Reverse Turning-Why & Doing It Safely

[mlchapman]

My new Jet 1642 can be reversed but I'm not sure why I want to or what the safety issues are.

I'm new to turning, but not new to woodworking, therefore I know that safety takes priority over all else.

Would some of you please educate me about when reverse turning is a good technique and how to do it safely?

Thank you in advance.

Mike Chapman
mlchapman

 

[Mark Mandell]

Mike,

Know some "real" turners who do it, but I only used reverse for two things

1st: sanding. Allows the grit to brush up and cut fibers that otherwise pack down.

2nd: Use it to run the spindle counterclockwaise when turning outboard so you don't immediately unscrew your chuck when you turn on the lathe. 😀

M

 

[Brian Hahn]

I use the reversing feature a lot when I'm sanding. It's not a problem with spindle work, but for faceplate work you have to be careful not to unscrew the chuck. I spin my chucks on really tight and only use light pressure while sanding, so I haven't had a problem. I have turned in reverse on between centers work where the grain or angle was a problem, working from the back side of the lathe. But that really is a case of I did it because I could, not because I had to.

If I were going to do faceplate turning in reverse, the first thing I'd do is add set screws to my chucks and faceplates to lock them onto the spindle. (Don't have the expensive white machine and don't want one.)

 

[hcbph]

You can hang a duplicator on one side and the toolrest on the other.

 

[Bob Hadley]

I use reverse for turning more than I though I would. Sometimes just because I can. Sometimes for sanding.

Sometimes, when boring steel or aluminum parts (I bolt-on an old Hardinge cross-slide for the odd metal part), I reverse the spindle and cutter to get a better view of the action.

It's probably not necessary, but handy.

And I never use it to speedily unthread parts from the woodworm screw.

BH

 

[hockenbery]

Some people use reverse for hollowing

Quite a few turners like using reverse for hollowing. They find it is more comfortable and less leaning. My wife has been trying it for small things and likes it a lot.

Of course the tools they use are backwards from the normal ones. or the normal ones with the cutters are mounted on the bottom and flipped over so that they point in the right direction for hollowing with a revers lathe rotation.

-Al

 

[Anthony Yakonick]

Due to carpel tunnel and shoulder problems, I turn the inside of bowls and do a lot of hollowing in reverse. Note, I cut a groove into the spindle of my General for the set screws.