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So here's a video on pocket mirrors I found on youtube.  i'd love to make some for my bridesmaids for my wedding next month.  I don't agree with how he uses his tools but i have some questions on some of the things that he does

1. he uses a hot glue gun to hold on to his blank.  is this safe?  can't you turn it all from the same blank? 

2. is it safe to use a rag / paper towel that close to the chuck when using the dovetail holding method in the chuck (when he flips the mirror to finish the back)

any other concerns?

i was thinking of cutting some rough circle on the bandsaw and then turning them (like he did).  good idea?

+1 on no cloth. I use paper towel all the time. It fails if it ever catches and I often barely feel the catch.

I've had very good success with hot glue. I've had other things fail like crazy with double stick, the foam kind. I haven't tried the carpet tape some people use.

Anybody ever gotten a catch with their hacksaw?  (Yikes!)

I like the look of the finished project, but yeah ... some "tools and techniques" training would not go amiss.

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Best of luck on the mirrors for your bridesmaids ... be sure to post 'em when you got 'em! 

BTW, have you selected the wood yet?  If so, does it give any clues about your "colors"?

Ðave Wendell wrote on 09/07/11 at 09:08:59:



I agree with the smoother finish and using a rag.  My rags are usually less than 1-2"

i also do the CA / BLO finish, but mainly for my razor sets.  Here's an example of my latest endeavor *note that those are my fiance's hands, NOT mine    but I love the BLO/CA finish but i don't use it on any of my other items other than my razors, just at the moment.  not sure if i should do it for everything.


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My tool rest is as far as it can be when i sand on the lathe.  I like my fingers!

Kerry,
I think i might just use a maple burl to make mirrors.  My original idea was to make one of my rose hand mirrors for each girl is a different rose color:
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See each girl is wearing a different fall color (red, gold, burnt orange, and two different browns) and I was going to make roses in those different colors but I am running out of time (30 days) so i think a pocket mirror might be more useful.  If i was really crazy (and I am) I could inlay the rose, then turn it... but i am afraid the fiance will send me to the loony bin

But long response short - our wedding color is burnt orange. 

JimQuarles wrote on 09/07/11 at 11:06:17:


You know i do the blo/Ca finish i hit it with 1500 grit.  then i end with the friction polish on top of the CA.  then i "buff" it with the non-sandy side of the sandpaper.  feels like glass, smooooooooooth 

I also use small 2" - 3" old white t-shirts. I grab between my fingers so if it catches it just pulls out. I never wrap around my fingers.

+1 for using a hack saw in the manner Nate mentioned.

I've used a hacksaw a few times... until I applied to much pressure one time and my blade broke, scared the crap out of me, that is when I made a very thin parting tool out of a sawzall blade along with its own handle... haven't had a problem sense!!!

Like the others here, I use cotton cloth as well and I too will NOT wrap it around my fingers/hand, I use mostly old white socks and sometimes old white Tee shirts sense I have to replace them about twice a year the old ones work well for something other than the garbage can. Mama even used my old socks to dust around the house, she says it cheaper than buying dust cloths or them feather thingies...