Hello, I would like to make spiral vases - never attempted. I believe I am supposed to use my index wheel to mark out and such. can you tell me specifally how an index wheel that basically causes the lathe to remain stationary in ' x ' increments is able to assist me in creating a spiral effect?
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spiral work
- Thread starter Kenny
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kenny,
I know 2 ways to lay out a spiral using the index wheel.
the basic concept is to connect offset marks at each end of the spiral.
The examples are for 6 spirals
1. put a pencil line at both ends of where you want the spiral pattern. Use the index wheel to mark 6 evenly spaced marks on both pencil lines. draw a line from the head stock mark to a mark on the tailstock end. offset the marks 1 or 2 to get the spiral you like. A length of 12-3 electical wire can be bent to the contour of your form and provide a curved straight edge. A flexible rule will work but you might need three hands. You can also put 12,18,24 marks on one of the cirlces to get different spirals.
2 draw a pencil line at each end ot the spiral pattern and add 3 or 4 fairly evenly spaced lines around the form between the two ends of the spiral. Use the index wheel to draw 12 evenly spaced lines from the bottom to the top. You now have a grid on the form. Free hand a spiral by goiny up 3 over 1 and up 2 over 1. Start a spiral on every other mark to get 6. Sketch in the spiral 6 lines and make them all look close. This is pretty fast and fairly accurate.
If you have a feature to show or hide, lay out you first spiral over this area.
happy turning,
Al
I know 2 ways to lay out a spiral using the index wheel.
the basic concept is to connect offset marks at each end of the spiral.
The examples are for 6 spirals
1. put a pencil line at both ends of where you want the spiral pattern. Use the index wheel to mark 6 evenly spaced marks on both pencil lines. draw a line from the head stock mark to a mark on the tailstock end. offset the marks 1 or 2 to get the spiral you like. A length of 12-3 electical wire can be bent to the contour of your form and provide a curved straight edge. A flexible rule will work but you might need three hands. You can also put 12,18,24 marks on one of the cirlces to get different spirals.
2 draw a pencil line at each end ot the spiral pattern and add 3 or 4 fairly evenly spaced lines around the form between the two ends of the spiral. Use the index wheel to draw 12 evenly spaced lines from the bottom to the top. You now have a grid on the form. Free hand a spiral by goiny up 3 over 1 and up 2 over 1. Start a spiral on every other mark to get 6. Sketch in the spiral 6 lines and make them all look close. This is pretty fast and fairly accurate.
If you have a feature to show or hide, lay out you first spiral over this area.
happy turning,
Al
Last edited:
Bill Bowers wrote an article in Issue #2 of Woodturning Design magazine on laying out spirals.
Joe
Joe
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I just got Stuart Mortimer's book on spiral turning. Before reading this book I just simply took masking tape and wraped it around the piece. A few tries and I got the spiral I wanted. Then I just craved the piece with wood rasps.
I'm working on a design that would allow me to use my new Bestwoodtools carving stand. I'm going to adapt a plate to the top so I can use my trim router and the index on my lathe. I'm so busy right now at work I don't know when I'll have time to actually produce a piece to see how if this idea works but I sure am having fun making sketches while working.
I'm working on a design that would allow me to use my new Bestwoodtools carving stand. I'm going to adapt a plate to the top so I can use my trim router and the index on my lathe. I'm so busy right now at work I don't know when I'll have time to actually produce a piece to see how if this idea works but I sure am having fun making sketches while working.