Creating Tiny Porch Posts Using Proxxon Tools

 

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to show you how I turned tiny porch posts on the Micro Woodturning Lathe. I'm still building one of my tiny houses and I thought this would be a nice addition instead of just a plain wooden dowel. Let me show you how I made them.

Supplies:

   Proxxon Micro Woodturning Lathe DB 250

   Proxxon Scroll Saw

   Proxxon Five Piece HSS Chisel Set

   Wooden Dowel

   Sand Paper

First, I determined the length of the posts and cut two pieces using the Proxxon scroll saw.  I added on an extra inch because I can't tell exactly how long they need to be until I put the base on the house. That won't be till I'm further along.  

The next thing was I needed to determine the center of each end of the dowels and mark them. My lathe came with a small tool you use to mark the centers.

Once I had the centers marked, I attached the dowl to the lathe and tightened it on. With a pencil I marked 2 lines where I wanted the turning or carving away the wood to be.

Using the chisel set, I chose the parting tool.  This chisel is flat but cut at an angle. Resting on the tool rest, I started to carve in the details.

I also used a piece of sandpaper against the wood to taper the dowel.  Then finishing up again with my parting tool.

I took the dowel off the lathe and attached the second dowel. I marked it again with a pencil so I could try and copy the first dowel.  I repeated the whole process.

 

Now I've got two porch posts that are finished and ready to be attached. I still have some work on the porch before I attach the base, so the posts will go on after that. Once I can tell exactly how long each post needs to be, I may turn a small detail at the bottom also.

Thanks for following along.  Till next time...

Colleen  :-)

How to Make a Wooden Lamp Pull on a Lathe

I have a pull cord shop light over my work area, and decided to dress it up will a wooden lamp pull made on the Proxxon Woodturning Lathe.

Supplies and Equipment for Making the Lamp Pull

• 7" length of ¾" hard wood dowel
• Proxxon MICRO Woodturning Lathe DB 250
• Sandpaper in varying grits—150, 220, 320, 440
• Paste wax

Instructions for Making the Lamp Pull

1. Mark the center of the dowel rod using a centering square. Make a divot in the rod at the center point.
   
2. Mount the rod in the lathe. Snug the tailstock making sure that the point of the tailstock rests in the center divot.
   
3. Use wood turning chisels and gouges to carve a simple beaded pattern on a 1½" portion of the dowel rod. Finish the lathe work on the lamp pull with the exception of parting off.
4. Release the tailstock and replace it with a drill chuck specially designed for the lathe. Insert a ¼" drill bit in the drill chuck. Center the bit in the divot and drill out the center of the lamp pull.
   
5. Release the drill chuck and replace it with the tailstock. Using increasingly fine sandpapers, sand the lamp pull until it is smooth. Polish with a paste wax.
   
6. Part off the lamp pull. Alternatively, you can remove the rod from the lathe and use a band saw to free the lamp pull.
7. Thread the lamp cord through the pull, and secure with a knot in the cord.
   

Carole

Hair Stick Turned on Proxxon Lathe

I love turning wood using my Proxxon wood turning lathe!! My latest project are these hair sticks.

I started with a 1/4" oak dowel for each hair stick.

I mounted it on the lathe, and used the roughing gouge, skew tool, and spindle gouge to add the decorative beading on the hair sticks.

This is the first hair stick as it came off the lathe, along with a close up of the beading detail.

The next step was coloring this hair stick with Plaid Folk Art Ultra Dye. Wow!! What a vivid color it gave the wood!!

The second hair stick I polished with wax. And, you can see by my pic below that I'm not a candidate for a hair stick!! So, these have found a new home with someone who has the gorgeous hair to show them off.

Carole

Lacemaking Tools Turned on Micro Lathe

Besides working with mixed media and papercrafting projects, I also make bobbin lace. Bobbin lace is made by hand, and is one of the ways lace was made before machines. And, just like papercrafting and mixed media work, I love the tools!! I used my Proxxon Micro Woodturning Lathe to make these lace tools.

These are two varieties of needlepins—one with a straight needle and one with a bent needle. They each began as a 1/2" oak dowel rod.

Here you can see the dowel mounted on my lathe, and the beginning shaping of one of the needlepins. I'm using a roughing gouge to establish the basic shape that I want.

Next, I fine tune the piece with a spindle gouge and a skew tool. Here I'm using the spindle gouge.

When the piece is completely shaped, I move on to sanding, which is done with the piece on the lathe. I hold a small piece of sandpaper in my hand and gently move it over and under the wood. To achieve a satin smooth finish, I use progressively finer grits of sandpaper, generally started with 150 or 220 and ending with 440. 

After the sanding process, I remove the finished piece from the lathe with the end pieces still attached. I then use my Proxxon Scroll Saw to part off the scrap. Using the scroll saw rather than completely parting off on the lathe eliminates any torn end grain.

I finished these lace tools with a tinted resin coating. Now they're on my lace pillow ready to go to work.

Carole