How to Use Table Lathes

Using a lathe to create the rounded parts of a wooden project is the easiest and fastest way to trim the wood, compared to sanding or chipping the wood by hand. A lathe is a turning machine that holds the wood stock and spins it while you or another part of the machine cuts designs or rounds the wood stock using a chisel or other cutting tools. Table lathes are smaller, less sophisticated versions of the stand-alone lathes. These lathes require the operator to hold the cutting tool against a rest.

10-inch or less wood stock
Carbide-tipped turning tool
Eye protection
Leather gloves
220-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Place the wood stock in the headstock by pushing the spindle into the center of one end of the wood.
- 2
  Adjust the tailstock by turning the wheel until the spindle in the tailstock enters the free end of the wood stock.
- 3
  Adjust the tool rest to 1/8 inch from the wood. The tool rest has a turning screw holding it in its place. Spin the headstock wheel to guarantee the wood will spin without hitting the tool rest.
- 4
  Put on leather gloves and eye protection.
- 5
  Turn on the table lathe by flipping the switch from off to on. Set it for the lowest speed with the speed control lever.
- 6
  Set the carbide tip of the turning tool on the wood stock at a 45-degree upward angle.
- 7
  Move the speed up as you turn the wood. Finish carving the wood stock in the design you chose.
- 8
  Press 220-grit sandpaper on the turned wood, carefully matching the design to guarantee the sandpaper doesn't change the pattern.
- 9
  Turn off the lathe and unwind the wheel on the tailstock to remove the newly turned wood.

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