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Oval/Elliptical wood turning

Joined
Dec 22, 2013
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Location
Scotch Grove, IA
I have designed and made an Oval Chuck to turn Oval bowls, picture frames, vases, etc. This chuck consists of the work holding chuck and a dummy balancing chuck. The Oval Chuck assembly runs quite well for smooth cutting lathe work at 300-400 rpm. I use a Laser to guide all cutting at the Point of Tranquility. The lathe isn't weighted or braced. I am doing all cutting with gouges and scrapers, no milling with a router.

First, is there anyone that is turning Oval/Elliptical wood objects? If so, please join this thread.

I need information concerning hollowing techniques, gouges and scrapers that work best for you.
 
Joined
Oct 29, 2005
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Location
wetter washington
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www.ralphandellen.us
What design did you make? The one the David Springett published or some other design.

There are a handfull of us on this forum with the Vicmarc VOD
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
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Location
Scotch Grove, IA
I made a aluminum/steel version of David Springett's Oval chuck. To balance the chuck, I added a Balancing Chuck with the Ring Cam set opposite to the working chuck on the same spindle. The chucks run on 5/8" round Sliders in Bronze Bushings. The oil stays on quite well. Need to oil the Ring Cam about every 20 min.

My lathe isn't weighted or braced. The min. rpm is 330 rpm. My chuck is balanced at 330 to 400 rpm by sliding the balancing chuck to find an offset to balance the working chuck with the wood mounted.

I use a laser line at the Point of Tranquility. The cutting tool is held at the laser line.

I have done quite well on the outside of 2 tall vases. But, the inside is another matter. For added support of the vases, I mounted a Steady Rest with a soft Poly wheel at the exterior Point of Tranquility. That helped hollowing greatly.

While the vases were on center, I drilled a 1 1/4" hole to depth and to remove wood. This didn't work well as the drilled hole came around it would tend to catch the scraper for a very rough interior surface.

I need to know what tools and how you do the hollowing.

A bowl gouge works great on the exterior of the vases.

I make many of my tools, scrapers, Articulated Arm Hollowers, Steady Rest, Thread cutting jig (Cuts 4 starts for a quick tightening thread) etc.

Thank you for any information that you can give me.

? At what speed does the Vicmarc chuck operate best?

Paul
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
10
Likes
6
Location
Scotch Grove, IA
Turning Oval/Oval Chuck

What design did you make? The one the David Springett published or some other design.

There are a handfull of us on this forum with the Vicmarc VOD

I have made an Oval Chuck that is balanced. It is adjusted for smooth running with the work piece mounted.

Can you share tips on Oval Turning, especially the Inside of the vessel.
 
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
10
Likes
6
Location
Scotch Grove, IA
Oval turning with an Oval Chuck

These 2 pictures show the Oval Chuck Turning the inside of an Oval Vase, and the second picture is a top view of my Oval Chuck.
The working chuck is balanced by the dummy chuck running with the Ring Cams set opposite.

Please contact me to discuss Oval Turning techniques and tooling.
 

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