Delta 46-700 - Introduction to Lathe Operations; Overview of Lathe Turning Tools; Spindle Turning Technique

The following directions will give the inexperienced operator a start on the common lathe operations. Use scrap materia!
for practice to get the feel of the machine before attempting regular work.
The standard set of tools used in wood turning comprises
five different shapes as shown in Fig. 27. Most important
of these is the gouge, a roundnose, hollow chisel which
is used for roughing cuts, cove cutting and other opera¬
tions. Next in importance is the skew chisel, a double¬
ground, flat chisel, with the end ground to an angle
instead of being square across. This tool is used for
smoothing cylinders, for cutting shoulders, beads, vee-
grooves, etc. The spear or diamond-point chisel and the
round-nose chisel are scraping tools which are used
where their shape fits the contour of the work. The parting
tool is a double-ground chisel, and is used for cutting-off
and for making straight incisions or sizing cuts to any
required diameter.
Any turning where the workpiece is placed between the
headstock and tailstock centers, as shown in Fig. 28, is
called spindle turning. This is the principle type of wood
turning, as typified by chair and table legs, lamp stems,
etc. The turning of spindles can be done with either a
scraping or cutting technique, the cutting technique by
virtue of faster wood removal and a cleaner surface being
almost a must for good work. Fig. 29, illustrates a spindle
turning operation being performed.
Fig. 28
Fig. 29