FUNdamentals of woodturning: #1 The faceplate

Summary

In this woodworking video, the host emphasizes the importance of face plates in wood turning, often overlooked in favor of scroll and screw chucks. He showcases various face plates, highlighting their use for different lathe sizes and projects. The host advises against using drywall screws, recommending flathead or Phillips screws of size 10 or 12 instead. He demonstrates attaching a face plate to a block of wood for bowl turning and using a waist block for off-center projects. Techniques like double-sided tape and cross-grain screwing for waist blocks are also discussed, providing a comprehensive guide to face plate usage in wood turning.

Takeaways

• 🔩 The importance of using the right screws for face plates is emphasized; avoid brittle drywall screws and opt for flathead or Phillips screws of size 10 or 12.
• 🛠️ Face plates are essential for wood turning, providing a stable base for various projects, and come in different sizes to suit the lathe and project requirements.
• 🌳 The video demonstrates how to attach a piece of wood to a face plate without drilling pilot holes, which is easier with wet wood.
• 🎥 The presenter showcases different face plates, including a one-way face plate and a large one suitable for large bowls or platters.
• ⚒️ A technique for creating a tenon on a bowl for attachment to a scroll chuck is demonstrated, highlighting the versatility of face plates.
• 🔗 The use of a face plate with a waist block is discussed, which allows for precise and reusable attachment of wood pieces for turning.
• 🔄 The video explains how to reuse a face plate and waist block by parting off the project and repositioning the face plate for new designs.
• 📏 The necessity of using cross-grain screws for waist blocks on face plates is highlighted to ensure secure attachment.
• 🎨 The presenter shares creative techniques such as using double-sided tape on a waist block for attaching small projects to a face plate.
• ⚠️ Safety is a key consideration when using face plates, especially when moving the face plate along a waist block for off-center turning.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video series called 'Fundamentals of Wood Turning'?

The main focus of the video series is to cover essential aspects of wood turning, starting with the use and importance of face plates in wood turning.

Why are face plates considered an essential part of wood turning?

Face plates are essential because they are used to attach the wood to the lathe, allowing for various turning projects to be securely held in place during the turning process.

What is the recommended type of screw to use with a face plate according to the video?

It is recommended to use screws that are 10 or 12 in size, which refers to the diameter of the screw's shank. Flathead Phillips screws are suggested, and it's advised against using drywall screws as they are brittle and can break off in the wood.

What is the significance of the screw size when attaching wood to a face plate?

The screw size is significant as it determines the secureness of the attachment. A screw that is too small may not hold the wood firmly, while a screw that is too large may damage the wood or the face plate.

Why might one need to drill a pilot hole before screwing into the wood?

One might need to drill a pilot hole before screwing into the wood if the wood is hard or dry, as it helps guide the screw in and prevents the wood from splitting or cracking.

What is a one-way face plate and how is it different from a regular face plate?

A one-way face plate is a type of face plate that has a specific direction for the wood to be mounted on it, usually indicated by a marking or design. It is different from a regular face plate in that it may have a more specialized use or design for certain types of turning projects.

What is a waist block and how is it used in conjunction with a face plate?

A waist block is a small block of wood that is attached to a face plate using screws. It is used to provide a larger surface area for attaching the wood to the face plate, especially for projects that require a larger base or for off-center turning.

How does the presenter demonstrate the effectiveness of double-sided tape in attaching wood to a face plate?

The presenter demonstrates the effectiveness of double-sided tape by attaching a small piece of wood to a face plate using the tape and then turning it on the lathe. The tape holds the wood securely in place without any slippage, showing its effectiveness.

What is the importance of using cross-grain screws when attaching a waist block to a face plate?

Cross-grain screws are important when attaching a waist block to a face plate because they provide better holding power in the end grain of the wood. End grain screws do not hold well, so using a cross-grain orientation ensures the waist block is securely attached.

What is the technique shown for reusing a face plate with a waist block attached to it?

The technique shown for reusing a face plate with a waist block attached is to unscrew the face plate from the lathe and move it along the waist block to different positions for various designs on the wood. This allows for multiple turning projects to be done on the same piece of wood without needing to reattach the waist block each time.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Fundamentals of Wood Turning with Face Plates

The speaker begins by reintroducing himself and mentioning his recent visit to Billings, Montana. He announces a new video series on the fundamentals of wood turning, starting with the importance of face plates. Despite having various chucks, he emphasizes that the face plate is an essential tool in wood turning. He showcases different types of face plates he uses, from small ones that come with lathes to larger ones for bigger projects. He warns against using drywall screws, recommending flathead Phillips screws of size 10 or 12 instead. He demonstrates attaching a face plate to a small block of wood, intending to turn it into a bowl, and explains the process without drilling pilot holes due to the wood's wetness.

05:02

🔩 Attaching Wood to the Lathe with Face Plates

The speaker proceeds to mount the block of wood on his lathe, discussing the use of a face plate for starting a bowl. He mentions previous videos on different mounting methods and acknowledges the lower quality of older videos. He advises against using end grain wood for waist blocks with screws as it doesn't hold well. He demonstrates finishing the bottom of a bowl and forming a tenon for a scroll chuck. He also shows another method of using a face plate with a glued-on piece of wood, ideal for preserving burls or unique pieces. The speaker concludes by detaching the finished piece from the waist block using a parting tool.

10:04

📏 Techniques for Using Face Plates and Glue Blocks

The speaker shares techniques for preparing a face plate with a waist block, including flattening the surface with a scraper. He demonstrates creating a recess on a glue block for attaching a project, ensuring even pressure distribution. He introduces a method of marking the glue application area with a pencil and using sandpaper to identify high and low points for flattening. Another technique involves using double-sided tape for attaching small projects to a face plate, which can be reused multiple times. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using cross-grain screws for waist blocks on face plates.

15:04

🌳 Creative Applications of Face Plates in Wood Turning

The speaker explores creative uses of face plates, such as moving the face plate along a waist block for off-center turning, which he notes can be dangerous if not done carefully. He also discusses the reuse of double-sided tape for attaching wood to the lathe. The video ends abruptly, and the speaker humorously includes a picture of a tree, signaling the end of the discussion on face plates.

Keywords

💡Face Plate

A face plate is a round metal disk used in woodturning to secure the workpiece to the lathe. It's essential for holding the wood in place while it's being shaped. In the video, the speaker discusses different types of face plates, their uses, and the importance of using the right one for various projects. For instance, a smaller face plate is mentioned for smaller lathes with a 1-inch spindle, while a larger one is used for bigger projects like bowls or platters.

💡Spindle

The spindle is the rotating axis of a lathe, around which the workpiece is mounted. It is crucial for the turning process as it allows the wood to rotate while being shaped. The script refers to the spindle when discussing the size of lathes and the corresponding face plates, highlighting that smaller lathes typically have a 1-inch spindle with eight TPI (threads per inch).

💡Scroll Chuck

A scroll chuck is a type of chuck used on a lathe to hold irregularly shaped workpieces. It's mentioned in the context of securing a piece of wood for turning after it has been mounted on a face plate. The speaker demonstrates how to create a tenon on the bottom of a bowl blank to fit into a scroll chuck for further work.

💡Tenon

A tenon is a projection on the end of a piece of wood that fits into a corresponding mortise or hole to form a joint. In the video, the speaker creates a tenon on the bottom of a bowl blank, which is then used to attach the blank to a scroll chuck. This technique allows for secure mounting of the workpiece without the need for additional fastenings.

💡Waste Block

A waste block is a piece of wood that is attached to the face plate with screws and used to support the workpiece during turning. It's particularly useful for turning projects where the wood's natural center is not suitable for mounting or when additional support is needed. The speaker demonstrates attaching a waste block to a face plate and using it to mount a piece of wood for turning.

💡Double-Sided Tape

Double-sided tape is used in the video as an alternative method for attaching small workpieces to a glue block or waist block on a face plate. The speaker uses a brand called 'Tessa' and demonstrates how to apply it to secure a small piece of wood for turning. This method is reusable and allows for easy removal of the workpiece after turning.

💡Screws

Screws are used to attach the workpiece to the face plate or waste block. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using the correct size and type of screws, recommending against using drywall screws due to their brittleness. Instead, screws with a size of 10 or 12 (referring to the diameter of the shank) are suggested, with examples given of using 1-inch screws for attaching a face plate.

💡Lathe

A lathe is a machine tool that spins a workpiece around an axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, and drilling. The video is centered around woodturning, which is done on a lathe. The speaker discusses various techniques and tools used in conjunction with a lathe, such as face plates, waste blocks, and the importance of lathe safety.

💡Bowl Turning

Bowl turning is a specific technique in woodturning where a lathe is used to create a bowl from a piece of wood. The video includes a demonstration of bowl turning, starting from mounting a block of wood on a face plate to creating a tenon for a scroll chuck and then turning the bowl. The process involves careful mounting and turning to achieve a symmetrical and smooth final product.

💡Glue Block

A glue block is a piece of wood that is attached to the face plate with screws and then glued to the workpiece. This method is used when the natural center of the wood is not suitable for mounting or when the wood is too valuable to risk damage from screws. The speaker shows how to use a glue block to attach a burl to the face plate without removing any wood with a tenon.

💡Parting Tool

A parting tool is a cutting tool used in woodturning to make clean, straight cuts. In the video, the speaker uses a parting tool to remove a completed project from a waste block attached to a face plate. This allows for a clean separation and preparation for finishing the bottom of the turned vessel.

Highlights

Introduction to a series on the fundamentals of wood turning, starting with the importance of the face plate.

The necessity of not neglecting the face plate despite the availability of scroll and screw chucks.

Recommendation to invest in a quality steel face plate for durability.

Explanation of the different types of face plates and their uses, including one-way face plates.

Caution against using drywall screws on a face plate due to their brittleness.

Advice on selecting the appropriate screw size for attaching wood to a face plate.

Demonstration of attaching a small bowl to a face plate without drilling pilot holes.

Technique for mounting wood on a lathe using a face plate and the importance of alignment.

The use of a face plate for turning large bowls and the advantage it offers over other methods.

Demonstration of creating a tenon on a bowl for attachment to a scroll chuck.

Alternative method of attaching wood to a face plate using a glue block for delicate projects.

Technique for flattening a face plate using a scraper and sandpaper.

Using double-sided tape on a face plate for reusable attachment of small projects.

Safety reminder about the importance of using cross-grain screws when attaching a waist block to a face plate.

Creative technique for off-center turning using a face plate and waist block.

Conclusion and reminder to explore creativity and safety in using face plates.

Transcripts

hello once again I'm back in the shop I

spent a couple days in Billings Montana

and I need to make another video I'm

going to do a series of videos for

everyone I'm going to call it

fundamentals of wood turning the first

one I'm going to do on the face plate

something that we sometimes neglect

because some of us like like myself have

lots of scroll Chucks and screw Chucks

and different things but we can't forget

about the face plate and it's an

essential part of wood

turning so let me just start off with a

couple things that uh we shouldn't

forget and are really helpful when we're

trying to attach something to the lathe

I'm going to show you a few of the face

plates that I have and I use them quite

often this is a face plate that you

would typically get with some of the

smaller lathes and you're going to get a

face plate and a Spur drive and some

other small items that will fit on your

Lathe for the

smaller uh lathe you'll have a 1in

spindle usually so we have 1in threads

in there eight TPI

threads um here's another one that's

that's a nice small

one what I would recommend if you're

going to spend a little bit of money get

a nice steel one this is a a really

pretty face plate and again that's 1 in

uh threaded recess there this is a

one-way face plate and it's also got a

1-in uh recess there very high quality

face

plates and here is a big one so if I'm

putting a large bowl or a platter or

something and I want to start that I'll

use something like this and that's very

handy to have unless you're turning

really big stuff you don't need a 6-in

face plate like that probably not

necessary now one of the most important

things I can share with you are the

screws that you're going to

use on a face plate now the old saying

never say never well I'm going to say it

never use drywall screws on a face plate

you know drywall screws they're very

brittle and if they break off in the

wood you're going to have a heck of a

time getting those out so I like to just

use uh let's see what are these Flathead

Phillips and I'm not really sure there's

some sort of

Steel but the important thing is the

size you may want a 1 in or 1 and 1/2 in

that's that's okay that's going to vary

depending on the size of the piece piece

of wood and whatever you're doing at the

moment but I like the size to be a 10 or

a 12 this particular screw is a 1 in and

the size is a

12 and the size is

simply the diameter of the the shank of

that here's another bit little bit

larger one so that's very important 10

or

12 you can kind of play around and

experiment with that and I've got jars

of screws that I use for my face

plates here's a one of my boxes that

didn't make quality control and it's

full of different size

screws and the they're they're usually a

Phillips and they get worn out just toss

them

so I am going to put a face plate on

this block of wood right here now I'm

going to show you how I start with a

small bowl like this let me take the

uh outside apart I just cut that on my

band

saw and this piece of wood had a branch

coming out of it so someplace in here

there's probably some uh crotch figure

that should be pretty nice I don't need

an enormous face plate on that many

times I'll I'll be turning a really

large bowl and I'm going to use a bigger

face plate maybe something like

that and I'll show you on the lathe

exactly what I do let's attach this with

some screws I've got the center marked

on that so I'm going to just line this

up I'm going to look down through this

recess and just line that

up I'm going to take some of these 1in

screws I think that's all I need and you

may need to drill a pilot hole in

these I'm going to just I'm going to

just see if I can do this without

drilling a pilot

hole line that up that's about as good

as I'm going to get I'll put the rest of

the screws in

here now that I've got a couple screws

in there I'm going to uh wrench those

down nice and

tight I've got my face plate attached

let's go over on the lathe and do a

little

turning all right now I'm going to mount

this block of wood on my lathe and I'm

going to just turn this and put a Tannon

on the bottom of that so I can put it in

a scroll Chuck before I start start that

I want to mention that I have a couple

videos they're titled mounting wood on

the lath uh different methods of

mounting and I'll put a link up now a

while ago I promised myself I'm not

going to go back and redo a bunch of

videos here is one of the problems I'm

running up against is some of those old

videos the quality of the filming is not

very good I didn't do a lot of those

videos in high de so this may be a

little bit of a repeat but I'm going to

show you some new things I believe that

I didn't put in those other videos but

look them up mounting wood on the on the

lathe and I would appreciate it if you

would share these videos I think there's

a lot of people that would benefit from

this so let's put this on the LA and

we'll do a little churning and one

reason I like to use a face plate on a

block of wood like this to start my bowl

is because often times I will have a

really big piece of wood and for me it's

just easier to attach this with a face

plate instead of using other methods I

could use a screw

chuck some of those things that I would

do some of those different techniques

I'd have to bring up my tail stock with

this I really don't have to so I'm going

to lock my spindle make sure that's good

and tight on there

okay now just one more word on the

screws I used to put this face plate on

this block of wood I didn't drill pilot

holes because this piece of wood is

fairly wet and if it's wet wood the

screws go in a little bit easier

depending on the hardness of the wood

you're using you may have to drill a

pilot hole now I'm just finishing up the

bottom of this bowl and I'm starting to

form a

Tenon this is not a bowl turning video

so I've got this uh speed it up quite a

bit so we'll go on from

here so there we have it I've got my

tenon for my scroll chuck all made up I

use my detail Gall to do that I like to

get in there and I got a a dovetail

Tenon and I'm all ready so that's one

way to use that face plate and that's a

great way to start a

bowl so there's my bowl ready to reverse

I've got the Tenon and that's a little

piece of box elder that'll make a nice

little

bowl now this is another way I use a

face plate a lot this is a little Clos

form it's not quite a hollow form and

I'm not sure if I'll put a lid on

that but I've been working on this it's

uh dry it's finished turned to the final

thickness and I'm in the process of

coloring

it and this will look a lot better when

I get a little bit of a gloss on there

so I got it on a face plate and a glue

block and I've got that piece of wood

glued on there and this is a good

technique to use when you have a really

nice piece of

wood nice Burl that you don't even want

to take uh any of that wood off with a

Tenon so you can glue that on a glue

block you can do a little bit of work

and then you can take it off and put it

back on and it's always going to be Tred

up so that's another really good method

for

attaching um a piece of wood with a face

plate let me show you something

else now I need to add one footnote here

when I'm completed with this vessel and

I no longer need it on the waist block I

simply take a parting tool and remove it

that way and then finish the bottom of

my

vessel now here is another face plate

and I have a waist block screwed onto

that all right take

28 now here is a face

plate and I've got a little waste block

screwed onto that ready for some project

now I have several of these face plates

with a waist

block screwed on and I'm going to just

flatten this face and get it ready for a

project

now I've just taken the wing of this uh

bow gouge and just flatten that a little

bit I'm going to take a scraper and

fine-tune that so here's a spear Point

scraper I'm going to just uh really

flatten that face this has a little bit

more of a straight edge on it

[Applause]

just check that that's pretty good now

let me show you something I do on a on a

waist block like this I'm going to glue

this on to something I'm not sure what

I'm just reparing this I'm going to just

take my spindle gouge in the very

center and I'm going to develop a recess

in there so what I'm going to do is I'll

put glue on this area right here and I

try to put that at 1 in from here to

here and when I part that off whatever

that project is I know how far to go I

don't really need glue in the very

center of that and sometimes I'll finish

that base pretty well so I just glue it

on part it off and there you have it let

me show you one more thing

so with my pencil I'm marking that area

that I'm going to apply glue in the very

center I won't put any glue on that I

just have a little piece of

plywood with probably 60 grit sandpaper

on that so I'm going to just take that

and put it on the face of

that and what this does it tells me my

high points and my low points on the

face of that glue

block and that's actually pretty uh

pretty well flattened I'll just do a

little bit more on

that and you can mark that

again and just see where the high points

are and if it's really not very flat you

can take a tool and uh make that flatter

okay now here's another technique you

can use with a face plate and glue block

or waist block and you can reuse this

until you get down to the uh pointing

your screws and you need to make sure

you know where that is so you don't run

your tool into it I have a couple pieces

of double sided tape or double stick

tape all tape has two

sides and what I'm using and I get this

question all the time what am I using

this is uh Tessa

teesa and if you go on

eBay and search that you can find this

tape this is the best double-sided or

double stick tape I found works very

well it's a little bit expensive I don't

know what that roll is going to cost you

2530 bucks but it'll last you quite a

while so let me just take

the the facing off that tape

and there's

one there we have it so I'm all ready to

put a small project on that I have a

little piece of wood which is a really

nice Burl it's box elder and this could

be the lid of a hollow form or just a

very small bowl or something but just

for demonstration purposes I'll put this

on this double stick tape and the idea

whether you're using double stick tape

or glue is you can reuse this glue block

over and over again so I'm going to just

get this lined up as best I

can now what I'm going to do off camera

I'm going to put a clamp on that and let

it go for about 10 minutes with

double-sided tape bring your tail stock

up put a little pressure on that and

that really grabs pretty well but we

want to make sure and I'm going to put

just a little bit of pressure on there

with a clamp okay I put a clamp on that

for about 10

minutes and most people will advise you

to do

that if you're using double-sided tape

so I'll just get my gouge out and do a

little bit of chewing up on

this I'm thinking I'll put a small Tenon

on that and make a little bowl out of it

and yes I'm going to use my face shield

for this now you've seen me turn little

bowls before so I'm going to speed right

up through this and we'll continue on

with the main topic of face plates now

I'm taking a small parting tool and I'm

defining the area that will be my tenon

for my scroll check and I'm just working

my way around the outside of this little

bowl with a 38 inch Bowl

gouge and you can see my double stick

tape is holding very

well now I've decided to put a little

smaller Tenon on that that'll go better

with the shape I'm I'm going for so

let's take this

off just see how how well this is

holding on

there and I'm I'm not going to be able

to take that off just with my

hands often times I've got to take a

chisel or a putty knife or something and

and wedge that off but let's just beat

on that we'll just see how well that's

holding you get the idea that's not

budging I got to get a

chisel okay here's an old woodworking

chisel I just put that in there and

there we

go now I've turn bowls that are 6 or 8

in in diameter with

double-sided double stick tape so that

really works really well that's a little

bowl well there is my little bowl had to

finish that off camera

these are great little things to give

away to a kid if they visit your

shop it's not much but it's a really

pretty little piece of wood now here's

another thing about the double stick

tape if you are careful you can actually

reuse that and when in doubt bring your

tail stock up now there's a lot more to

using a face plate lots more it's just

depends on your

creativity and what you can apply and do

it safely now one thing I didn't mention

I need to mention is when you're doing a

waist block on a face plate it needs to

be cross

grain screws do not hold very well in

end grain this a little piece of you

know endgrain

wood and if you put screws in there

they're not going to hold very well

don't do that so don't use an ingrain

piece of wood and put screws in there

and use it for Waste block here's

another project

that I've got setting there I need to

finish and it's off center obviously

I've turned a little Bowl here I've just

started this this project and what I

have is I've got a waist block this

piece of plywood double stick taped to

this piece of wood and what I'll do is

I'll unscrew the phas plate and move it

along this waist block for different

designs on the face of this piece of

wood I can maybe put another bowl over

here a smaller one or or put rings and

you and I know that this has been done

it's been uh turned off center but the

center of it where this face plate is

has been moved and that's a really

really cool technique to do you got to

be careful cuz this can be really

dangerous well that's it on face plates

that video ended did rather abruptly so

here's a nice picture of a tree I'll

talk to you later