esantoro Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Posted October 13, 2008 I'm going to get 12" turning blanks from Rocklers. Thanks, Bree. Should I pick up any hand tools to help me turn them without the use of a lathe? Currently on hand I have metal files, sandpaper, and a dremel with various attachments. Thanks, Ed Quote http://www.waldenbags.com http://www.waldenbags.etsy.com
Bree Posted October 13, 2008 Report Posted October 13, 2008 You could just use some chisels and sandpaper. Get it into a drill press and then use sandpaper strips. Messy but doable. +1 to the post about wood density. Lignum vitae is inexpensive and it won't splinter as some tropicals can. I am thinking about have my gunsmith take his metal lathe and radiusing some tool steel rounds and using them for burnishing. They would last forever I could chuck them in my drill press or a hand drill. Any thoughts about using steel? Quote Ride Safe! Bree 2003 Dyna Wide Glide Memberships: Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association
Contributing Member Jordan Posted October 13, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted October 13, 2008 Shouldn't be any trouble with steel except some metals will turn wet leather black due to the chemical reaction between it and the tanning chemicals used on the leather. Quote
esantoro Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Posted October 13, 2008 Maybe stainless steel would be the way to go. I've also wondered if the steel burnishers work well. I've very impressed with the wood burnisher I got from Weaver. Just wish it was constructed more like Norm's. I know there's a guy on Ebay who sells the steel burnishers for a drill press. ed Quote http://www.waldenbags.com http://www.waldenbags.etsy.com
Bree Posted October 17, 2008 Report Posted October 17, 2008 If steel will work and it looks like it will just have your local gunsmith put some tool steel from a big drill bit on his lathe and he can turn a few radius coves lickety split. They should last forever and a day! I also did some research today on exotics. The hardest of them all is Snakewood. It is so dense that it will sink like a piece of lead in water. Close behind are African Blackwood and Lignum Vitae. Lignum is really not that exotic but it is dense and hard as hell. In any case you guys can get PEN BLANKS for turning pens in all these woods. They are an inch square or maybe 3/4" square by say 8" long or so which is really all you need. You can get them very cheap at your local wood store like Rockler or Woodcraft or just order some from the NET. Quote Ride Safe! Bree 2003 Dyna Wide Glide Memberships: Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association
Members DCKNIVES Posted October 18, 2008 Members Report Posted October 18, 2008 Beware of Snakewood for this application as it is very brittle and splits and cracks easily, even though it is hard.Dave Quote http://dcknivesandle...lademakers.com/
esantoro Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Posted October 18, 2008 Came home from the hardware store today with a rasp, a chisel, and course sandpaper. My wood is coming on Monday, and I have never anticipated getting sticks so much. Like a three-year-old child, give me a slab of steel, some sticks, and a heavy something to bang on everything with and I'm happy. Ed Quote http://www.waldenbags.com http://www.waldenbags.etsy.com
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