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Carbon steel tools can overheat easily and
should be cooled frequently. If the edge turns
blue, it has lost its temper and should be ground
past the blue area.
High-speed steel tools are not as likely to
overheat, but can be damaged if allowed to get
red hot. High-speed steel tools should not be
quenched for cooling. Honing with a diamond
lap or slipstone will save trips to the grinder and
keep the edge fresh.
Spindle Turning
Spindle turning takes place between the centers
of the lathe. It requires a spur or drive center in
the headstock and a live or dead center in the
tailstock. A cup center rather than a cone center
in the tailstock will often reduce the risk of
splitting the stock.
Figure 29 shows the basic profile shapes in
spindle turning.
Stock Selection
Stock for spindles should be straight grained
and free of checks, cracks, knots and other
defects. It should be cut 1/8" to 1/4" larger than
the finished diameter and may require additional
length so the ends can be removed later. Larger
stock should have the corners removed to
produce an octagon making the piece easier to
rough down to a cylinder.
1. With a combination square, or plastic center
finder for round stock, locate and mark
center on each end of the workpiece.
Accuracy is not critical on full rounds but
extremely important on stock where square
sections are to remain. Put a dimple in the
stock with an awl or nail, or use a spring-
loaded automatic center punch.
2. Extremely hard woods may require kerfs cut
into the ends of the stock (Figure 30) using
a band saw, so the wood will accept the
spur center and the live center.
3. Drive the spur center about 1/4” into the
workpiece, using a wood mallet or dead
blow hammer as shown in Figure 31. Be
careful that you do not split the workpiece.
Never use a steel face hammer and never
drive the workpiece onto the spur center
while it is mounted in the Lathe spindle.
4. Make sure the headstock is locked to the
Lathe bed.
5. Clean the tapered end of the spur center
and the inside of the headstock spindle.
6. Insert the tapered end of the spur center
(with the attached workpiece) into the
headstock spindle.
Figure 29
Figure 30
Figure 31