Having a blast with the lathe, and now the new PSI chuck. I am still learning and trying to incorporate these tools into the shop. One recent one, I couldn't get a "handle" on was the Incra Miter SE1000. It didn't feel right. As it "turned" out, the handle didn't fit my hand or my eye. I felt that it was too thin and I didn't have a good grip on so, I took this: It's an Oak pallet remnant given to me by a member
Into this:
And turned it using the new PSI chuck.
I was inspired by both the old car days when some of the highend vehicles and some US muscle cars came with wooden "Teardropped" shaped shift knobs. And also, being a new wood guy, inspired by the old hand planes that had beautiful wooden knobs.
As you can see, there is quite a difference! Turning the handle was easy and so was installing a 1/4 20 threaded insert and corresponding rod. (no glue up necessary) I then mounted on lathe and sealed with CA glue and 1 coat of HUT and 1 coat of woodwax. Once Finished, I cut the extra rod to size and this:
Now looks like this:
And this is only Oak pallet wood, imagine a Curly Maple! and better finish.
The neat thing about it is you can shape into anything you want! and the project only took me a couple hours! (I didn't know what shape or how big/small, etc..)
For me it was about form and function! It feels better and looks better to me.
Why settle for prefab plastic that companies use to cut costs and increase margins, when we have an abundance of scrap ready to convert into something more useful and pleasing to the eye?,
Thanks for looking!
Matt
12-06-2008, 03:47 PM
Linear Mode
