Popular Woodworking 2006-10 № 157, страница 70

At the Lathe

Lathe Maintenance Techniques

Regular attention to a few simple procedures will keep you turning smoothly.

A lathe, like any other piece of woodworking equipment, is exposed to wood shavings, dust and other substances as well as general wear and tear. The bed, toolrest base and toolrest especially require regular attention for easy functioning. I can't count how many times I've watched people huffing and puffing, trying to slide a toolrest around on a lathe bed that is as rough as sandpaper (or as sticky as flypaper). Not to mention the number of times I've had to face such a lathe myself while doing demonstrations.

A poorly maintained lathe is no fun to use and can easily frustrate your efforts to achieve those lovely, clean cuts and smooth curves you so want your work to have.

Some very simple procedures, regularly done, will prevent such frustrations. How often you need to do these things will vary according to how much you turn and what kinds of things you are doing with the lathe. I generally clean and wax the bed, toolrest base and tailstock base; and I file, polish and wax the toolrest itself about once a week when I'm using that lathe every day.

If you are turning a lot of green wood, however, you should probably at least clean, polish and wax the bed each time you are done turning for the day. (A gunked-up bed is bad enough, but a rusty one is unforgivable.) If you turn only small items of dry wood and don't finish them on the lathe, you may need to do this only occasionally.

Less often, you will (or may) need to clean out electrical switches, adjust the alignment of the head and tailstock, make sure there is even pressure on all four feet of the machine, balance the handwheel and so on.

A few simple tools and supplies, used regularly, will help keep your lathe functioning smoothly so you can concentrate on your turning. A file, rubber-bonded abrasive blocks such as Klingspor's Sandflex hand blocks (or sandpaper), paste wax, machine oil and some clean cloths are all you will usually need.

You should always read and make sure you understand any information or directions that came with your particular machine. There may be specific maintenance recommended for that machine that isn't mentioned here.

by Judy Ditmer

Judy, author of two turning books and many articles,

has been turning since 1985. She teaches and demonstrates her skills throughout the United States and Canada.

And last but definitely not least, don't forget to perform regular maintenance on your face shield. This essential tool isn't something you can buy and then use forever without further attention. The shield will become scratched, spotted and smudged over time.

While regular cleaning will certainly add longevity to your face shield, you'll need to replace it occasionally, so you can actually see all those wonderful things you are making as you turn them.

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Popular Woodworking October 2006