David Conley
Well-known member
Everyone,
I am interested in making a bed. I drew up my plans for turned posts and a blanket roll. The problem is that the bed of my lathe is 36 inch long and the post are 54 inches and the blanket roll is 57 ¼ inches long. I am planning to spin the posts in two sections and the blanket roll in three sections. I am planning on adjoining the sections together with a 2 inch long and 1 inch diameter tenon. I have picked out the joint locations where I will have a 3 inch diameter cylinder for the mortise.
My questions are:
1) Does the mortise and tenon joint seem to be sized appropriately?
2) When and how do you drill out the mortise, before or after turning? I have given it some though and here is some of my thinking. I am really open for suggestions.
MORTISE BEFORE TURNING: I have thought about drilling the holes in the rough turning stock and then dry fitting a tenon plug into the mortise. The tenon plug will also be turned so it will have a well defined center point for the lathe. The tenon plug will also be only an inch longer then the mortise. I think this method should accurately align the center points of the tenon and of the mortise. Also, I will place the plug tenon end of the post on the non-drive side of the lathe.
MORTISE AFTER TURNING: I am thinking that the drilling operation will require a little more precision to ensure the drill press table is perfectly vertical, the turning stock is perfectly vertical, and that the center is perfectly marked. The one advantage is that the turned piece will be a cylinder and I can accurately align it to the drill press’ table.
OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO: In writing this, I am thinking that a combination maybe better. The first operation is to turn the blank into a cylinder so that I can get the advantage of accurately aligning the piece in the drill press. Next, I would drill the mortise, insert the tenon plug, and finish turning the piece.
OR, am I just making a mountain out of a mole hill. And that I should just pick one method and just do it.
One advantage of being a hobbyist is that you have plenty of time to piddle.
Thanks for the information in advance,
David
I am interested in making a bed. I drew up my plans for turned posts and a blanket roll. The problem is that the bed of my lathe is 36 inch long and the post are 54 inches and the blanket roll is 57 ¼ inches long. I am planning to spin the posts in two sections and the blanket roll in three sections. I am planning on adjoining the sections together with a 2 inch long and 1 inch diameter tenon. I have picked out the joint locations where I will have a 3 inch diameter cylinder for the mortise.
My questions are:
1) Does the mortise and tenon joint seem to be sized appropriately?
2) When and how do you drill out the mortise, before or after turning? I have given it some though and here is some of my thinking. I am really open for suggestions.
MORTISE BEFORE TURNING: I have thought about drilling the holes in the rough turning stock and then dry fitting a tenon plug into the mortise. The tenon plug will also be turned so it will have a well defined center point for the lathe. The tenon plug will also be only an inch longer then the mortise. I think this method should accurately align the center points of the tenon and of the mortise. Also, I will place the plug tenon end of the post on the non-drive side of the lathe.
MORTISE AFTER TURNING: I am thinking that the drilling operation will require a little more precision to ensure the drill press table is perfectly vertical, the turning stock is perfectly vertical, and that the center is perfectly marked. The one advantage is that the turned piece will be a cylinder and I can accurately align it to the drill press’ table.
OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO: In writing this, I am thinking that a combination maybe better. The first operation is to turn the blank into a cylinder so that I can get the advantage of accurately aligning the piece in the drill press. Next, I would drill the mortise, insert the tenon plug, and finish turning the piece.
OR, am I just making a mountain out of a mole hill. And that I should just pick one method and just do it.
One advantage of being a hobbyist is that you have plenty of time to piddle.
Thanks for the information in advance,
David