Turning a round 1" copper solid bar on lathe?
#1
11-13-14, 10:09 AM
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Turning a round 1" copper solid bar on lathe?
I am wanting to turn a piece of 1" OD copper solid round stock. It is C101 Oxygen free H04 material, labelled HARD COPPER.
I want to turn it into the shape of a BULLET. Approx. 2" long, actually want to turn down to 7/8" OD, than shape the front like a BULLET.
I want to do this on my Wood Lathe.
I am very arty, have lots of experience in metal and wood working, but not turning copper.
Comments are needed, and I can't be offended, so fire away.
Dale in Indy
I want to turn it into the shape of a BULLET. Approx. 2" long, actually want to turn down to 7/8" OD, than shape the front like a BULLET.
I want to do this on my Wood Lathe.
I am very arty, have lots of experience in metal and wood working, but not turning copper.
Comments are needed, and I can't be offended, so fire away.
Dale in Indy
#2
11-13-14, 02:57 PM
Dale, not my forte, but I believe you will need a 4 jaw clamp to turn the billet with. The pokey type arbors on standard wood lathes just won't grasp the metal, IMO.
#3
11-13-14, 06:07 PM
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I was thinking using the CENTER HEAD SPUR, and the LIVE SPUR on tail stock. I would take a hack saw and cut a + in the head spur, and drill a center counter sunk in the live spur.
I was going try a file first to shape it.
Hoping someone has more info.
Dale in Indy
I was going try a file first to shape it.
Hoping someone has more info.
Dale in Indy
#4
11-13-14, 06:21 PM
Just thinking out loud, but the stability of a cutting tool to machine even copper is far more than hand held. I know you weren't thinking of doing that, but my thoughts lean towards an active cutting tool, like a grinder. While the stock is turning a grinder passed across the length would provide a rough stage towards where you want to be.
Just a thought. These days I just take my ideas to my nephew who owns a machine shop, much easier.
Bud
Just a thought. These days I just take my ideas to my nephew who owns a machine shop, much easier.
Bud
#5
11-13-14, 08:23 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Copper is one of the more difficult metals to machine. On a regular metal lathe it cuts a long, snarly curl of metal rather than chips. On a wood lathe I would suggest that you use a coarse rasp and even that will soon become clogged with the metal. A long rasp pushed slowly while the billet is turning MIGHT work okay but the finish will be rough and you will need to use a finer toothed file for finishing and finally using sandpaper. If you want a polished finish it will take a LOT of work.
#6
11-14-14, 06:14 AM
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My copper arrives via UPS today, so will do some testing, VERY CAREFUL TESTING.
Thanks for the info YOU THREE,
Dale in Indy
Thanks for the info YOU THREE,
Dale in Indy
#7
11-14-14, 10:33 AM
what the others said
File it, grind it, sand it.. just don't try to cut it with a handheld tool. I take it this isn't a precision operation and there's no tolerance involved, just aesthetics.
#8
11-14-14, 08:16 PM
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Yep, going to chuck it in my lathe, and go at it with files, etc. Don't have any plans to take a wood turners wood handled tool for the process, although a very experience wood turner I know has done such, and said just use a SCRAPER, not a GOUGE.
Just looking for a Bullet shape, not an exact piece.
Dale in Indy
Dale in Indy
Just looking for a Bullet shape, not an exact piece.
Dale in Indy
Dale in Indy
