Use and Care Manual

MOUNTING THE WORKPIECE ONTO THE FACE PLATE
The face plate is common for holding a block of wood of a larger diameter for turning bowls and plates.
1. Select a stock that is at least .2 inches (5 mm) larger than each dimension of the finished workpiece.
2. True one of the surfaces of the workpiece for mounting against the face plate. Using the face plate
as a template, mark the location of the mounting holes on the workpiece and drill pilot holes of the
appropriate size.
3. If the mounting screws on the face plate interfere with the workpiece, a glue or waste block can
be used. Make sure the block is of the same diameter as the face plate. Both the waste block and the
workpiece should have flat surfaces for gluing. Glue the block to the workpiece.
While face plates are the most reliable method for holding a larger block of wood for turning, chucks
can also be used. A chuck is not a requirement, but is handy when working on more than one piece at a
time. Rather than removing screws, simply open the chuck and change workpieces. The most popular
ones are four jaw scroll chucks (dovetails) with a variety of jaws to accommodate different size tenons.
Most also come with a screw chuck as well.
SHAPING THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOWL
1. Prepare the workpiece before mounting. Remove any bark from the top of the workpiece (that will
be later attached onto a face plate or in a chuck).
2. Drive the spur center into the top center of the workpiece using a wood mallet or a dead blow ham
-
mer.
3. Insert the spur center into the headstock taper.
4. Insert the live center to the tailstock. Adjust the position of the tailstock along the bed and lock it
into position. Lock the tailstock to the bed and advance the quill in order to seat the cut center into the
workpiece. Tighten the quill locking handle.
5. Rotate the workpiece by hand to check for proper clearance before starting the tool. Start with the
slowest speed for rough cuts and increase the speed for refined cuts.
NOTE: If the machine starts to vibrate, lower the speed until the vibration stops.
6. Rough out the outside of the bowl with the bowl gouge, holding the handle of the tool firmly against
your hip.
As the bowl takes shape, work on the bottom (tailstock end) to accommodate attaching a face plate.
Turn a short tenon to the size of the hole in the face plate. This will allow centering the workpiece when
the face plate is attached. If you plan to use a chuck, turn a tenon of the appropriate length and diam
-
eter to fit your chuck.
Stop the lathe and remove the workpiece. Leave additional material at the base of the bowl for support
while turning the interior. This will be removed later.
OPERATION
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