Ball turner.

[big o]

When I was in tech school, (back in the ice age) 16 years old, working for a A/P licence to work on domestic aircraft, I watched a machinist
instructor make aluminum knobs with this shop-made tool. Years later when I had a lathe, I was asked to make knobs for shop drawers
(cheaply) wooden or plastic. This was the solution. These were made from a broom-stick, also some in PVC ,I didn't have the confidence
to try aluminum.

 

[tjb]

Very cool, but I don't get it. I can't visualize how it works. Any way you can do a short video?

Regards,
Terry

 

[markba633csi]

It's a piece of metal tubing with a sharpened end, you just feed it in and it shaves/cuts a ball in one operation. Not sure I would try it with aluminum though
The upper half of the tubing does the cutting. A semi-circular tool would do the same
-Mark

 

[big o]

Exactly,thank you Mark.
big o.

 

[tjb]

So I'm assuming you the wood has approximately the same diameter has the sharpened pipe - perhaps a little less?

And how do you think it would work on Delrin round stock?

Regards,
Terry

 

[big o]

Should work, Terry, I have done PVC and Delrin.
big o.

 

[tjb]

Should work, Terry, I have done PVC and Delrin.
big o.

Thanks. I've had a couple of projects where it would have been nice to turn a ball in Delrin, but it wasn't high enough priority to try to build one or buy one. This is a good technique to file away for future reference.

Regards,
Terry

 

[markba633csi]

Just the tool you need to make "the whole ball of wax" that you always hear about.

 

[big o]

It's a piece of metal tubing with a sharpened end, you just feed it in and it shaves/cuts a ball in one operation. Not sure I would try it with aluminum though
The upper half of the tubing does the cutting. A semi-circular tool would do the same.

-Mark

This is the type of semi-circular cutter "Mark"is referring to.
big o.