I’ve been migrating to sprayed on lacquer finish for some of my turned projects. Spraying lacquer with the piece on the lathe makes for a real mess and trying to get a good even spray with the piece sitting on the bench is problematic. So I got this wild idea ….
Pick up an old phonograph turntable and use it as a motorized rotating spray platform.
Do you know how hard it is to find one of those things these days! In fact, one second hand store I went to, the young gal, perhaps 20 or so, looked at me with such an odd look when I mentioned “record turntable” like she had no clue what records were. As in vinyl, that is.
In any event, I finally found one. The guy said he wouldn’t guarantee that the amp/speaker were in working condition and it needed a stylus, blah-blah-blah … I told him what I wanted it for and walked out of the store with a $5.00 spray setup! Got home and yanked all the electronics out of it ‘cept for the motor stuff, of course. The plus is that the motor is a syncronous type motor; no brushes so no sparks so is relatively safe around airborne volatiles like spray lacquer. I’ll still keep an air flow across the operation, though, just to be a bit more safe.
I’ll need to turn a suitable ‘disk’ out of like MDF to fit over the spindle that sits a bit proud of the existing table which will also cover up the speed control. Everything from 78RPM down to 16 2/3.
Oh does this bring back memories. I need to dig out some of my old jazz vinyl again. (I do have a decent turntable for those!)
Replies
Pick up an old phonograph turntable and use it as a motorized rotating spray platform...
Get one of then things used in a Micro-Wave! Well, if project not to heavy..
" ...Get one of then things used in a Micro-Wave! Well, if project not to heavy.."That's an idea, Will. At least for the secondary platform. I've got an old MW I keep in the shop for drying out turning blanks that has a glass platform that rotates. I wonder about the wisdom of putting it back in the MW oven after it's had lacquer sprayed all over it, though??
I wonder about the wisdom of putting it back in the MW oven after it's had lacquer sprayed all over it, though?? Just some smoke and fire?
< wonder about the wisdom of putting it back in the MW oven after it's had lacquer sprayed all over it, though??Just some smoke and fire?>yeah, thats right.....whats the big deal ;-) aloha, mike
DennisS,
Another way to spray turned objects I have used is to suspend them from fishing line or the likes from the ceiling with a screw fastened to attach to one end of the spindle . IMO the spinning may make it difficult to actually get a decent build up .
good luck dusty
IMO the spinning may make it difficult to actually get a decent build up .
I was thinking the same thing. Like a couple of the other responders here, I just use a simple turntable that I turn with one hand while spraying with the other. Mine is just a simple pipe inside of a larger metal flange with a piece of cheap plywood screwed on to make a small square table top which I can then spray on. If it gets too painted up it's just four easy screws to back out, cut a new piece of scrap whatever and screw it back on.
Dennis,
Nice idea, but it probably wouldn't last long under the spray conditions I am used to. We have a little table in the spray room with a lazy susan bearing for the same purpose. With your free hand you can turn it as necessary. The overspray gunks it up a lot, and about once a year we just throw it and start with a new bearing.
DR
Ring -I actually bought a lazy suzan hardware bearing for the same purpose and was trying to figure out a way to motorize it when I finally found that old turntable. The hardware cost a bit less than $US9. The record turntable was only 5! (grin). I imagine there will be a problem with finish buildup but I doubt that I'll put it to as much use as you do. I'm only a hobby turner with very low production volume and don't spray everything even at that.I guess part of what prompted me to post about this was the whole business of record turntables being such a thing of the past. How quickly technology overtakes itself.
How true...
Wonder what we'll be doing with our hard-disk drives in a few years time?
DR
You can dismantle the hard-drives and salvage the magnets for auxiliary fences and jigs. The discs themselves make nice air-rifle targets.
John in Texas
nice air-rifle targets Them tree rats!
Now do I put it on 33 1/3, 45, or 78 for this finish?
"
Now do I put it on 33 1/3, 45, or 78 for this finish?"Well, now ..... it's like any fine precision tool; it has to be "dialed" in! Depends on the finish (material), atmospheric conditions and all the rest. I'm thinking that if I put it on 78, held a spray can or spraygun well away from the piece, I could just shoot continually until I had about 1/8" of finish laid on provided I used someting that would flash off really fast. Or perhaps the lowest speed would be better for this approach? (grin)By the way, this one has 16 2/3 speed as well.I remember that format but don't ever remember seeing any records done at that speed.
16 2/3 Geee, I never saw that. Maybe for old Country slow dance songs?
16 2/3 HAD a very important use. You use it to play any record sung by 'Tiny Tim.' It brought his vocal range low enough for humans to hear him. SawdustSteve
I just place the item to be sprayed on an old swivel-type barstool and turn it manually.
I would be very reluctant to place anything electrical in the path of atomized nitrocellulose laquer because it's so darned explosive.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
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