Subject: Re: turning Ebony on a lathe

From: [email-masked] (Paul Amaranth)
Date: 26 Jan 1996 14:05:20 GMT

In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Alden  Hackmann) writes:
>[email-masked] (Paul Amaranth) writes:
>
>
>(Re turning ebony on a metal lathe)
>
>>My two cents worth:
>
>> a) Don't do it on a metal lathe - use a wood lathe
>> b) Don't breathe the dust - it's bad for you
>> c) Don't leave any dust on your machine tools.  It's abrasive and
>>    bad for them as well
>> d) See a
>
>As others, including Jim McGill, have pointed out, it's not only possible 
>but also sometimes desirable to use a metal lathe for turning wood.  

[various good points omitted]

Well, I did say $.02 worth.  I must have been having a crabby morning; I
managed to contradict most of what I said in a post on a different
thread :-)

Pattern shops do this all of the time.  I still think you have to watch
out on keeping it clean; wood dust can get everywhere.  A while ago I
picked up a Palmgren rotary cross slide from a pattern shop going out
of business.  I had to completely disassemble it to get all of the
sawdust out and make it work without jamming.

--
Paul Amaranth  Manager User Services - office: (810) 370 4541 (also voicemail)
               (e-mail)     [email-masked]         
   Mosaic page: http://www.acs.oakland.edu/links/amaranth/amaranth.html

---

From: [email-masked] (laughing LARRY!)
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 18:09:06 GMT

Jim McGill <[email-masked]> wrote:

>laughing LARRY! wrote:
>> 
>>  Has anyone any tips on this topic?

>I've done quite a bit in making wind instruments and tuning 
>pegs. It tends to splinter and chip.  It has the nasty 
>combination of being very hard but not very cohesive. Even 
>the best wood has invisible checks in it, so expect to 
>loose 10% or so of your turnings. Expect to do a lot of sanding 
>to get a final finish. Use sharp tools, a gentle touch (don't 
>hog it) and be patient in your sanding, it's tough to get the 
>grit marks out.  Work all the way down to 600 grit to get a good 
>finish. What's kind of project are you planning?  
>Jim McGill

I will be turning some ebony handles for silverware items,could i ask what
kind of a cutting tool you advise? also cutting angles??
I will be turning metal items also so a metal lathe is the one i have in mind
I have some sri lankan ebony which is a dark brown colour, i havent found a
jet black ebony. Is there such a thing or is it stained black?

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From: [email-masked] (Alden Hackmann)
Date: 25 Jan 1996 20:32:10 GMT

As others, including Jim McGill, have pointed out, it's not only possible 
but also sometimes desirable to use a metal lathe for turning wood.  
Ebony is a good wood to turn on the metal lathe, since it's almost as 
hard as metal!  Seriously, I do it all the time, for cutting tapers on 
tuning pins and bridge pins and a host of other applications.  The ML 
gives me a lot more accuracy than trying to do it by hand on a wood 
lathe.  I learned this technique from Micheal Hubbert, who uses a Myford 
Super 7.  

Other musical instrument makers are doing this as well: Robert Lundberg 
and Eric Meyer both use modified metal lathes as template turning lathes 
for making tuning pegs.  Lundberg's work is documented in a series of 
articles in _American Lutherie_, the journal of the Guild of American 
Luthiers.  Eric gave lectures on his techniques at the recent GAL 
convention. 

Alden and Cali Hackmann
Olympic Instruments - makers of fine hurdy-gurdies
PO Box 166, Indianola WA 98342, 360-297-7234
[email-masked], [email-masked]
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~darkstar/HGhome.html
"Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae."

-- 
Alden F.M. Hackmann                        [email-masked]
Web: http://weber.u.washington.edu/~darkstar/    
"Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae."