A woodworking lathe spins wood at a controlled speed, allowing a woodturner to shape it with a sharp tool. It comes in various styles and sizes, and there are two types of turning: spindle and faceplate. Wooden bowls are often turned using a faceplate.
Among the myriad of tools available to create decorative or functional products is a tool called a lathe, which spins material at a controlled speed so that a woodturner can press a sharp tool against the material to shape it. A woodworking lathe is a lathe specifically designed to handle various types of wood, as opposed to a metalworking lathe which handles metal exclusively, or a glassworking lathe, which works completely differently than others types of lathes. The woodworking lathe is the oldest type of lathe, presumably dating back to Ancient Egypt, obviously in a non-powered version.
The woodworking lathe is a unique woodworking tool because, unlike many other woodworking processes, the wood turns while the tool remains mostly stationary. The woodworking lathe can come in a variety of styles and sizes, but most lathes are either smaller tabletop lathes or larger freestanding lathes with their own legs that can be bolted to the floor. A piece of wood is attached to a rotating mandrel to the headstock of the lathe and secured at the other end to a tailstock or tailpiece. The rotating spindle of the woodworking lathe is then operated by a motor or non-motorized foot pedal, which in turn rotates the piece of wood.
A holder for the tool is attached to the base or bed of the lathe and runs parallel to the rotating wood. The tool stand provides the user with a solid, stable surface on which to place a hand chisel or other cutting tool. This holder prevents the cutting tool from moving too much or slipping out of the carpenter’s hand, thus allowing for stability and precise cuts. Holding the sandpaper on the still rotating piece of wood is not uncommon and allows the carpenter to remove small debris and unfinished edges from the cuts. This technique can be dangerous and should be reserved for professionals only.
In general, there are two types of woodworking turning: faceplate turning and spindle turning. Spindle turning involves setting a long piece of wood between two spindles at the headstock and tailstock, as mentioned above. The end result is long and tubular, like a table leg. Faceplate turning involves attaching the wood to a faceplate, which is then attached to a chuck on the headstock of the woodworking lathe, which allows the woodworker to create a shorter and wider product from the turned wood. Wooden bowls are often turned.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
