Here's what I use to turn stuff under 6" in diamter.  It's my old 6"Craftsman (Atlas) metal lathe.

Before I started to turn wood on the lathe, I designed and made the aluminum square turret you see in the image.

The "turning Tools" are mounted in the square turret as shown.

That home made brass driver head you see is mounted to a Number 2 Morse taper sleeve.

Then, It's all "hands and eye" stuff with one hand on the crosslide handle and one on the carriage handle.

Here's 2 images.  One of the turret and tools, and one of a finished 6" bowl.

 

I have read online that many people buy a metal lathe so they can turn both wood and metal.  Saves them buying a second lathe.  

 

SQ

 

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It it can't be fixed with glue and sawdust - it's not worth fixing.

Sue..

 

Very true, but I'm limited to a 6" diameter.

Here's an image of an 8" bowl that was in WOOD some time ago.  I re-sized each dimesion by 25% to make it fit.

 

 

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Lare..

Wow!  Very nice!  What kind of wood is that?  

SQ


Larry Jenkins said:

Sue..

 

Very true, but I'm limited to a 6" diameter.

Here's an image of an 8" bowl that was in WOOD some time ago.  I re-sized each dimesion by 25% to make it fit.

 

 

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Lare..

Thanks, Sue..

Good ole Red Oak with a hand rubbed Satin Poly finish.  (0000 steel wool and TreWax)  See my Finishing Blogs..

Four different turnings, attached together with dowel piins.  Kinda strayed from the WOOD plans..

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Lare..