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Thread: Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

  1. #1
    Adrian Minarovic
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    Oct 2003
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    Default Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

    Hey folks, today I decided to make my own endpins to use up the ebony scrap I have after making fingerboards and bridges. I hate to throw away usable pieces of wood.
    I managed to do it using just the handtools I had at hand and electricd drill.
    The pictures will tell you more....
    EDIT: the MC software seems to show the pics in random order... they are numbered.
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    Adrian

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  3. #2
    Registered User tonydxn's Avatar
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    Feb 2004
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    Mansfield UK
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    Default Re: Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

    I have a lathe . . . and turning tools . . . and you still do a better job than me
    Mandolins: Bandolim by Antonio Pereira Cabral
    German flatback mandola by unknown maker converted from a descant Waldzither

  4. #3
    Adrian Minarovic
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    Oct 2003
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    Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Europe
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    Default Re: Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

    Beginners luck perhaps :-)
    BTW, I started with offcut from bridge base making that was just as thick as the thicker end of tapered shaft so I added two layers of ebony (offcuts from headstock overlays) to make it wider at the button end. Then I cut it to square head and square shaft with japanese saw ("minecraft" style endpin), shaped the head and shaft to staright octagon and then rounded the shaft with a file so I could chuck it into the drill. The turning was surplrisingly easy, I just placed the wooden block as close to the wood as possible and used the gouge like woodturner would but going slower as it doesn't have the right geometry.
    When the button was turned and sanded smooth I turned the hole for pearl with tip of the gouge.
    for the tapered shaft I dug out old fixture I made for adjusting/smoothing violin pegs, I originally used it with sandpaper on the flat side, but now I used it more or less just to keep the pin from vibrating while spinning it via the rubber tube connection (there is extension with 10mm nut socket in the drill chuck). I first roughly created the taper and smoothed it with rough sandpaper lightly wrapped around the pin, then did the finish cut with the pin fully inserted into the fixture and wide flat gouge.
    The dots were handcut and finished with file so they are not perfect.
    Adrian

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  6. #4
    Registered User
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    Default Re: Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

    Way to go, I love creative use of tools. I use my drill press and files to make things round. A cello peg shaper works nice for a taper on an end pin. Expensive, but since I have it for cello pegs anyway.

    Red Green "any tool can be the right tool"
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  7. #5
    gary nava; luthier GarY Nava's Avatar
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    Sep 2008
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    Norfolk Fenland. UK
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    Default Re: Turning endpins without lathe? No problem!

    That's a great idea- I feel inspired to have a go at making my own!
    Thanks for posting.
    Cheers Gary

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