How to produce angles on the lathe without using the compound slide - video

**Jon** · Mar 23, 2022, 03:41 PM

How to produce angles on the lathe without using the compound slide. By Steve Jordan. 8:23 video:

**uv8452** · Mar 24, 2022, 01:10 AM

OK. That is an emergency workaround for decorative and small tapers. Under the condition that your lathe has no compound slide.
But your's has one .... It is faster to adjust 2 times the compound slide.
You can use your step-guided filing for irregular (geometrically not easy to define) shapes, like baroque columns.
Anyway, it is always rewarding to look for alternative techniques.

**mklotz** · Mar 24, 2022, 08:21 AM

Yes indeed, other shapes are quite possible.

A common item is ball shapes used to terminate handles. If you don't have a ball turning attachment, this incremental steps followed by filing procedure can produce very satisfactory spheres or hemispheres.

The free BALLCUT.ZIP archive on my page contains a program to generate a cutting schedule for any size.

Oh, and a tip: after cutting the steps, slather the workpiece with marking out dye; then you'll know to stop filing when all the dye has disappeared.

**drivermark** · Mar 27, 2022, 10:18 PM

Back in High School (late 70's) we had to make a ball peen hammer for our first machine shop project and we were required to cut the head and the taper of the handle "free hand" I guess you would call it, using the carriage and the cross slide only. Took a while to master but it was fun to do when it turned out right.