38 - Ring Boxes, страница 4

TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Readers' Tips *

Shop-Made Faceplate

CUT%"-TALL (LONG) RING FROM 2"-DIA. PVC PIPE

FILE SHALLOW GROOVES IN NUT

■When turning a number of small bowls on the lathe, I use a separate faceplate for each one. This lets me turn each bowl to rough shape and remove it from the lathe without taking it off the faceplate.

That way, if the movement of the wood distorts the shape of the bowl, I don't have to worry about remounting it on a faceplate (and getting it perfectly centered). Instead, I just thread the faceplate back on the lathe and turn the bowl to final shape.

But rather than buy new faceplates, I make my own shop-made

CHOOSE

NUT THAT FITS SPINDLE ON LATHE

PVC PIPE PREVENTS EPOXY FROM

VISE

V

DRILL 14"-DEEP COUNTERSORE TO FIT NUT

3"-DIA. FACEPLATE (%" MDF)

MOUNTING HOLE

versions. Each one is a 3"-dia. disk (MDF) with a counterbore to accept a nut, see drawing. (Just be sure the threads on the nut match those of the spindle on the lathe.)

The nut is held in place with epoxy. To help the epoxy "grab," I filed shallow grooves in the nut, see detail. And a short ring of PVC pipe forms a dam to keep the epoxy from running out, see Fig. 1.

Finally, drill mounting holes in the faceplate and true up the face and edge on the lathe, see Fig. 2.

Douglas Bemier Marlinton, West Virginia

USE SCRAPER TO "TRUE UP" EDGE AND FACE

No. 38

Prill "Holster"

■ Here's a handy way to store your electric drill — a "holster" that hangs on a pegboard rack.

The holster is a scrap of "two-by" material with two openings cut in it. The drill chuck fits in a large hole. And the power cord slips into a keyhole-shaped notch, see drawing.

By installing two L-hooks in the back edge, you can hang the holster securely on the pegboard.

Dick Grote Palo Alto, California

ShopNotes

HOLE FOR CHUCK KEY

SIZE HOLE TO FIT DRILL CHUCK

%z"x1³/4"

L-HOOK

CUT NOTCH TO ACCEPT POWER CORD

Vb" CHAMFER