Lathe limits

[Kc1937B]

Dumb question here. So I just recently
started wood turning. Dad has a jet 1236
lathe. I've just been doing small things
so far. My cousin wants me to turn him
some table legs using wood that's 5x5 and
thirty inches long. The lathe is long
enough to handle it but I can't find
anywhere and weight limits that it can
handle. The owners manual got wet and is
ruined and I can't find anythi g in the
lathe or online that tells me. Does anyi
ebhere have experience with lathes and can
help me appreciate your time thanks

 

[Doug-Iowa]

Here is the manual on line:

https://wiki.artisansasylum.com/images/c/c2/JET1236LatheManual.pdf

 

[TimV]

If it fits between centers and will swing without interference, I'd be quite surprised if weight will be a factor. You can also cut the corners off on a bandsaw or table saw to sneak a bit more turning diameter out of any given lathe versus turing a square blank.

 

[gregww]

I have done wood turning on pieces of wood larger than that. Unless you are turning an out of balance chunk of wood, mounted to the face plate, I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you have a piece of wood that fits between the head and tail stock, and is not larger than the swing, the lathe will handle it. As long as you have it loaded correctly.

 

[Tony in SD]

As long as it fits it will work. Just turn the speed down to keep it from bouncing in case it is out of balance. I have made an extension for my 36" long bed so I can turn 48" legs when needed. You can also lighten the load and effort by ripping the corners off with a table saw making an octagonal post

 

[Butch(OH)]

Although I cannot document this it only makes sense that if it fits in the lathe and made if wood that the machine was designed to handle the weight. Your bigger worry is about balance with larger pieces. It is never a good idea to chuck a piece of wood and slap the switch on no matter the size but it is imperative to ALWAYS check balance first on larger work by seeing if it quickly falls to one position and next by flicking the switch on and off quickly or slow the spindle, otherwise prepare yourself for excitement,,, or worse!

 

[Janicholson]

As noted twice below, gutting the corners off so it is a near octagon is a real easy way to reduce time/effort/vibration/pain. If there is a substantial taper to the legs, figure the angle and make a jig to pre-cut the majority of the waste from the blank. If you have not made tapers on a table saw, it is on youtube. Make a template for the design from tempered masonite to use for shape control. Jim

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

Your lathe will be fine. Balance is something to watch for. In wood turning, speed is your friend, which goes hand I hand as to how big your kahonies are, as the danger factor can go up, but cutting is much nicer.

I have the bigger brother Jet 1642. Heavier machine, but I turn a lot of bowls. It was designed to make a wood shelf and add stone ballast to it. The lathe itself is about 500 lbs, and there currently is about 450 lbs of stone in this box/shelf. Mass is always your friend on a lathe.

As you turn, keep checking the tail stock center engagement. It will take a couple tightenings as it gets seated in the wood.

No long sleeves !

Keep your tools razor sharp. Slightly dull tools make wood turning really frustrating.

Have fun !

 

[teddy52food]

I like to turn bowls too. Can you send pictures of yours to my e mail ?

 

[Kc1937B]

So what's the best way to sharpen my chisels the problem is dad use to turn alot I learned a little from him before he past but sharpen the tools was not one of them

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

KC - - The "best" way to sharpen chisels is with a dedicated 8" slow speed grinder and a One-Way sharpening system. All inclusive, you'll have $300 or so in it, but you can put a precise edge on them in a few seconds, and only take a couple thousands off the edge at a time. Hand grinding, unless you are very talented, takes a lot of time and is a hit or miss proposition, and will result in grinding off more of your valuable tools each time they are sharpened. Me? Even with high quality HSS tools, will touch up the edge after a half hour of heavy turning, as I can feel the crisp edge has faded away.

Start asking around in your area (maybe a wood turning club?) and hook up with with a local turner. LOTS to be learned to be a good wood turner. I'm in SW Michigan if you'd like to get together.

Pete

 

[Kc1937B]

I'm in Southwest wi I'll talk around I really appreciate your offer to come that way see what happens maybe sometime we will thank you so much