Woodworker's Journal winter-2009, страница 82

Turning Tricks Of The Trade

Router Jig Turns Spindles

You can form chair spindles to exactly the same diameter with this router jig mounted to your lathe. It's simply a welded framework of steel tubing that bolts to the lathe bed. Attach a scrap sled to your router to follow the jig's top rails. To use the jig, chuck a blank in the lathe and use an upspiral bit in a plunge router. Plunge the bit until it makes light contact with the wood, then move the router from left to right with the wood spinning at a low speed.

Easy Access for the Intense Turner

lathe turning can become quite intense when you have gauges, scrapers and other tools half buried in shavings — all balanced on the lathe bed. The tool holder shown in the sketch is hinged at the bottom and swings out until it's stopped by two chains. Mount it to an open lathe stand between the legs. There's room for all the usual tools as well as a drift rod, spur center and chuck key. It's a convenient place to keep tools orderly and within reach.

Dual Caliper Board

With this "Caliper Board" close to your lathe, you'll be able to quickly and accurately set distances on both inside and outside calipers. The one shown above measures 1/4" increments, starting at 1/2" and continuing through 2'/.", but the board can easily be customized to your needs.

The outside caliper distances are taken directly from the measuring blocks. Each block is cut to exact length from 3/8" x 3/8" hardwood stock, then glued to a plywood backboard.

Once all the measuring blocks are added, glue a stop to the right-hand side. By making the "A" dimensions the same (in this case 1/2"), you can use the board to take measurements with the inside calipers. To complete the caliper board, mark each dimension (use waterproof ink) on the measuring blocks and the stop.

calipers Stop

Plywood backing board

Outside calipers

3"-wide hinge plate bolts to lathe stand

2" x 2" tool holder

PVC tubing protects your tools

Use two surface-mount hinges.

Two chains hold fixture

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82 Turning Tricks of the Trade