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pa-paw

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What am I doing wrong?
Feb 18^th, 2006 at 11:43am

I’ve tried turning three bowls so far, and I’m having the same reoccurring problem. The bowls finish ok, with the exception of a part of the outside and inside edges of one side. I can’t seem to sand out the tool marks on the side opposite of the perfect side. Help

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Rev. Doug Miller WR Addict Offline Working flat so I can support my addiction. Posts: 9,601 Hardinsburg, KY Kentucky USA Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #1 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 12:34pm Put a heavy coat of a good paste wax on it, let it dry a few minutes and then use a sharp scraper with a light touch. Should help. 8)
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Rick Davenport Active Member Offline Posts: 187 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #2 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 1:02pm You're probably dealing with end grain tear out. I run into the same problem, but usually it occurs on both sides of the bowl where I'm cutting end grain. Do what RevDoug said. He knows lots more than I do. Rick
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pa-paw Active Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 118 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #3 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 1:14pm Quote: You're probably dealing with end grain tear out. I run into the same problem, but usually it occurs on both sides of the bowl where I'm cutting end grain. Do what RevDoug said. He knows lots more than I do. Nope, the end grain on these bowls run bottom to top. Rick
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E. Bud Gillaspie WR Addict Offline Where'd I put that round tuit? Posts: 1,182 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #4 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 1:21pm Rick, you have a great source for both learning and answering questions right in Edmonds, WA. Her name is Molly Winton. She's a notable turner/carver. Also, da Rev. has given the same information I'd have given. I sometimes carefully use a cabinetmaker's scraper--slow speed, leather gloves, & a tight grip on the scraper.
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jprosise Active Member Offline Posts: 159 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #5 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 2:00pm Sometimes a good coat of sanding sealer will stiffen the fibers and make them easier to scrape or cut with the gouge. You can friction dry it on the lathe using a paper towel in about 20 seconds.
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Gil Jones Ex Member	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #6 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 2:11pm Do you think that, maybe, you are impressing compression tracks with the heel of your gouge? Riding the bevel is good, but too much bevel pressure will compress the wood fibers in a racetrack fashion. Just a thought, it has happened to me, and sometimes it shows up weeks after finishing is done (and I do not know why).
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Curt Fuller

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Re: What am I doing wrong?
Reply #7 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 2:58pm

Hey pa-paw, if you find the way to turn a bowl without a little tearout, before you pass it along to everyone else get a patent on it. It will make you famous (among woodturners anyway). My experience is that all wood will do it to some degree whether its endgrain or with the grain running up and down, green usually alittle worse that dry. Sharp tools help a lot, and any type of lubricant on the final cuts helps (I like to use WD40). But in the end I've never turned a bowl yet that didn't require some serious sanding in those spots you pointed out. That's why there are so many discussions on power sanding and tools to make the sanding a little easier and faster.

If bowls could be turned without any tearout, these folks would know how....

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But they still have to sand theirs too.

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« Last Edit: Feb 18^th, 2006 at 3:03pm by Curt Fuller »

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Larry Charlot WR Addict Offline Professional Sawdust Maker Posts: 1,443 Yakima, Washington Washington USA Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #8 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 4:13pm I would say end grain tear out as well, also less presure and speed with the sandpaper. Rick, welcome aboard I am just over the Mountain in Yakima. Nice website Rick as well. Larry
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Rick Davenport

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Re: What am I doing wrong?
Reply #9 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 5:08pm

Thanks for the welcome neighbor Larry.

And Bud, I have met Molly at my first meeting with the Seattle AAW. I offered to give her a ride, but I had just met her on the internet and her husband didn't like all the knives on my website Undecided

I've been turning for about 9 months now and just got a new Powermatic 3520 yesterday.
A real step up from my Delta midi.

For the time being my middle name is "tearout" until I can prove otherwise.

Hope to learn lots from you folks and will spread any applicable fertilizer if the opportunity presents itself.

Rick

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pa-paw

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It's not tear out
Reply #10 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 5:26pm

The problem is more like unequal pressure with the tool or sandpaper. Things seem to wind up uneven, even though I'm moving my sandpaper around and applying pressure. One side is great, but 180 degrees across it stays rough. I know it sounds crazy.
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Jim_Ketron Full Member Offline Posts: 69 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #11 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 6:23pm Got Reverse?
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pa-paw

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Re: What am I doing wrong?
Reply #12 - Feb 18^th, 2006 at 6:41pm

Quote:

Got Reverse?

No I don't. The bowl is history anyhow. First of all, part of the side tore off as I was roughing it. I glued it back on and filled the cracks with epoxy and brass shavings. Lastly the edge split down in two places, when I decided to apply some water based dye to the bowl as it was rotating on the lathe. It looks as if I’m writing a text book on the no, no’s of bowl turning..LOL. In other words, don't do as I do. At least I know what not to do now. Cry

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Ned A from South GA WR Addict Offline Formerly Nappen who said...Sleep is for wimps Posts: 1,584 Gender:	Re: What am I doing wrong? Reply #13 - Feb 19^th, 2006 at 4:25am Is the wood wet when you start, perhaps it is starting to warp a bit as it drys and that bit of uneveness in the curve leaves and unsanded and an oversanded area. Just a thought, most likely tearout if it is rough, or bevel pressure if it is more line like in nature.
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Jeff Matter

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I got a new lathe for
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Re: What am I doing wrong?
Reply #14 - Feb 19^th, 2006 at 6:31am

If the bowl has warped or distorted depending on which way, the low spot on the inside would be the high spot on the outside, thus when sanding the outside, the paper would cut more of that spot removing the marks. When I get trouble spots like that, I get out the drill with a 2" padded disk with 220 or finer on it and sand away those spots (with the lathe stopped). Be carfull not to grind to much away out of one spot. Once the spot is almost gone I turn the lathe back on and use the drill to go over the whole piece again.
If that doesnt get the mark out, I whip out the ole 60 or 80 grit gouge and go to town. If the bowl is warped, this method will not have a favorable outcome

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