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example of a micro dollhouse made at 1/144 scale. |
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Using dowels less than 1/4" in diameter proves challenging. |
Over
time, I've turned various small items for use on scale models.
Some of the pieces I turn are 1/8" in diameter, and I've
found it difficult to secure the tiny wooden blanks in my lathe.
Even if I use my chuck's smallest jaws, the dowel needs to be
at least 1/4" in diameter to ensure a secure hold.
Typically, I use a larger piece of wood that clamps securely
in the chuck. I then turn the ends down to make
the size of piece I want. This is fine for making one or two items, but
not for making several of something.
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A
chuck from an old electric drill holds the tiniest dowels
(1/4" diameter or less). |
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A
few times, I've clamped a drill chuck in my lathe and used it
as a dowel chuck, which is quicker than changing jaws on the
lathe chuck. The chuck shown in the adjacent photo is from an old
electric drill and holds any dowel up to 1/4" diameter
and down to almost nothing. However, it has only three jaws,
so it works best with round dowels and not so well with square
ones. Also, sharp bits of metal turn quickly close to my knuckles
and my tools. Should something get caught in the chuck, it could
do some serious damage.
When I wanted to attempt even smaller turnings, I thought I
should make a safer lathe — one that wouldn't have openly
rotating parts (other than the wood), and one that would be
easier to handle than my 3' long cast-iron lathe. Preferably,
it would clamp the wood in such a way that I wouldn't have to
waste an inch of dowel for every 1/4" long part. I also wanted
set up for the subsequent piece to be quick. |
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