There are a number of ways to secure a blank to a woodworking lathe. It is broken up into two basic categories which depend on the orientation of the wood’s grain in relation to the lathe’s bed.
Spindle turning (Turning Between Centers)
Typically in spindle turning the piece is mounted between a drive center on the headstock and a live center (spinning on bearings) on the tailstock end.
In spindle turning, the orientation of the grain runs parallel to the lathe bed. Imagine a branch (or 4×4) that spans the distance between the tailstock and the headstock. When you turn the wood, there is no change in the orientation of the grain. As a result you will get a very consistent cut after you have knocked off the corners and brought the piece into round.
Some of the ways to mount spindle turnings include…
- Spur Center Drive
- Cup Center Drive
- Steb Center Drive
- Various Mandrels
- Pin Chuck
- Jacob’s Chuck
Faceplate turning (Bowl Turning)
- Faceplate
- Scroll Chuck
- Jam Chuck (as either mortise or tenon)
- Glue block
- Screw Chuck
- Stepped Chuck (Great for metalworking, not so good for woodturning)
- Donut Chuck
- Longsworth Chuck