Scott NC Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 I know some on here have lathes in their shop. Have you ever made a fixture or jig to make something special? Here's a small fixture I made to cut a little rack gear out of alumuminunum for a project I had. It was in the experimental stages as you can see by some of the mangled teeth. I eventually worked the kinks out and also cut some out of cast iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Well not a metal lathe; but I built a fixture for my wood lathe for turning soapstone spindle whorls based on Viking era finds at Birka. Note turning soapstone can expose you to asbestos so MITIGATE or AVOID! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Thomas, I have done the same thing but used an electric drill on a low rpm setting held in a vise and kept everything wet with a spray bottle. I have more confidence in the soapstone sold at Hobby Lobby for carving of being asbestos or tremolite free than something from a random ourcrop. I don't know about the soapstone used for sinks and counter tops but, in my experience, it is harder than that sold for carving. BTW, soapstone makes a dandy mold for casting spindle whorls. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Mine was old laboratory benchtop and very crystalline and I worked it wet too. I had a very nice breakdown of the several hundred? whorls found at Birka and used to make them for my wife's spinning. I found alabaster to turn nicely too. I used carbide tipped lathe tools for the rough work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Will have to go back and read all that followed the OP. But as for me, time for a fotoshoot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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