I really want to learn this lathe. I have successfully turned wooden tops, have been practicing for a few weeks on Poplar 6/4 wood. I just made a rolling pin. I wanted to make a larger base centerwork piece so I glued some 4x4 Walnut 1" thick together - stacked and tried to round it out as centerwork the next day once the wood was good and dry from gluing. I had my speed low and proceeded to round the wood and it kept grabbing the tool - the wood was not chipping off like Poplar for example. I realize the Walnut is much harder than Poplar but it took chunk-like pieces off instead of shaving-like size. The tools are sharp - I don't understand why the wood chunked off ( approx 1/2" wide - 2" long piece) I am hoping someone may be able to enlighten me as to why I can't get this chunk of wood to round. Should I use a different species of wood? What may be a good species to learn on regarding rounding 4X4 blanks? I thought it would be the same as 6/4, 8/4 but it acted alot different. Any advise will be helpful. I don't know if its the wood, my speed, or the length of stock - I was thinking maybe I needed a higher speed since the stock was shorter ... 4x4x6 vs the pieces I turned were 2X2X24. Is there a certain direction the grain of the wood should go?
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