There are indeed some good metal spinning videos on youtube, but you aren't going to find the specifics of metal turning in them - you'll just see the process in action, which may be enough to get you interested seeking out the specifics on how to do it. It looks easy, which it is, sort of. But like most things, details make the difference between getting good results and just wasting metal.
Here is a quick 1-minute video of the metal spinning process that will give you the idea. This is a larger item than anything you'd make for a rod, but the process is exactly the same. Just don't rush out and try to do this from watching this video - get the right information first as metal spinning can be dangerous.
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As you watch other metal spinning youtube videos, and I think you will, be aware that safety is not foremost in these clips - nobody checked them for safe practices and you're going see many dangerous things done in almost all of these. People have lost hands running them across the metal surface. Running a gloved hand across the surface is even worse - arms have been lost and folks killed when a "catch" snags the worker's glove. This is why I included a full page of cautions in the article - I wasn't trying to scare anyone but some of the youtube videos made my skin crawl just watching them. Be careful.
I spent 2 years working on the technique and visited some metal spinning shops to get a closer first hand look at the little things that make all the difference. You'll find those, and more, in the article.
If you take the plunge, be careful not to get discouraged if your first attempts aren't perfect. Just like woodturning, it requires some patience and experience behind the spinning tool to learn the proper stroke and really get the hang of it. However, once you do, it becomes a very quick and easy process. The butt cap in the article was made in under a minute. It took longer to make the mandrel than to make the cap.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2009 09:26AM by Tom Kirkman.
