Ask the Expert
IF YOU HAVE A PRODUCT RELATED QUESTION, PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT US FORM FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS SECTION IS RESERVED FOR GENERAL WOODWORKING RELATED QUESTIONS.
Michael Van Pelt is the founder of American Sycamore Woodworker’s Retreat. He has a reputation as the tool guru. Mike has been in woodworking for over thirty years. His knowledge of tools comes from his many years of intertwining experience in the woodworking industry. Mike’s experiences include being active as an Industrial Arts Teacher, professional instructor of power machinery and tool techniques, tool sales, management and owner of woodworking tool retail store, Delta Machinery representative and technical advisory.
If you have a question for Michael, choose the Submit Question button to the right by November 30th. We will send you a reply with Mike's response in mid-December and then post it to this page for other members to view. You never know...someone else may have the same question
IF YOU HAVE A PRODUCT RELATED QUESTION, PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT US FORM FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS SECTION IS RESERVED FOR GENERAL WOODWORKING RELATED QUESTIONS.
Listed below are questions and answers that have already been submitted.
Questions
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9/24/2009
Carbide Lathe Tools
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I bought some carbide tipped tools for my lathe Skew, parting, gouge... These are so hard I can't seem to get an edge on them like they were when new. Is It better to buy non hardened stuff? I am "Sharpening challenged" so I send these out to be retouched. They never seem to be as sharp as when New. Is this just my imagination or what can you reflect on this subject. |
| A. |
Carbide tipped tools are difficult to sharpen. These tools need to be sharpened with diamond grinding wheels which most of us do not have. My recommendation is to keep them sharp with hand honing tools, so you do not need to use a grinding wheel.
Hunter Tool manufactures indexable carbide turning tools. These tools are factory finished to a razor sharp edge. When dull, you simply rotate the edge and when dull all around, simply replace the cutter. Tool life will these cutters is 25 to 30 times normal tool life over high quality HSS tools.
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9/20/2009
Turning Wooden Cups
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I am trying to turn some wooden cups but am having difficulty hollowing them out. Do you have a tool type recommendation. |
| A. |
There are a couple of different ways to hollow out wooden cups. One way is to install a chuck with the proper size forstner bit and drill out the center. You can also drill a hole in the center of the work and then using a small gouge turn the center waste out. I suggest that you take a look at Craft Supply and consider the Hunter Carbide Hollowing tools. These tools are designed to turn end grain such as boxes and cups. |
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4/16/2009
Turning Pieces - Some Smooth, Some Rough
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
When turning eastern aromatic red cedar the piece is half smooth and half rough. Example: if you take a round and split into 2 equal hale moon pieces, one will bw very smooth, and the other will be very hairy and rough. Also it doesn't matter which direction it was turned. What's the problem? |
| A. |
Now this is a puzzler! I discussed this with several of my turning buddies and
we all believe that perhaps your turning tools are not sharpened correctly,
running too slow of a speed, and or too much pressure applied onto the turning
wood with a dull tool. |
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4/14/2009
Tools for Turning
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I have a 12" Variable Speed Delta Wood Lathe Model# 46-700c, which I purchased through a friend. What are the basic tools that I would need to start turning bowls? I have purchased a good set of wood turning tools. I have also looked on the internet and through books and there are so many different types of chucks, face plates, jaw sets and other accessories available to buy. I'm not looking to spend a large dollar amount at this time but will do so at a later date. What would you suggest? |
| A. |
I would recommend a good quality 3/8 bowl gouge and an eight inch slow speed
grinder with the Wolverine tool rest and sharpening guides. I am very pleased
with the Nova chucks that I purchased from Woodcraft Supply. I then would look
into some turning lessons. Good luck and happy turning to you! |
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3/26/2009
Wood Lathe Chucks
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I have a 2hp lathe, 15" swing. I want to buy a chuck for bowl turning, etc. There are many out there, can you recommend one or two . . I especially like the ones where you have options for the jaws, different sizes. |
| A. |
Visit our
friends at Wood Craft. They carry a complete line of lathe chucks. You will
need to know your lathes thread size and count. I use the Nova chucks here at
the school and I am very pleased with the quality and performance. I also hear
great things about the One Way chucks. |
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8/26/2008
Lathe Turning
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I, too. have been a woodworker by hobby and profession for over 30 years, But I'm stumped on one area. I have seen gorgeous vases turned on a lathe with the edge on the top being very uneven and almost appears to be trimmed in tree bark or something. It looks like they were turned from a solid burl but I'm not sure. And, if they are, and the edge is indeed tree bark, what keeps it from separating when the wood becomes dried out? |
| A. |
http://www.splintershop.com/default.asp?mID=main&pID=Walnut
I found this very informative article on the web site.
I believe it will answer all of your questions.
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2/25/2008
Lathe Turning Tools
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I am thinking of investing in a good set of long
handle carving tools for use with a mallet for carving. Is there any reason I shouldn't use these for
turning too? |
| A. |
Sorry….turning tools and carving tools are two
separate animals and are not designed or ground to be used as one. Most carving tools are not long or strong
enough for turning. |
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2/22/2008
Drill Hole for Lamp Wire
Answer provided by Marc Adams
| Q. |
What would be the easiest way to drill a
straight hole through a turned piece in order to run wire for a lamp? |
| A. |
You may use a mortise taper
drill chuck in the drive center end of your lathe along with the 4 way tail
stock. Center the work piece on the lathe and turn it on low speed. Hold the
wood spindle still and crank in the tail stock. If you can use glued up stock,
first cut a dado groove in two pieces of wood on the table saw or router then
glue them together. Plug the ends and turn it, once the piece is turned, remove
the plugs and run the wire. |
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2/19/2008
Saddle for Lathe
Answer provided by Mike Heavey
| Q. |
Years ago I owned a saddle suitable to turn
light plastics etc. on any woodturning lathe Unfortunately I sold it because I
acquired a metal turning lathe and now that I have sold the metal turning lathe
I am looking for a saddle again for my woodturning lathe. Do you know whether
these saddles are still available and if so, where I can obtain one from? |
| A. |
I some research on the internet and in the
search window on Google I typed “saddle
for lathe” and in the sponsored links area there is a site called Saddle.Pronto.com
that boasts of over 1400 + saddles at great prices. I think this is your best bet for locating one. |
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2/18/2008
Lathe Switch
Answer provided by Mike Van Pelt
| Q. |
I
have an old Rockwell/Delta lathe and want to add a switch that can reverse the
motor for finish sanding. There is a dizzying array of drum switches out there.
Which type should be used? Motor is a 1/2 HP single phase that can be reversed. |
| A. |
I
would visit my local heavy duty electrical supple house and ask for their
professional opinion. Take all the
information from your motor and unit with you on your visit. I am confident that they will be able to help
you. |
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2/14/2008
Lathe Tools
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q. |
I
am new to wood turning and wonder why none of the standard turning tools are
available with hard carbide tips. |
| A. |
Very
simply carbide is a lousy cutting material for turning tools. HSS or high speed
steel holds an edge a long time and produces a better burr on the cutting edge
than just about anything else. So I recommend HSS for all turning chisels! |
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6/25/2007
Bore a Hole Through a Wood Plank
Answer provided by Scott Phillips
| Q: |
What is the best way to bore a 1/8"
hole through a wood blank before I turn it on my lathe to make a fishing plug
out of it? The plugs are between 4" and 8" long, with a diameter of about
1". |
| A: |
So what are you fishing
for? I recommend basswood.
ANYWAY, I recommend using a four-jaw chuck on
the lathe to hold the work piece if it is less than 6. Then mount a drill chuck
with bit in the tailstock and at 300 rmp carefully bore the hole.
Short
of this I would use a wooden hand screw clamp to hold the work piece vertically
then go to the drill press. The work piece is easy to control by laying the
wooden clamp flat to the drill press table. Obviously you will need a high
quality 1/8 brad point bit that is 9 in length. Try Woodcraft or Rockler for
these.
Twist style bits tend to wander a lot. |
