Lathe Face Plate

[James]

Hi Group, I'm starting to get back into woodturning and have a question about face plates. I seem to remember from my junior high shop class (a long,long time ago) that some of the face plates that were set up for bowl turning had a piece of 3/4 plywood attached to them then a piece of heavy paper glued on then the bowl blank was glued to that. My question is was there any screws going into the bowl blank or is it just held by the paper? BTW the lathe is an old Dunlap that I purchased when I was in junior high and I've played with it off and on over the years. I'm now retired and have more time and a real shop. Thanks, Jim

[-MIKE-]

Just the paper, I believe. It's there to keep the glue joint from being permanent.

I've done the same thing without the paper, but using mdf on the faceplate. You can pry the mdf off and sand down to the bowl (or in my case, a drum shell). I suppose I could've used paper, too, to make it easier.

[tom]

Yep, just held by the paper. Glue_ both_ sides of the paper, one side to the workpiece, the other side to a chunk of scrap that is screwed to the faceplate. To separate, split the paper in two with a sharp chisel. Caveat: Sometimes, noting the grain direction of your workpiece when separating can help get a clean break. Tom

[Old Guy]

Jim,

That's the way I learned to do faceplate turning too, and it does work.

i used scrap hardwood rather than MDF or plywood, just cause its stronger.

BUT...I wasted two years working with face plates instead of buying a decent scroll chuck, and I regret it. The scroll chuck with a wood worm screw is much more versitile, and lets me do all kinds of things that a face plate didn't. (easy remounts, lidded bowls, adjusting natural edge bowls for balanced appearance, remounting to polish wax as some examples.)

I've launced a few bowls from glue block mountings, and from the chuck--keeping them on the lathe is more a matter of how you cut than the mounting method.

Yeah, a scroll chuck is expensive, but think of all the money you are saving using the old lathe!

Old Guy

[Phisherman]

Just the paper. This technique is used in other woodworking applications to secure the piece temporarily. Without the paper intercourse there is a glue joint.

[-MIKE-]

Are you worried about strength when making a connection purposely weak?

[nailshooter41]

Agree on both points. MDF can come apart, and plywood will (unless built up thickness of baltic birch) forever be out of balance.

I used metal face plates for a couple of years, then bought a VicMarc scroll chuck. It literally changed everything about bowl/box style turning. I started planning the turning projects around the chuck. Then I bought more jaws... then I bought another chuck, too!

If you are reluctant to buy a chuck due to its price, check this out;

lot of guys are using them, and with a quick tune up they seem to be an excellent buy.

As always, just my 0.02

Robert

[LEGEND65]

Tried that, but my lathe doesn't have a spindle lock. Couldn't get it all the way on with one hand. And then when I turned it around and tried to use a forstner the bit wasn't happy about the hole in the center. Didn't go too well for me and the woodworm.

-Kevin

[James]

That's one of the things I'm watching for. The lathe has a 3/4 X 16 thread but I've found a place where I can get a 3/4- 16 to 1 X 8 adaptor so that will give me some more choices. Jim