I was recently interested in getting into metal spinning. I was wondering if it would be a good idea and if it is somewhat easy to do. I have been researching where to get the supplies and saw oneway sold a T post tool rest. I also saw Ted sawloski sold a bit of tools but his were quite expensive. Those were the only places I have been able to find tools so if anyone knows any other places that would be great. I was also confused about were to get the metal. I think that aluminum would be the easiest form my research and was wondering if I should buy it in sheets and cut it into a circles or buy it in circles. I was also wonder what thickness and were the best place to buy the metal is. Thank you so much in advance for answering my many questions.
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Metal spinning
- Thread starter Sebastian Montagano
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2004
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- Lakeland, Florida
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- www.hockenberywoodturning.com
I have spun two tiny pewter bowls. Had the privilege of knowing and watching John Brewer spin metal in his later years.
John said pewter was the easiest to spin. When I knew him he said he said he no longer had the strength to spin silver but he did have fantastic silver pieces he had done. I remember John saying pewter din’t get brittle. Other metals have to be treated periodically in the spinning process-not sure how (annealing? Maybe)
Highland hardware used to sell a sort of starter kit. A friend bought one. Doesn’t show on their web site. Might be worth a call to see if they could still order the tools for you.
Not much spinning in the AAW. Have a spinner at a symposium once in a great while
A few articles Articles in the journal I remember one by Ernie Conover and there are others.
Good luck
John said pewter was the easiest to spin. When I knew him he said he said he no longer had the strength to spin silver but he did have fantastic silver pieces he had done. I remember John saying pewter din’t get brittle. Other metals have to be treated periodically in the spinning process-not sure how (annealing? Maybe)
Highland hardware used to sell a sort of starter kit. A friend bought one. Doesn’t show on their web site. Might be worth a call to see if they could still order the tools for you.
Not much spinning in the AAW. Have a spinner at a symposium once in a great while
A few articles Articles in the journal I remember one by Ernie Conover and there are others.
Good luck
Thank you very much for taking the time respond, this was very helpful.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I made my own tools. Not hard if you have some metal working skills. Pewter spins very easy but the metal is so soft your fingernail will scratch it so the final product is only decorative. Cooper and aluminum spin easily but work harden so you have to stop periodically and anneal it. This requires a larger torch than I have so I've only done small pieces. Annealing copper and aluminum is the opposite if steel. You heat it red hot and then quench it. I would have to read up on annealing aluminum. Its trickier as I remember but dont remember the details. I will get on the computer shortly and post a link to a youtube source that is good. I stopped a few years ago when I moved and had to redo my shop. I'm still fascinated by it but not sure what I will do with it which is why I havent jumped back in.
I have done a bit of metal spinning, I like to use copper as it is easy to anneal, with aluminium you need to know what kind it is, you are better of to get Dead soft aluminium, sold in craft stores and by McMaster.
Lubrication is very important, and tools you can make yourself, just make sure the working ends are very smooth, so it does not gall the material.
Lubrication is very important, and tools you can make yourself, just make sure the working ends are very smooth, so it does not gall the material.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I was turning Christmas lanterns today and decided one needed a copper roof so I got out my metal spinning tools. This was really small and hard to do. Fortunately I had made a tool out of a 3/8" shaft. It was rounded and really needed to be a spoon shape to reach into the very top of the roof where it was held by my tailstock. I added just a little texture with some lines. I touched the metal just enough to sort of scratch the lines and leave a texture in them.
Attachments
I posted a bit about CNC metal spinning in the Off Topic section.
Sebastian, I’m glad you posted this. I am somewhat interested in metal spinning. A while ago I almost pulled the trigger on some tools and a rest. But ended up not, for whatever reason. Aside from the sources you mentioned, I found the best luck on eBay. Surprisingly Craigslist in my area had a metal spinning lathe for sale. Looked homemade and beastly. 5hp motor and thick steel. If I had the space in my tiny garage shop I would have bought it! Like Leo and John said, it’s probably not too difficult to make your own tools. Probably even use carbide inserts with heavy metal handles for some of the trimming tools.
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There was a metal spinner I believe had done it in the aircraft industry that did a demo at the Tacoma Washington symposium, but I don't know if the handout booklet is available or has any detail about the process. At the time he seamed to be very knowledgeable and did a great demo.
Well, just found this on You Tube. It is automated, but I like how they heat things up first. I do remember that some times the metal needs to be 'annealed', which is not some thing I really understand since about all I really know about metal is how to grind it...
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCNXaTwN-W0
robo hippy
robo hippy
Boice Crane made metal spinning tools back in the day, if you search eBay on a regular basis you can find a set of these tools. If you find an old set of tools you can clean them up and polish the tools to work properly.