Pedestal nightmares

[Emery Plumley]

My batting average right now is probably for every 3 pots I start, at least 1, possibly 2 I crack the pedestal with the chuck holding it from the inside.

My I.D. is .75 so I have been making my O.D at 1.00. At first I thought I was just over tightening the chuck, and that was part of the problem. I either get it to tight, or too loose.

On another pot, I bumped my pedestal O.D. to 1.10, give it some more meat, but I really don't like the sound.

The crack isn't big, but its still a crack.

So my question really is, am I making this pedestal wall thickness way to thin, or am I just overlooking something really simple. I just hate to keep wasting blank after blank.

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

Hopefully Vince or one of the other turkey masters will come along and see this and help you out.  I'll see if I can point someone over here.

Al @ THO

[Evan @ CBC Custom Calls]

Is your pedestal cracking as you are tightening the chuck or while turning?  My first pots had a similar sized pedestal and I definitely broke a few from simply over-tightening the chuck.  it took some practice to figure out how to tighten it just right to keep the pot from flying off the lathe and the pedestal from breaking

[Emery Plumley]

Ive had a few crack from over tightening. I honestly think I am cranking on it way to much when it is a solid piece of wood, then once I turn the inside, taking material off, it is creating a weak point and cause the crack. I think I just have to find the sweet spot, guess I am a little leary of it flying off

[FDR]

Build yourself a screw chuck. Screw the wood blank to a 3 inch face plate, turn the diameter, true the face and drill and tap the center for the rod.  Mine is 3 inch diameter the same as the faceplate and about 2 inches thick.

Just tap the center hole in the pot blank and screw it on. Hollow it out and leave the pedestal. Turn it around to do the back.  I use a 3/8 course thread and a piece of 3/8 "all thread". Drill out the pedestal with a forstner bit to finish.
I drill the sound holes in the back of the blank before I mount it on the chuck to begin.

Fred

[B.Meuchel]

There is definitely a fine line with it being too tight. I get mine just good and snug when I grab the inside of my ped. It can come loose so I usually double check it every time I shut the lathe down for a measurement or to sand with the grain.

When I start out I glue a poplar waste block to the back and turn between centers to get the waste block centered. Then I can grab that to turn the entire inside. Flip it around and that’s when I grab the inside of the ped, now just remove the waste block with a scrapers and shape the back.

What wood are you using?

[Emery Plumley]

I turned a pot last night, and made sure to be extra sure I didn't make it too tight and checked it multiple times, and it worked out fine.

Osage orange seems to be the worst of having this happen.

[VECtor Calls]

I would look at the idea of turning off of a 3/4” brass or steel mandrel with a flat backer.  A mandrel is a lot easier to add precise pressure to.