Mini lathe project, Garden Dibble

GARDEN DIBBLE

This is an easy spindle turning project. A dibble is a tool used by a gardener to make holes to plant seeds, bulbs or small plants. I started with a pieces of white oak. You could use maple, ash or any hardwood.

I started with a piece of wood 1 1/2" square and 12" long. I used a roughing gouge to get the piece round.

I them used my skew to finish the project. I turned 1" knob on the end, then a 4" handle. The pointed end is marked at 1" intervals to show how deep you are making the hole.

This one can make up to a 4" deep hole. One I completed the turning, I used sand paper to smooth out the project, them completed it with a couple of coats of wipe on poly.

This is a quick easy project, any gardener would love.

Please visit my web site at http://nokeswoodworks.com

Making Wine Stopper or Bottle Stopper kits,Stainless steel

WINE or BOTTLE STOPPER KITS

I recently purchased some stainless steel bottle stoppers from Arizona Silhouette. The wine stoppers are made of stainless steel and should not corrode for any reason. These are the best kits on the market
The wood is turned in the usual way. I drilled and tapped the hole to create threads on which the stopper could be mounted. The tap was sized at 3/8" to fit the stopper.
Here are some of the pictures from my new stoppers.
Please visit my web site for more on turnings with a mini lathe
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Pen Kit Finish Notes

Notes about pen kit finishes:

24kt Gold Pens with 24k gold plating usually wear very quickly most have a coating of epoxy on them to help extend the wear life of the pen.

10k Gold pens with 10k gold plating wear better because the gold is mixed with hard nickel to form a more durable gold plating with is also cheaper. wears better than 24k gold.

Chrome pens, Chrome is used where there is alot of everyday use such as key rings, very durable and looks great at cheap price. Chrome is very shiny and very good looking. Wears better than 24k or 10 k gold

Black chrome. These are pens plated with a black color plating. The black has a soft sheen which is attractive against light color woods. It is more durable the 24k gold but less durable than 10k gold.

Satin pens get a plating that is a matte finish and gives a satin look to the pens, The finish has a slight texture to the feel of then. This more durable than 24k gold and less then 10k gold slightly more durable than black chrome.

Black Titanium pens are coated with a titanium plating which looks good and is very wear resistance. This finish give one of the most durable finished to pens.

Rhodium plated pens are the top of the line and the best looking pen kits available on the market there durable is equal to or better than Titanium. The appearance is the great.

For more information on pens please visit my web site: http://nokeswoodworks.com

Randy

Carbara Pen Kit using a Rattlesnake Blank

Rattlesnake Pen
I used a rattlesnake pen blank and a Black Titanium Carbara Pen kit to build this rattlesnake pen. These blanks are more difficult to turn compared to wood or regular acrylic. Care must be taken because the acrylic can be easily lifted off the surface of the snakeskin because of the chemicals used to tan the snake hides. Sharp tools must be used.
The blanks come with the brass tube already inside the skin and acrylic. Therefore you do not need to drill and glue the brass tube.
You will however have to size the blank and square the ends. The sides of the blanks are also removed during the sanding process. See the drawing that came with the blank for this detail.

The edges were sanded and the blank was placed on the lathe. I used a spindlemaster lathe tool to turn the blank down to size. The lathe tools must be extremely sharp. I stopped 4 times to hone the tool while cutting the blank to size. I stopped cutting short of the bushing size. Sandpaper was used to complete the projects. I used micro mesh and an acrylic finish to complete the blank. The blank was assembled using a pen press. More ideas can be seen at my web site:
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

The rattlesnake blank and pen kit came from: Arizona Silhouette at http://ArizonaSilhouette.com .

Pen Making The Wall Street II Pen kit

Wall Street II Pen kit from Woodcraft.

The following pictures may be helpful in understanding the steps needed to build the Wall Street pen kit that I purchased from Woodcraft. The finished pen is illustrated here to the right. These are easy pens for the beginner and fun for the experienced turner as well. I used my Jet mini lathe and Robert Sorby turning tools.

The picture to the left shows the pen kit parts, drill bit 27/64 , the wood blank and the epoxy used to make the pen kits. The first Step is to cut the blank to length. Use the brass tube to measure and mark the blank for cutting. Cut the blank a little longer than the brass tube. It will be made to length later. Mark the center of the blank on the end before drilling. Drill slowly and clean out drill bit often. If you get the blank too hot or do not clean out the bit you will get a blow out on the blank. As you can see in the picture I have a home made pen vise that I have used successfully for years.

After the pen blank is drilled. I sand the brass tube lightly before mixing epoxy to glue the tube inside the blank. I like epoxy more than CA glue, but CA glue will work fine also. After the pen blank has dried I then go to the sander to square up the ends. A picture of this process can be seen on my web site: http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Once the ends are square, It is ready to be mounted on the lathe using a bushing and a pen mandrel. The picture to the right shows the pen blank mounted to the lathe .

Once the blank is mounted to the lathe, and everything is tightened up. The blank is then ready to be turned. Refer to my blog on lathe speeds for correct turning speed for pens or other projects. There are pictures of the actual turning process on my web site. A gouge is used to reduce the pen blank to a rough round size. A skew is then use to take the blank to proper size. I use the spindle master instead of a skew. This smooths the blank and gets it to the right size ready for sanding. I use a range of sand paper from 120 to 600 and then use micro mesh to 6000 for the sanding process. Once this is complete I use a finish of my choice. In this case I used Hut crystal coat to finish this pen. This is a friction polish and is applied with a cotton cloth and rubbed into the wood while the lathe is running. Once the finish is complete the pen blank is removed from
the lathe. It is assembled using a pen vise. Please visit my web site for more pictures and more information on pen making. http://nokeswoodworks.com/

This kit can be purchased from Woodcraft. See link to the right.

Tips for buying a Mini Lathe for wood turning

The use of a mini lathe to turn wood projects has become an extremely popular hobby for both money making and enjoyment. If you are looking to purchase a mini lathe, here are a few points to consider.
Decide what projects, you will want to make, this will help determine if a mini lathe is right for you. Mini lathes are great for pen making, wine stopper making, small bowls or plates, tool handles. Christmas decorations, small table legs, small turned boxes.
There are a lot of brands of mini lathes out here which will do a good job. My lathe is a JET which I am very happy with. I have had it for a number of years and it has been put to good use and worked well.
The things I would look for in a wood lathe are as follows:
a. Good speed range from 500 to at least 3000 RPM's.
b. MT-2 headstock and tail stock taper, there are more add-ons that fit this size.
c. Spindle nose of 1X8 TPI.
d. Cast iron bed.
e. 1/2 HP or better.
One thing that is a must when buying a lathe is make sure the head stock and tail stock line up perfectly. Check it the store if you can, or as soon as you get it home. If it does not line up take it back. You can check alignment buy putting a center in the head stock and tail stock. Pull the tail stock up close to the head stock and make sure they align.
Variable speed is nice but not necessary. Changing speed on the belt drive is not hard and there is one less electronic thing to go wrong.
Indexing head is a nice feature which can be used to enhance lathe projects but again is not necessary feature for a lathe.
Make sure to have sturdy place to mount the lathe. You will want as little vibration as possible. Make sure you buy a face shield when you buy the lathe. Buy the best tools you can afford to buy. Visit my web site for more information.
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Wine Stopper or Bottle Stopper

Turning a wine or bottle stopper is similar to turning a pen. Use the same lathe, same turning tools.

Start with a blank of wood 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" X 2".
This will be placed in a drill press vise ready to drill, you may want to start with a Foster 3/4" drill bit to recess
the hole depending on type bottle stopper you are using. If you do recess the hole, then center Fostner bit on
the blank and drill down 3/8 of an inch.
Next insert a 6mm drill bit and drill down 1". This will be the first step if you decide not to recess the hole.

You will need a bottle stopper mandrel, attach the mandrel to the head stock. Then screw the stopper onto the
mandrel using the 6 mm hole just drilled. Now pull up the tail stock and tighten to secure.

Using a skew and spindle gouge turn the stopper to desired shape. Sizes and shapes may vary.
Remove tail stock and finish turning. I use a spindle master for most of my turning work.

Now sand using progressive grits of sand paper to 600 grit. Apply finish, this can be wax, sanding sealer, wood
turners wax or a CA finish.

Remove the turned piece and glue the head to the stopper with thick CA glue. I always use epoxy

There are a couple of different types of stainless steel stopper. Some people use a dowel in the hole and glue a
cork to the other end. See my web site for more on turning.

Randy
http://nokeswoodworks.com

Chisels used on the mini lathe to make pens

Which lathe tools do you use to turn pens on your mini lathe? There are four main chisels I use when turning pens.
1. A parting tool 1/8"
2. A roughing gouge 3/8"
3. A. Skew 1/2"
The 4th tool is more a choice than something you really need.
4. A spindlemaster by Robert Sorby tools.
All tools should be made of (HSS) high speed steel, they will stay sharp longer and will have less heat build up. I use a Delta slow speed grinder to sharpen my tools.
And you will need sharp tols if you every turn plastic pen blanks.
Let's go back to the spindlemaster, I have both the 1/2" version and the micro version. The micro version has become one of my favorite tool for turning pens and other small projects. The advantages over the skew are: easy of use, no sharp corners to dig in, it will plane, cut coves and beads and it is easy to sharpen.
Randy
http://www.nokeswoodworks.com

Lathe Speed, Pen Making and Bowl Turning

What speed should you set your lathe to when turning different projects.
I have guidelines that I use when selecting what lathe speed to use. The speed you use should allow the blanks to turn with little or no vibration. So if you turn the lathe on and there is vibration, shut it down and lower the speed.
I always wear a face shield, which is a good safety practice.
My guidelines for turning wood are as follows:
Pen Turning 3000 RPM or higher
Stock smaller than 2" can turn at 3000 RPM
Stock which is 3" can turn at 2000 to 2800 RPM
Stock which is 5" can turn at 1200 to 1800 RPM
Anything over 6" should be turned at less than 1000 RPM
When sanding I always slow my lathe down to 500-600 RPM
When applying finish, I set it to it's lowest speed. Which for me is 500 RPM
These guidelines are for wood, if you turn other material, these may not be right for you.
These are only guides, try different things and see what works best for you.
Always wear a face shield or at least safety glasses when turning. And if it doesn't feel right shut it down. Do not turn wood with defects, cracks or knots.
http://nokeswoodworks.com/

Pen Making and other Mini Lathe Projects

A mini lathe is great for Pen turning. I have a Jet mini lathe I use for all of my turning and woodworking. In addition to turning pens on my lathe I have also made the following projects.
1. Wine stoppers
2. Small bowls
3. Candle Holders
4. Tables legs for shaker tables (can be seen on mt web site)
5. Small birdhouses
6. Knobs for other woodworking projects
7. Tool handles
8. Duck call
9. Lidded boxes
10. Key rings
11. Small plates
12. Doll house furniture
I'm sure there are other items but this list may give you an idea of what a small lather can be used for. I have an extension for my lathe but rarely use it. In fact the only times I have used it, is in turning table legs and one time I made a cane. So an extension is not something I would buy right away. Be careful with a mini lathe, it can become addictive.
http://www.nokeswoodworks.com/

Mini Lathes projects

I have a Jet Mini lathe. When I first bought it, I was sure I would not use it that much.
It has become a very useful tool in my shop. I use it for pen making. I have made hundreds of pens using my lathe. I have made them from wood and plastic and horns.
I mostly give them away but I have sold a few.
I have made bottle stoppers,game calls,knobs, and letter openers. I have made mini birds house to hang on the Christmas tree, as well as wood christmas decorations. I have made several shaker candlestick tables. See picture above. I have even made a custom walking cane. I have made a number of small bowls.
Turning is fun and can be additive. Once you buy the lathe, the next big purchases are the tools with which to turn. Chucks or mandrels will also be needed. Please email me if you would like more information on lathe tools. I have made a lot of projects using my mini lathe.