Any one tried metal spinning?

[zimmerstutzen]

I bought a box of tools that have metal spinning gear in with them. I have a lathe. I need to make a special tool holder and I will be set. I watched a few internet videos. Looks really cool. Pewter is apparently easiest followed by copper and brass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHvtieU4-7Y&t=111s

 

[bubba.50]

in high school industrial arts class I made a cereal bowl out of aluminum & an ashtray out of copper on a lathe usin' the technique shown. but that was many moons ago.

 

[Artificer]

I have never done it myself, but have watched it done in Fredericksburg, VA in the early 1980's and at Coloma, CA in the early 90's.

The shop in Fredericksburg was making 18th century reproduction pewter items including plates, bowls, cups, etc.

The shop in Coloma was making primarily 19th century reproduction items. I bought repro spun pewter cups there.

Gus

 

[BillinOregon]

Zimmer: Eager to see the fruits of your efforts.

 

[BillinOregon]

Zimmer: Eager to see the fruits of your efforts. Gus: Treadle lathe? Pole lathe?

 

[user 922]

I bought the tools a couple of years ago and just didn't get around to learning the process. I ended up selling the stuff to another wood turner. There are great possibilities for that technique. I had the aluminum discs that came with the kit - not traditional but easy to use for learning. Pewter, as you say would be easy to form but be careful that the material doesn't get too hot and melt. Brass, I would think, would require repeated annealing as the material would work harden and be more difficult to turn easily. These are just observations from using these materials in other ways than spinning.

I can see some great items made in combination with other traditional materials such as turned wood and horn.

 

[Artificer]

Zimmer: Eager to see the fruits of your efforts. Gus: Treadle lathe? Pole lathe?

The shop in Fredericksburg actually did it using a modern lathe and spun a plate while I was there. The fact they had to put a good deal of pressure against the flat circular large discs of pewter to form them would rule out a spring pole lathe, I believe, because there would not be enough torque. There might have been enough torque with a treadle lathe with a large enough wheel, but maybe not. I am thinking they would have to have used a Great Wheel Lathe powered by an apprentice or a laborer or slave in the period.

I was also thinking about checking Diderot's encyclopedia and sure enough a Goldsmith's Greatwheel is shown to do this work. In the link below, it even shows how they made the plates with the scalloped edges we see on some of the more expensive period pewter, silver and gold plates.
http://www.historicgames.com/lathes/treadle.html

Gus

P.S. Oops, forgot to mention I do not recall the kind of lathe the "Lady Pewtersmith" in Coloma used. I think it also may have been a modern lathe, though.

 

[omarick1948]

I have made a few spun metal base plug covers for powder horns, mainly from copper and brass. Used my 18th century JET lathe.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I tried spinning copper, but decided it was not my thing! :idunno: :idunno:

 

[eggwelder]

there was a series of books on the topic that the former Lindsay Publications used to sell before they shut down for retirement. i didn`t buy any but Lindsay left links on his shut down page that may bear fruit to someone looking.

 

[CrackStock]

Had a friend who made a base for a repro of a powder horn for a Baker rifle from a sheet of brass.

I do not plan on attempting that.

Will stick with wood and horn.

CS

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I am getting close to my first attempt. Need to make up my form. Needed to locate some really hard rock maple. Unfortunately, my next ten days will be helping elderly relatives down size and move.

 

[BillinOregon]

Gus, the Great Wheel lathes are fascinating. I can imagine the usefulness of one when a fellow could run it off a leather belt powered by a water wheel. There is a wonderful hum and vibration that comes with water power. Thinking of a 19th-century grist mill in Southern Oregon ...