turning copper for the first time on the lathe learning about the lathe

cutting turning machining copper with mixed results it’s my first time on the Colchester lathe turning metal like copper I have turned brass bar and steel bar and even aluminium bar but for today we are in the workshop on a big Colchester lathe project turning copper bar to see if it can be done this is my first lathe copper turning let’s see if it will cut copper and I will learn about using a lathe tool this way cutting with a lathe tool is good fun for the beginner

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hi Chris, Always interesting watching comparison testing... Cheers Paul,,

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Thanks ! I guess sometimes you’ve just got to try things and see how it goes 😀

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

I turn ( high tin ) bronze daily, many years ago I bought a CBN hone, best thing I've ever done, worth it's weight in gold. I use it to give a bright edge to brazes carbide tools. I tried turning copper, it's a pig to turn, I thing cutting lube would make a big difference. I have rubbed a work piece with a banana skin before using a finishing ( negative rake, almost no clearance ) tool.

[@txlabmansteamtoysmore4980]

Interesting test. Thanks.

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Thanks 😊, steam toy man .. I used to have a big collection myself , all gone now .. but , can you rate my mamod v8 out of ten ? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmGYhoKCqJiGhtE

[@fattossa]

Another great vid...very informative...thanks Chris..

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

fattossa how’s the wood turning going ?🙂

[@fattossa]

@@chris-the-bodge-sculptor yes ok but i wasnt happy with the stay that i made so im making a new one out of a piece of cast iron that i dug up in the garden a few weeks ago

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

fattossa 😅 classic bodge 😅 nice one 👍

[@codprawn]

Forgive me for asking a silly question but why are you using a left hand tool to move to the right? The HSS one. Taught me 2 things today - polished inserts and diamond ones - didn't know they were available - something more to buy now!

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

codprawn re the question... just grabbed it , it’s my go to turning tool for brass I used it on my recent turning between centres video with nice results, so though I’d try it 🤔, but yes not ideal for facing and definitely the wrong profile for copper , going to make a positive rake hss with a small radius and see if I can polish it of a fashion on the buffing wheel , think it can be done...🙂

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

codprawn the diamond and polished tooling mostly used for aluminium, I went crazy buying stuff when I first bought the lathe, I couldn’t get a good finish... so I splashed out ££, it turned out I just needed to calm down and learn to grind hss ... and make a grinding jig which I did 🙂

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJXSh4qlirJ1jNU

[@codprawn]

@@chris-the-bodge-sculptor That is the problem I am getting. Brass and aluminium are fine but turning steel I get a crap finish. 1000rpm is not fast enough for carbide tooling. And I have no HSS.

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

codprawn do you have a negative rake tool holder , they’ve suited for steel

[@subtee607]

I was happy to see that cutting speed rpm, depth of cut, SFM and IPR are not a factor given that you supplied none of them.

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Wouldn’t have a clue it’s a old lathe , it’s have a go and see what happens ( first time)

[@MG-Driver]

I use carbide on copper and gives a great finish. I’ll have to do a vid of my chipmaster soon

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

ohhh ! youve got a chipmaster :) nice look forwards to that

[@phillcrn93]

A large rad on the tool steel if I recall, is the answer

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Phill Slade thanks Phil, I think I will try both large and small, to see 😊 which is best should be interesting

[@manfacilitymetalworks1296]

Would a different cutting speed alter the finish?

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Manfacility Metal Works the hss cutting tool geometry is way off I need to regrind it , sometimes what’s behind the cutting edge is important, the freshly cut metal needs to flow away from the face of the cut or it can gum up the tool so it doesn’t cut properly 😕 ...

[@bigblue1402]

When this covid thing is over Chris thall ave to come over to Chorley with all your dull cutting tools and grind them on my Clarkson mk2 cutter grinder

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Thank you 😊, I’ve always wanted one of those, very handy and a handsome looking machine, did you get all the attachments with it ?

[@bigblue1402]

In the process of making a few missing items chris

[@bigblue1402]

@@chris-the-bodge-sculptor In the process of making a few missing items

[@miro6138]

Why it takes so long for the spindle to rev up? It sounds like jet engine spooling up. It must be very annoying, especially when threading

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Fu Qu Lol it is a bit , I’ve set it up like that on the variable frequency drive for a soft start she’s a old girl so I go easy on her ! I suppose I’m used to it now and don’t notice 🙂

[@miro6138]

​@@chris-the-bodge-sculptor Well, those lathes were made back in the day when VFDs didn't exist, so they are build to take full motor acceleration without any ramps (my lathe is over 70 years old, I have no VFD, and gears are still good after all those years). Also one of the biggest advantages of VFD is braking, which you don't use. It's much safer if the lathe stops quickly when something goes wrong. Btw I also use polished carbide inserts for copper when I'm turning motor armatures, they leave great finnish, better than anything else I tried.

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Fu Qu I lost the instructions for the vfd so I haven’t got the foggiest how to set it ... and unfortunately my gears are shot 🤕 one is very noisy which I only found out when I got it home and set up ... never mind can’t win em all 😀 , I’m going to see if I can get better results with hss just out of interest thanks for viewing, Chris

[@miro6138]

@@chris-the-bodge-sculptor If you want to try HSS, you should have 20° side rake, 15° back rake and honed edge for best results, according to my machinist handbook. That tool you used previously had both of them 0°, which would explain the poor finish. I'd also use some cutting oil to prevent built up edge on the tool.

[@chris-the-bodge-sculptor]

Miroslav Kamhal yep certainly room for improvement then ! 👀 thank you 😊