Ornamental Turning
The online resource for "OT" enthusiasts
Related topics
- Turners of the Past
- Where can I learn woodturning?
- Videos on ornamental turning
- Articles on ornamental turning
- Books on ornamental turning
Build your own rose engine lathe
In the Spring 2007 issue of American Woodturner magazine, Jon Magill introduces a kit to build a homemade rose engine lathe. Related information from AAW website:
- Introduction and Overview (pdf)
- Rose Engine Construction Instructions (pdf)
- Rose Engine Detailed Drawings (pdf)
Machine Restoration
If you locate an older ornamental lathe, it's likely you'll need to do some restoration. An article originally written for the Society of Ornamental Turner's Bulletin on how to do just that is available here:
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Ornamental Turning Craft
How long has this been going on?
How are ornamental turnings made?
Where can I get an ornamental turning machine?
The following website have "For sale / Wanted" areas for ornamental turning machines, related parts and tools:
- Ornamental Turners International Forum - Items for Sale or Wanted
- Edwards' Ornamental Turning For Sale & Wanted
- Gold International eBay Store
- Sobel Machinery eBay Store
- American Association of Woodturners Forum Want Ads
- Ornamental Turning Center Want Ads
- Lathes.co.uk – For Sale / Wanted
- eBay (eg, search for "ornamental turning")
Another place to locate OT machines is through an auction house or dealer that specializes in antique tools. EBay is an increasingly popular place for advertising ornamental turning lathes, tools and related equipment. Here are a few others:
- Gold International Machinery
- Christies Auctions
- Bonhams 1793: Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
- David Stanley Auctions
- Tony Murland Tool Auctions
- Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools
- Jim Bode Tools
- Trinders' Fine Tools
- Browns Auction Services
- American Artifacts Items for Sale
- Meeker's Antiques
- J.B Hawkins Antiques
A few modern ornamental turning lathes have been produced, including makes such as Lawler, Cler, Armbruster, Lindow–White, Erbschloe–Musterman, and others. Here are some related sites:
- Lindow–White Rose Engine | Lindow-White Rose Engine Forum
- MDF Rose Engine by Jon Magill | MDF Rose Engine Forum
- Mandala Rose Works Rose Engine
- Connel Rambling Rose Engine & Ornamental Lathe
- The Modern Rose (Jet mini lathe conversion)
- Lawler Ornamental Turning Lathe
- Teknatool Nova Ornamental Turner
Modern ornamental turning parts and attachments are available from these manufacturers' websites (or in the case of discontinued products search eBay):
- Woodshed Mark VII Ornamental Turning Device
- WivaMac Ornamental Turning System
- Vicmarc Oval Turning Device (VOD300)
- Steinert Oval Turning Lathe (picOval)
- Beall Pen Wizard
- Sorby RS60 Eccentric Chuck
- Decorative Turning System by John Rea
- Modern tools for economical ornamental turning
- Legacy Ornamental Mill
- Magnate OT Router Bits
- Whiteside carbide bits | Whitesite carbide bits for Beall
- Beall Lathe Wizard (PDF) (discontinued 2008)
- Beall Guilloche Attachment (PDF) (discontinued 2008)
- Trend Router Lathe (discontinued 2004)
- Sorby RS3000 Ornamental Turning Device (discontinued 1998)
- Woodcraft MillLathe (discontinued)
- Craftsman Router Crafter (discontinued)
It is also possible to modify a metal or woodworking lathe to accomplish some of the same results. Here are some websites that present the DIY approach, along with a few resources to help you get started:
- A Woodturner's Rose Engine by Geoff O'Loughlin
- Wooden Rose Engine by John Lee
- Chick Rose Engine
- Connell Jet Lathe Rose Engine Adaption
- Connell Universal Cutting Frame Plans
- Finch Oneway Lathe Rose Engine Adaption
- Alan B's "Ornamental Turning (In)Experiences" CNC Rose Engine
- Bollinger Ovalturning Lathe
- Laymar Crafts Multi-Function Baseboard Sled
- Iron Fire Index Wheels
- Alisam Indexing Systems
- Bill Smith Segment Templates
Machine restoration is too commonly needed with antique lathes and equipment. Here are a few sites that cover related details:
if you're wondering about the value of OT lathes and parts on the used market, or want to get a sense of how easy or often certain items come up for sales, here are a few sites that maintain archives of sale dates and prices: