THO Game Calls Forums
The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Handcrafting Custom Duck Calls => Topic started by: Greybeard on January 11, 2020, 04:02:02 PM
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So, went out to turn some barrels this morning. Cut up a piece of cocobolo center punched them and drilled the holes. Turned them round and sped up the lathe. As I worked the mouth end into shape, both of the first two split all the way through about a half an inch from the mouth piece end. Wood is solid with zero checks or cracks in it and was dry. Two different grain areas from the same piece. I can’t figure out why they split. Was I turning too thin? Still had 1/4 inch from the bore. I was using a new carbide cutter finishing tool both times it happened. I had created a cove and was flaring the tip into shape when it happened. I don’t think I was cutting too much because I was lightly finishing that area to move on to the band... Any thoughts or ideas?
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If you were trying to cut directly into the end grain that is what happens. After you part off the end grain just finish the lip rest with sandpaper.
If that is not it the only other thing I can think of is too tight on the mandrel.
ben
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I was thinking it could be the combination of a tight mandrel and tooling the end or near the end.
On a slightly different note, what speed do you guys turn barrels? I was turning about 1600 rpm.
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Yes, too tight on the mandrel. Spectra ply and Hedge are also bad to crack with a too tight mandrel. I usually run about 2200 rpm to turn barrels.
Fred
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Thank you guys very much!
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Run a reamer through the hole after you drill it. Sometimes the drill bits aren’t exact, or the wood shrinks after drilling. I drill my holes, then wait a couple days, then ream the holes and put them on the mandrel to turn.
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:thanks: