Wood Lathe

The wood lathe is a machine that works a workpiece by spinning it on a horizontal spindle axis. In workshops set up by those new to pipe making, it is often the first major machine. Some makers advise newcomers to start with a drill press instead, but the lathe's ability to handle several jobs at once makes it appealing early on.

At one end of the machine sits the headstock, which provides the drive; opposite it sits the tailstock, which supports the workpiece; between them, on a rail, the tool rest, against which the tool leans, slides back and forth. Spindle speed is changed according to the job at hand; drilling and polishing are not run at the same speed.

The Lathe's Roles in Pipe Making

The same machine is used at different stages, from drilling holes to final polishing. The briar block attached to the headstock has its bowl, smoke channel, and mouthpiece socket (mortise) opened from the tailstock side; details of this work are covered in the drilling on the lathe entry. Where shape allows, the bowl itself is also turned with a tool; rotationally symmetric shapes such as billiard or apple emerge this way. A sanding disc can be attached to the headstock for shaping, and felt wheels are finally mounted for the polishing stage. This range of jobs is the main reason makers who prefer the lathe give for choosing it over a drill press.