintro/wtintro.html
Also here for some videos - particularly beads and coves
http://www.turningtools.co.uk/videos/videos.html
I hope that this helps.
Regards
Gary
This is one of the measures of how good a turner really is - by how nearly perfectly semi-circular his/her beads and coves are. (Mine very rarely are by the way!)
Sorby do make a special tool for this, with an interchangaeble end for doing various sizes of coves and beads, but it is a bit expensive for what it is, and being a scraper, doesn't leave a great finish from what I have seen. This results in heavy sanding being required, which half the time ends up spoiling the profile. See here for details of the tool
http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/
Coves are turned using a spindle gouge with a rolling and sweeping motion. Beads can also be done with spinde gouge, but I find them easier to do using a 3/8" beading and parting tool, or even a small skew chisel, although watch out for the dreaded catch!
Have a look here for an enourmous amount of information, including a downloadable beginner's guide to turning.
http://www.turningtools.co.uk/
The guide is here http://www.turningtools.co.uk/wtintro/wtintro.html
Also here for some videos - particularly beads and coves
http://www.turningtools.co.uk/videos/videos.html
I hope that this helps.
Regards
Gary
Duiker
Established Member
Thanks Gary,
I'll check them out and let you know how I get on!
Mick
I'll check them out and let you know how I get on!
Mick
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Mick
just as Gary says... practise makes perfect.
For coves I use a Skewchy type gouge (or whatever suitable tool happens to be in the hand) but whatever you use it's always difficult to get both side to be a mirror image... one side will be easier than the other depending on whether u r right or left handed.
A deftly weilded skew turns a good bead but it's definitely easier with a beading / parting tool.
just as Gary says... practise makes perfect.
For coves I use a Skewchy type gouge (or whatever suitable tool happens to be in the hand) but whatever you use it's always difficult to get both side to be a mirror image... one side will be easier than the other depending on whether u r right or left handed.
A deftly weilded skew turns a good bead but it's definitely easier with a beading / parting tool.
Duiker
Established Member
Hi Guys,
I've had a go with a few bits and pieces and I'm resonably happy with the result. I got what looked like decent results to ma anyway.
I've just received the books I ordered from Amazon as well as arranged a turning course locally. In two weeks I'm going to my first "radius" meeting too! Lets hope all these things can get me started eh?
Cheers for the help and links/advice etc,
Mick
I've had a go with a few bits and pieces and I'm resonably happy with the result. I got what looked like decent results to ma anyway.
I've just received the books I ordered from Amazon as well as arranged a turning course locally. In two weeks I'm going to my first "radius" meeting too! Lets hope all these things can get me started eh?
Cheers for the help and links/advice etc,
Mick
