On 3/31/2026 at 7:08 PM, Rusty S said:

This is a fwiw, what if you fabed a rubber washer to go between your chuck and spindle nose to help seal it

I did get to try that this morning in the few minutes I had to spend in the shop. I was able to find a 2" diameter, 1.*" thick rubber washer at the hardware. I had to cut out an opening to fit over the spindle. Sorry to say it didn't make any difference, but for $1.79 it was worth a shot. The chuck really holds tight as is, so I'll fiddle around with it like it is and see how much use I have for it. Thanks for the idea.

This will be my last comment on the vacuum chuck leakage. I did figure out that it was my shop built chuck bodies that were leaking. I tightly wrapped them with stretch wrap and turned the pump on. To my surprise the vacuum came right up to 24", which is where my vac bags usually top out. So for now my solution is to leave the stretch wrap on them, I may make new ones or redo these. I'll just wait and see how things go. I don't understand why they leak since I really tried to seal them up good, but it is what it is. I'll say this, at full vacuum I cannot pull the piece off the chucks, they really hold well (but I still won't skip all the safety advice when I'm using them). One other thing, I did finally get some vacuum QD fittings so I can switch the pump between the bags and the lathe. Lew had sent me a link on where to buy them, many thanks to him for his help with that.

10 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I tightly wrapped them with stretch wrap and turned the pump on. To my surprise the vacuum came right up to 24"

I wonder if you use a thin sanding sealer, or maybe thin CA, cover the opening, turn on the vacuum and then apply the sealer. Maybe the vacuum would suck the sealer into the pores making a better seal???

It's an idea that may be worth trying.

Go ahead, laugh at me, it's been done before. But I had a few minutes of time between doctor visits and starting dinner so this is what i did. I use a lot of 3 and 5 gallon buckets around the property for all sorts of things. But the plastic handles are not only uncomfortable when the buckets are filled with something heavy, they also fracture and break off easily. So I made some wooden ones on the lathe to replace them. Being an untalented turning guy, this gives me a chance to practice using some tools I find difficult (like a skew) and still produce something that's practical (for me) as well. So all I do is turn the handle (always white oak) and then drill a 5/16" hole through it. I then saw in 1/2 lengthwise on the scroll saw (thinnest kerf I have) and glue it back together on the bucket. So that's what's on my lathe at the moment......

That's OK, @Fred W. Hargis Jr, I have been known to turn a dowel instead of going to Lowe's.

I like that tool rest!

Cool way to spend a few minutes of spare time. I like it.

Great idea and if you carve some finger grips in it even better, plus larger size means less fatigue.👍

7 hours ago, Gerald said:

Great idea and if you carve some finger grips in it even better, plus larger size means less fatigue.👍

I wish I had thought of that, finger grips would have given me some practice on coves and beads. I have a few more to make, I'll try that.

Hey Fred......come on man GET A GRIP !!!!!!🙃

calabrese55

Started this hollow form with intentions to do some carving on it but got a bit thin in spots . Still can save it I think except for crack's at the red bottom.

If anyone can save it, you can!

Question, what is the wooden box on the headstock?

On 6/19/2026 at 11:34 AM, lew said:

If anyone can save it, you can!

Question, what is the wooden box on the headstock?

Always need small stuff and it started as a tray but progressed to a box with drawer. Mostly sandpaper , steel wool and some small pieces of exotics for burning lines. Has a raised edge so things I put on top do not roll off, that is mainly for in progress projects. After some development on current lathe station I mounted my sanding system to the top. Funny thing is I have pictures of most of the shop but not one of that box.

Thanks, @Gerald !

I like trying to combine resin and wood in something that looks like a vase or bowl but I have a hard time thinking up different things to keep me interested. Had two recent failures with a couple of designs when the resin just failed in the mold due to too much cure heat. I am looking to go back to a 4 day deep pour cure formula but in the mean time this is my default resin try. Two resin castings, the first created the resin detail for each of 8 staves. The second to join the staves into the basic vase upper and lower pieces using resin as the "glue". I am really trying hard to get this on over the finish line 🤞.

mike c

1 hour ago, calabrese55 said:

I am really trying hard to get this on over the finish line

Hoping this one turns out OK! It will be a stunner!

As always thanks Lew and Dan for your kind support. If I screw the pooch on this one I am thinking about taking up stamp collecting 😬

The local woodturning club had their annual auction. Mostly chunks of wood suitable for turning. I've been threaten with divorce if I bring home more wood, but, there was this one piece that kept calling my name. Several of the members picked it up but decided not to purchase it. At the end of the meeting it came home with me. I think it is elm burl but not 100% sure. Mounted on a waste block using hot melt glue. About 11" in diameter and 1" thick.

Going to be a bugger to sand!!!

Lots of nice figure in it.

@HandyDan , Thanks!