16. Helpful hints

Dress. Always wear a carpenter's apron or something similar, to protect your clothes from polish and stain which is thrown from the rotating work. Keep your neck­tie well tucked in or do not wear one at all, otherwise you may find your chin in contact with the work and yourself having an enforced, dangerous shave.

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When you have decided upon the particular lathe or machinery you require, be sure replacement parts will always be available and choose a reputable manufacturer. This also applies to tools and accessories.

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Keep a supply of methylated spirits handy for removing french polish from your fingers.

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For your supply of beeswax, contact any of your friends who keep bees. It is usually cheaper this way.

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Carnauba wax can be bought from some handicraft sup­pliers but I have found the chemists or drug stores most helpful, and their product is more refined.

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Never discard your worn sand paper, keep it for rubbing in beeswax, prior to polishing.

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Grandma's old lisle stockings make the finest polishing cloths.

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Always check that your wood is securely held in your lathe before revolving under power. Eyes and hands are very precious.

Examples of Woods Suitable for Turning

Oak. All varieties have lovely grain and are rich in colour although Japanese oak is rather soft. All finish well.

Sycamore. White, turns very well. Some varieties have very beautiful curly figure. Finishes well.

Elm. Very twisty, beautiful grain. Stains well, but requires plenty of filling. Suitable for salad bowls.

Pine. Very beautiful grain. Requires very sharp tools. Fairly soft, but with hard fibres.

Pear. A really excellent wood for turning but very little character to the grain.

Cherry. Beautiful shades of orange and pink. Turns and finishes well.

Laurel. Turns well. Greeny-brown in colour. Good finish.

Holly. Very white, close, hard grain. Obtainable in small quantities and suitable for laminated work.

Boxwood. A very hard, yellow coloured wood. Very little grain. Obtainable only in small sizes. Suitable for tool handles.

Rosewood. Very hard. Rich purple-brown in colour. Finishes very well.

Walnut (English and American). Deep chocolate brown in colour. The woodturners' favourite.

Mahogany. Varies in colour from pink to dark red. Spanish variety extremely hard.

Plane or Lacewood. Beautiful grain. Yellow-orange in colour. Finishes and works well.

LATHE SPEEDS

Under 2          900-1,300    2,400-2,800         3,000-4,000
2-4                  600-1,000    1,800-2,400         2,400-3,000
4-6                  600-800       1,200-1,800         1,800-2,400
6-8                           400-600 800-1,200         1,200-1,800
8-10                           300^*00 600-800         900-1,200
Over 10                            300- 300-600         600-900