Basic of Using the Lathe

Here we will explain some basic operations and safety of the lathe

Lathe

Chunk O wood

Lathe tools

Eye protection is a must and hearing protection is definitely recommended.

Check the lathe for any damage and make sure the power cord is plugged in.

Secure the workpiece using the correct method for your material and the tailstock if necessary.

(Tip: “Most” material can generally be secured using the spur center (left side) and the tailstock (right side) as shown in photo, until it is shaped properly for use in a clamping chuck)

Use the correct cutting tools for the job.

(Tip: We use carbide cutting tools for simplicity and ease of use. You can get just as good or better results using traditional cutting tools due to their versatility and variety. The trade off is generally a higher cost of investment in tools and sharpening equipment needed as well as the time involved in keeping the tools sharp. The learning curve to use them safely and effectively can also be a factor when deciding which type of tools are best for you.)

Keep fingers hair and loose clothing from getting caught in the machine.

Position the tool rest so that the front edge is about approximately ⅛” to ¼” away from the closest part of your workpiece. The tool rest and distance gap is pivotal in providing the leverage needed to generally, and safely, cut and shape your workpiece.

(Tip: As you work on your material, cutting and shaping away, the workpiece becomes smaller and smaller, increasing the distance of the gap between it and the tool rest. This causes two things to happen: 1. It lowers the effectiveness of your cutting tool and 2. It increases the likelihood for a potential accident. Solution? Periodically stop the lathe and bring the tool rest forward, back to the recommended ⅛” to ¼” distance, lock it back down and continue working)

Turn on the lathe , make sure to turn the lathe off when ever making adjustments on measuring something.

Position your cutting tool on the tool rest carefully without touching your material. With your rear hand, rock or twist the tool left to right slightly to be sure it is perfectly flat on top of the tool rest before slowly advancing forward. Once you find where the tool initially meets the material, apply gentle forward pressure to the tool as you feed it into the workpiece and begin cutting, removing material from side to side. Increase pressure as the tool cuts deeper.

(Tip: In general, it is not entirely necessary to “steel” yourself by gripping the tool as hard as you can. That can potentially be a bad thing. You want to keep a firm grip on the tool so you can maintain control of it, but not so much that your movements become stiff and forced. Keep your feet planted and a controlled grip on your tool that allows you to freely move it around with ease. Keeping the tool rest close to the project material will generally help stop your tool from being kicked back at you. And being measured with your approach to the material and having sharp tools will help avoid most “catches” that can potentially damage your project or even outright destroy it in some cases.)

Be careful not to apply too much pressure, or the tool could chip or break.

(Tip: You may notice that occasionally while cutting the work piece may catch a little and suddenly stop spinning. This is normal when using a spur center. As you progress and apply more pressure to the material, it’s a good idea to periodically tighten up the tailstock to maintain control of the work piece and avoid that sort of slipping)

At the end you might end up with something like this. Good luck on your lathe journey.