The turner's companion /

by Anonymous

Plate 14.

Arrange the circle a little smaller than for pattern 1, and on a level with the centre point of the work. Set the chuck wheel at 120, cut a circle; then one at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, when you will find the eight outer circles of the pattern are formed. Then move the slide-rest screw forwards four numbers, and to No. 1 on the eccentric chuck wheel; then to Nos. 14-31, 44-61, 74-91, 104. By following the same rule in the other circles you will find the pattern is not difficult, though at first it may appear very intricate. As all depends upon properly counting the numbers on the eccentric chuck wheel, to make the calculation more easy, I give the proper numbers for the sixteen circles composing one cluster, and you will then see that the others can readily-be done the same, always remembering to move the slide-rest screw forwards four numbers for every row; 1, 15-2, 14-3, 13-4, 12-5, 11-6, 10-7, 9-8; the latter single number forms the centre or outer circle near the edge.

PATTERN 3.

This pattern requires great attention and care to work it properly. Having arranged the cutter tool, screw it out four turns to make the circle the proper size, then move the cutter to the edge of the work, cut a circle at Nos. 120, 40, and 80, on the eccentric chuck wheel, then set the wheel at 20, and leave it fixed. Your next operation must be to screw down the eccentric chuck, and alter the position of the tool on the slide-rest, till, by laying your hand on the fly-wheel and moving it gently, the tool of the cutter appears to describe a half circle across the wood, in the same way as for the arc patterns. Having arranged the first arc, move 40, as before, and see whether the second will exactly meet it, then the third; they should each diverge from the centre of the first circles which were cut round the edge; if they do not exactly fit, move the chuck up and down, and the slide-rest screw backwards or forwards, till you find the exact position; as, however, the arc is difficult to settle, the line being of course an imaginary one, as the tool must not touch the wood, it is a good way to cut a piece of pencil to fit like the tool into a box, and with it mark the arcs; they will easily rub out, and thus you will be able to be more certain of your proper distance and position. The next thing is, to see on the fly-wheel of the lathe how many numbers are required to form the arc; thus, if it begins, as the one I have worked did, at 360 of the brass wheel, and ended at 85, stop the wheel at the former number, cut a circle, then one at every fifth number on the same wheel, till you arrive at 85; then move forty numbers on the eccentric chuck wheel, and do the other arc the same; then the third one.

PATTERN 4.

The arc pattern is first worked: arrange it as directed for pattern 3, and mark the outline with a pencil: in this, the arc began at 280 of the fly-wheel, and ended at 168, making in all 116 numbers; to divide 58 for each half of the arc, divide them thus—4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 3, 4; then count back 4, 3, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4. You will see that the numbers increase one every time or for every circle, which also is enlarged one notch for each. Having made the three arcs fit by marking their position with the pencil in the cutter box, cut a very small circle at 280, enlarge one notch, count 5, cut another, enlarge a notch, count 6, and so on till you have counted, in all, 49 numbers; do not enlarge the circle, but cut one, counting three numbers, then 4, which will be the middle, then 4 again, then 3, then 10; after 10, decrease the circle one notch for every cut, and count backwards, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4. The other three arcs are done the same, by counting 40 for each on the eccentric chuck wheel; for each of the crowns cut five circles just above the arc, by counting one number for each circle on the eccentric chuck wheel, then lower the chuck one number, and cut the same circles again through the others; lower it half a turn more, and cut two circles; then half a turn again, and cut one circle above and between the last two.

PATTERN 5.

Set the cutter to the middle, enlarge the circle four turns; then turn the slide-rest screw two numbers to the right, cut one circle, and for each of the other eleven, screw the chuck down one turn, then return to the middle and cut eleven the other way. When 23 are finished, screw the slide rest to the left four numbers, and cut 23 more exactly in the same manner. To work the side patterns begin by that on the right, set the cutter to the middle of the work, unscrew it two turns, move the cutter slide twelve turns to the right on the slide-rest, cut the middle circle, enlarge one number of the cutter, lower the eccentric chuck one turn, and, to keep the outside of the circles in a straight line, move the screw of the slide-rest inwards half a number: proceed the same till the nine circles are cut, then return to the middle circle by counting back nine turns of the eccentric chuck, nine numbers of the cutter, and four and a half numbers on the slide-rest; proceed exactly in the same way to cut the other eight circles, only raising instead of lowering the eccentric chuck one turn for each circle. The opposite pattern is worked the same, only taking care to turn the slide-rest screw outwards the half turn for every circle, or the straight pattern will come contrary.

In all these straight patterns take great care that the fly-wheel is stopped in such a manner that the eccentric chuck stands perfectly upright: to do this, hold the T square against one side, and make a mark on the brass wheel for the stop to enter. When you are quite sure that the chuck inclines neither to the right nor the left, drill a small hole in the wheel sufficiently deep for the stop to hold it quite firm. You will then find your patterns will always come straight.