Woodturning Lathe
Safety Precautions
- Tie back loose clothing and long hair
- Remove rings and gloves
- Clean around the machine, ensuring nothing can hit the work or machine during operation
- Wear the appropriate PPE for what you are working with:
- Face guard
- Facemask for Resin, MDF, and toxic materials
- Apron
- Check the wood/material for defects
- Remove unneeded accessories
Post Use
- Clean the work area
- Clean the lathe
- Remove any standing sawdusk from the iron surfaces.
- Re-attach the tailstock and tool rest if removed.
- Remove the chuck / drive center / tailstock center
- Reset the speed to the lowest level.
Lathe Maintenance
- Clean the rails with WD40
- Spray on WD40
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Wipe clean, try to remove any wood resin staining.
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Clean the tailstock with WD40
- Move the tailstock forward and back, spraying WD40 and working it in.
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Remove the live center and clean off any excess WD40.
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Dust around the chuck mount and tailstock
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Ensure that no dust is stuck inbetween the the chuck's jaws.
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Check the belts
- Belts should be tight, with no obvious cracking on the outside.
Tool Maintenance
- Clean off any sawdust
- Wipe clean with either a wet wipe or WD40 on a rag.
- Use a diamond file to treat the tool's sharp edges.
- If the tool has a nick or dent in the cutting edge, then treat the tool on the bench grinder.
DO NOTS
- Use GT85 around the lathe (could interfere with woodworking finishes)