Never to late to teach this old dog new tricks. I got my Jet lathe last fall and it has been cold enough that it has set idle for the last few months. I went out to the garage last week and much to my horror the bed of my lathe had a light rust coating. I used Scotch Brite & mineral oil to clean the rust off and applied Johnsons wax to the bed, but never thought about the bottom of the tool rest and the tail stock. Watched your video and back out to the lathe I went and finished what I had started. The tool rest and tail stock now slide like they are on ball bearings yet lock down tight as a drum. Thank you for mentioning that little trick. The magnets also are pure genius! Thank you for sharing!!
Awesome! Glad you were able to get out in the shop again. It’s been cold here too makes it hard to do long periods of time. Glad the paste wax worked for you! I’m thinking about going back to it on everything I just like the way it feels. Happy turning!
John I run a dehumidifier all the time in my workshop it is about as cheap to run as a fridge and effectively reduces the damp. It also puts a little warmth in the shop.
Thanks for sharing, I definitely learned some new things I have magnets 🧲 but never thought to put them on my lathe and drill press! I also think i will be gluing some to my cabinets now to hold a few items like my Calipers for sure. I’m thinking of new stuff as I’m typing this message!
Geiserwoodturner You’re welcome, I hung a few things today with them and im thinking now about the mess of drill bits in the drawers of trying to find a long magnetic bar to stick the bits to the back of the upper cabinet other than throwing them in the drawer which is just a big mess.
Instead of wax for bed ways and tools I use non-stick cooking spray. It is cheap and fast, also no finishes stick to it. It can also be used as a mold release for resin casting. SAFE TURNING, John
I’m not a metallurgist, but from what I can tell this is not true. Hardness and temper are affected by temperature during the heat treating process. There are however some interesting studies about hardening while exposed to a magnetic field. For now though some tools can become magnetized, but any that do can be de-magnetized. Also I’m not putting my turning tools on magnets, mostly things like calipers, chuck keys, and screwdrivers that aren’t crucial to keeping an edge.
Neodymium magnet on the key or the driver will prevent you dropping the screw or bolt you are undoing, beats hunting for it in the shavings and it works wherever on the tool shaft that you attach it .....
Absolutely! I’ve done it before. I just rubbed it on and used as much friction as I could to rub it back off. Thin coat is key cause it’s a little more sticky than paste wax. You also get a little more build up of wax.
You give good advice, but the wall behind you is dreadful. Can’t paint those cinderblocks? I’m expecting admiral, Stockdale to walk by. It really looks like the Hanoi Hilton
Best wood working/lathing channel on RUclips.
Thanks so much!
Fantastic video, thanks very much.
Great Ideas! I need to pick myself up some magnets.
I have the same 2 lathes both are great in their own ways
Awesome! Yes each is great in it’s own way for sure!
Never to late to teach this old dog new tricks. I got my Jet lathe last fall and it has been cold enough that it has set idle for the last few months. I went out to the garage last week and much to my horror the bed of my lathe had a light rust coating. I used Scotch Brite & mineral oil to clean the rust off and applied Johnsons wax to the bed, but never thought about the bottom of the tool rest and the tail stock. Watched your video and back out to the lathe I went and finished what I had started. The tool rest and tail stock now slide like they are on ball bearings yet lock down tight as a drum. Thank you for mentioning that little trick. The magnets also are pure genius! Thank you for sharing!!
Awesome! Glad you were able to get out in the shop again. It’s been cold here too makes it hard to do long periods of time. Glad the paste wax worked for you! I’m thinking about going back to it on everything I just like the way it feels. Happy turning!
John I run a dehumidifier all the time in my workshop it is about as cheap to run as a fridge and effectively reduces the damp. It also puts a little warmth in the shop.
Thanks for sharing, I definitely learned some new things I have magnets 🧲 but never thought to put them on my lathe and drill press! I also think i will be gluing some to my cabinets now to hold a few items like my Calipers for sure. I’m thinking of new stuff as I’m typing this message!
Thank you! There’s so many uses I have to keep a stack of magnets on my tool box. Just in case.
Geiserwoodturner You’re welcome, I hung a few things today with them and im thinking now about the mess of drill bits in the drawers of trying to find a long magnetic bar to stick the bits to the back of the upper cabinet other than throwing them in the drawer which is just a big mess.
Instead of wax for bed ways and tools I use non-stick cooking spray. It is cheap and fast, also no finishes stick to it.
It can also be used as a mold release for resin casting.
SAFE TURNING, John
Great tips.
To protect my lathe rails, I use non stick cooking spray and is ready for immediate use. Just thought I would pass this on. SAFE TURNING, John.
Ha ha probably better for the lathe than for my body. It doesn’t get sticky or anything?
Absolutely not. It is the best!
Magnets for tools- I do not know if this is true or not but I was taught as a boy that long-term exposure to magnets will remove temper from steel?
I’m not a metallurgist, but from what I can tell this is not true. Hardness and temper are affected by temperature during the heat treating process. There are however some interesting studies about hardening while exposed to a magnetic field. For now though some tools can become magnetized, but any that do can be de-magnetized. Also I’m not putting my turning tools on magnets, mostly things like calipers, chuck keys, and screwdrivers that aren’t crucial to keeping an edge.
Neodymium magnet on the key or the driver will prevent you dropping the screw or bolt you are undoing, beats hunting for it in the shavings and it works wherever on the tool shaft that you attach it .....
Excellent tips. I have just started, and I have a little some challenges moving the banjo. Can you use beeswax instead?
Absolutely! I’ve done it before. I just rubbed it on and used as much friction as I could to rub it back off. Thin coat is key cause it’s a little more sticky than paste wax. You also get a little more build up of wax.
You give good advice, but the wall behind you is dreadful. Can’t paint those cinderblocks? I’m expecting admiral, Stockdale to walk by. It really looks like the Hanoi Hilton
😂 thanks for the advice but I no longer live there. This video was from 5 years ago. 🤷🏻♂️