I’m new to Fine wood working, I worked as a production cabinet maker for a year and am now a apprentice electrician.
my question is about turning chess pieces, how to repeat one design consistently, what is the best wood types that are cost effective to learn on? And how do I avoid the chip out? Increase speed or less?
(The piece below is basswood)
Replies
Harder, denser wood will turn better than soft. If you want a light color, maple will turn very nicely.
Thankyou
One expects small differences between hand turned parts but height and main diameters should be quite repeatable. For this I first turn the parts to an exact diameter and mark the main features with a patern, then with the 1/8'' parting tool and a caliper I turn down grooves to exact depth and using gouges and skews I turn the features between the grooves. The curves may vary a little but holding the first sample piece parallel behind the lathe as a reference helps.
As said maple is a good cheap wood to use, once you get into making fine pieces my favorite white wood is boxwood and for dark pieces, Padauk, Lignum vitae, ebony, rosewood. Price does not matter much in those small quantities.
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