Power tools like table saws and wood lathes are inherently dangerous although the wood lathe is probably going one the safest of the larger power tools within the woodworking shop. Yet there are some considerations within the maintenance of a wood lathe that keep safety standards high.
Maintenance for the wood lathe could also be channeled into three categories, long term, regular and steady. For the amateur wood turner this will for all intents and purposes be thought of as yearly, monthly, and by the session. With a touch thought and preparation, this needn't be a tedious set of procedures but simply a neighborhood of the wood turning experience. Too often we ignore the larger parts of a lathe until they break. This causes frustration a disruption in work flow which will last for weeks expecting parts.
Yearly maintenance looks at the general health of the lathe. Wood lathes rotate wood between head stocks and tail stocks while allowing the turner to maneuver tools back and forth to get rid of wood. this suggests there are bearings for things that rotate, motors that drive the rotations, belts to maneuver power from one location to a different , and metal sliding on metal to permit tools to maneuver .
The simplest of those to see is that the sliding of tools rests and tail-stocks over the ways of a lathe to manoeuvre tools and hold wood. If there's hesitation within the movement of either it's usually thanks to rust on the ways or finishes that have hardened on the metal. Remove the tail-stock and therefore the tool rest banjo from the lathe and check for either on rock bottom of every . Clean rust and finish from the ways, banjo and tailstock with fine sandpaper, wire wool or cleaner and apply wax to the ways for easier movement and rust prevention before replacing the tail-stock and banjo.
Check belts for wear and replace them from spare belts that you simply wear hand. Belts tend to be the cheap side of lathe repair and it's good to possess a spare one within the shop. Likewise, bearing will likely announce incipient wear with noise or movement and will be ordered before demanding replacement. Each lathe is slightly different for bearing replacement so follow your manufacturers advice.
At least monthly blow any dust out of the motor and inspect the wiring permanently repair. Mounting bolts can loosen with vibration from turning wood and will be checked for tightness. this is often an honest time to seem at belts and bearings for wear and to order new ones for the annual checkup.
Before every turning session confirm that the lathe isn't crowded with other tools and there's many room to maneuver around it while turning. make certain all tools are sharp and therefore the sharpening station is prepared to travel with a cleaned wheel. Just before turning the lathe on check another time to be sure the moving wood will clear the tool rest and every one parts of the lathe are tightened down.
Very quickly this all becomes habit and adds to the enjoyment of turning wood. The satisfaction of knowing the tools are so as will only increase the satisfaction and pleasure of the wood turning experience.
Darrell Feltmate may be a juried wood turner whose internet site , round the Woods, contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner also as a set of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You can also learn to show wood, here is that the place to start out . Wondering what it's like? There are many free videos on the location handling everything from sharpening to creating a bowl.