Home made Ball Jig

Interesting. I’ve considered making one but haven’t made a project with spheres yet.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

How does it work? Do you have a shot of it cutting a sphere?

Looks neat and I may need one, too!.

Thanks, Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!

Jim I haven’t use this one yet but this the one I saw at the show.
http://ptreeusa.com/carter_perfect_sphere.htm

-- Vince

I made two homemade ball/sphere jigs shown in David Springett, “Adventures in Woodturning.” Several examples of those styles and others online so have a look at those.

Feel the jigs a real P.I.T.A. and require a lot of sanding to finish. Besides will need jam chuck between centers to remove nubs.

Been doing balls/ spheres with just spindle & skew and jam chucks for years. Yes, have to practice before attempting a finished product even today. This guy shows just how easy it is in this video.

http://www.aswoodturns.com/2013/06/turn-a-perfect-wood-sphere/

Unless you do a lot of sphere turning do not think commercial jigs worth the money. Even with a jig going to have to accept a few not so good spheres. I blame that on wood and oops monents more than anything else.

To get started a homemade jig is nice, but try procedure outlined in the video just have fun turning them.

-- Bill

Hi Vince. I have been looking at the Carter jig a lot and taking dimensions down. I started cutting steel today for a similar one. I hope I have enough stock laying around to get it done. I like the round carbide cutters they use and I will have to buy them. I watched the jig being used by Captain Eddy and it was a hoot. He had the piece hanging way out without a center in it and broke it off with the first cut of the sphere cutter. I knew it was going to happen when I saw it right away. He did finish one pretty nicely on the piece that was left in the chuck.

He is really entertaining and down to earth!!

Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!

Hello Jim,
My jig works well when it’s in tight for small work, but as it progresses outward the play in the bearing gets worse.
I just have to keep even pressure while cutting.
When I get the chance I will change it out for a bushing and a larger bolt. The bearings I have now are 1/2-ID and 1-1/4 OD. Also you might want to use an ACME thread for faster advancing. I used 1/4-20 all thread and it takes a while to drive it in and out.
For concave work which I haven’t tried yet the plan was to turn the cutter head around but it will only allow me to work on face work not spindle. I think I would have to add a butch plate to the lathe and mount the jig outward from the bed for spindle work.

Vince

-- Vince