Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-08, страница 73

Fig. 3. A series of cuts are made with the parting tool on the remainder of the stock, spaced approximately 3/6" to 1/2" apart.

until the block just comes into round (see Fig. 1). careful to keep both ends at the same dimension and avoid turning a dip in the center of the blank.

Next, square up the ends of the blank so the mallet is at the finished length. Find the center of the block and measure one-half the final distance in each direction. I like to do this so I know where my finished ends will be once the project is complete. I used a sharp gouge to accomplish this.

I like to block out my lathe projects. Doing so gets rid of any extra material and allows me to get to my final shape faster and with less confusion. I have found that beginning lathe students often don't do this; they become frustrated when they can't seem to get to the final shape that they want because all that extra material is in the way.

Fig. 2. Measure over 4-7/6" and start to block out the major details of the mallet.

Fig. 1. Mountthe blank between centers and turn it so it just comes into round. Be sure to start at a slower speed; you can increase it after the block is round.

The illustration above shows the basic layout of the carving mallet. All dimensions are approximations.

Begin by measuring over 4-7/8" from the headstock end and draw a line all the way around the round block. Using the parting tool and c pair of outside calipers set to 1-3/4", cut a groove into the block until the calipers just slip over the stock (see Fig. 2). Remember to make this groove larger by at least one-half the thickness of the parting tool to prevent it from getting stuck in the groove and jamming the stock. I like to go in about 1/2" and then move the parting tool over to make the groove wider, continuing like this until the final dimension is reached. Be careful that you don't

Fig. 4. The blank is all blocked out. All the excess material has been removed from the blank and it is now ready for the details.

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Creative Woodworks 1 Crafty August'$004 • 73