Turning techniques.
I’m not very keen on turning stair spindles which are long and springy on the lathe , but at least it gives me a chance to practice and demonstrate a technique which invoves supporting the part turned spindle with my hand to reduce chatter and allow an even cut.
This is a good method to use in winter as it keeps the hands nice and warm!
It may just about be visible in this shot that I am using a ring centre in the tailstock. I do this when turning spindles which retain some square section at each end. A normal single point centre will sometimes find its own path between harder and softer rings in the timber and end up quite a bit off centre, whereas a ring centre will prevent this.
It is a slow job to produce a set of spindles but very rewarding once completed. Please don’t bombard me with lots of requests to turn these things, I’ve done my set for this year!