How to Make a Wooden Wheel on a Lathe

Wood turning lathe

Making a wooden wheel on a wood lathe is a relatively process once you familiarize yourself with the workings of the lathe itself. The lathe can help you turn out numerous intricate works of art such as lamps, wooden bowls, ornate table legs and in this case wheels, in a very short time.

Things You'll Need

• Wood Lathe
• Piece of wood
• Gouging and smoothing chisels.

Instructions

Turning Wood

1. Decide on the size wheel you want to finish up with. Find a piece of wood from which that size of wheel can be cut. Attach the piece of wood at the center between the chuck on the spindle of the lathe and the pivoting point of the tailstock. Adjust the tailstock screw so that the wood is firmly held in place at the spindle end but can still turn freely at the tailstock end.

2. Turn the lathe on and as the rough wood spins you will see the size of the wheel that can be cut from it. Use the chisel called a "gouging tool" and rest it on the tool rest before gently levering it convex side up into the spinning piece of wood. This will begin cutting into the rough wood reducing it to a circle.

3. Continue with this adding more and more pressure until you have a fairly smooth circular piece of wood. Then take the sharp angled chisel and use its flat blade gently to cut the circle to a smooth finish. Once the edge is a smooth round surface, use the same chisel along the flat exposed side of the circle to smooth there. Then remove it from the spindle and tailstock and turn it around, and repeat the process on the other side.

4. Use this time to design whatever original artwork you'd like on the walls of the wheel, then take it to a bench mounted drill and using a drill bit the same size as the axle that will be used on the wheel, drill it through the center using the punched mark from the tailstock point as a center point.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose the correct types of wood. Use the proper lathe tools.

• Do not push the tool too rapidly into the spinning wood. always use the tool rest Always use safety goggles.