# Turning wood without a lathe **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463 "2021-06-17T13:51:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/1 "2021-06-17T13:51:58Z")
I’m trying to put a tip or foot on a walking stick. I have the stick I want and I have the tip I want. The cross-section of the stick is oval and the tip is round. I don’t have a lathe or access to one. Before I start just whittling at it, I thought I’d see if anyone here has a better idea. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/2 "2021-06-17T13:55:37Z")
I would use a [drawknife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawknife) followed by sanding. Preferably a belt sander. So if no drawknife, whittling isn’t a bad way to go. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/3 "2021-06-17T14:14:11Z")
Diameter (start and finish)? How much are you willing to spend to make it round? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/4 "2021-06-17T14:23:54Z")
Well as suggested by whittling, I’m hoping to do this pretty cheap. Not sure of the exact dimensions. I was just going to carve/sand it by eye. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/5 "2021-06-17T14:30:37Z")
You could drill into the end with a hole saw of the diameter of the cap: > **[Locisne Hole Saw Set 11 Pieces 3/4" - 2-1/2 " Hole Saw Kit with Hex Key and...](https://www.amazon.com/Locisne-Hole-Saw-Set-pieces/dp/B077JQJSNZ)** > > Locisne Hole Saw Set 11 Pieces 3/4" - 2-1/2 " Hole Saw Kit with Hex Key and Mandrels for Wood, PVC Board, Plastic Plate Drilling: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement Then you would just whittle or otherwise cut the remaining shroud off, and be left with a perfectly round end. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/6 "2021-06-17T14:32:28Z")
Having done that job too many times, (mostly with a three wheel belt sander) my prefered tool is this, [![](https://blog.philadelphialuthiertools.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Shinto-Rasp-set.jpg) ](https://blog.philadelphialuthiertools.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Shinto-Rasp-set.jpg) a Shinto rasp. But I was going for sharp shoulders and was fitting metal to wood which makes getting the diameter right easier. Before better tooling; a knife, a rasp or file and sandpaper was what I used. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/7 "2021-06-17T14:47:04Z")
Maybe one of the various solutions for making dowels could be adapted to your needs [https://woodgears.ca/dowel/making.html](https://woodgears.ca/dowel/making.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/8 "2021-06-17T14:48:17Z")
I’ll probably get that hole saw set just to have. Looks like it might be what I need for this too. And I like the rasp idea. I actually have one - just didn’t think of it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/9 "2021-06-17T14:50:46Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Maybe one of the various solutions for making dowels could be adapted to your needs Thanks for that link. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/10 "2021-06-17T14:56:12Z")
Just to be clear, that was just a random inexpensive hole saw set I found in 5 seconds. I am in no way endorsing that particular product. But come to think of it, I don’t have a set of those either… ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/11 "2021-06-17T15:00:13Z")
This would be my go to tool for the job, [https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/dowel-and-tenon-cutters/42299-veritas-power-tenon-cutters](https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/dowel-and-tenon-cutters/42299-veritas-power-tenon-cutters) but its $100! 🤑 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/12 "2021-06-17T15:02:33Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Preferably a belt sander. Belt sander can do the whole thing. Helps to have one where the backing plate can be removed, allowing the belt to conform somewhat to the curvature of the workpiece, helping to avoid flat spots. > **[Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977](https://www.harborfreight.com/1-in-x-30-in-belt-sander-61728.html)** > > Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you! Coarse-grit belts can remove bulk material, fine belts can help with final profile matching between the tip and the cane. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/13 "2021-06-17T15:54:00Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I don’t have a lathe or access to one. Look around you–maybe you can fashion a rudamentary one. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/14 "2021-06-17T16:03:26Z")
I’ve worked square stock into round quite a bit, without using a lathe, by planing the corners (and the resulting ones) off with a hand plane, until the piece is effectively round, then sanding. I’ve also used the same procedure with a large belt sander, creating equal, ever-smaller facets. ---
**Author:** ![ThisOneGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@ThisOneGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisOneGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/15 "2021-06-17T17:01:16Z")
I’ve made a stail engine/rounding plane for turning down the ends of walking sticks that are too big to fit in my rudimentary lathe. [https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/discover/what-is-it-articles/whatisit-witch](https://www.leevalley.com/en-gb/discover/what-is-it-articles/whatisit-witch) But just for a one off, whittling it down with a knife is the easy thing to do. Keep trying to fit the end on and cut off the bit where it gets stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/16 "2021-06-18T12:44:49Z")
Unless you have a large amount of material to remove, sandpaper and time is your best option. You might want to look into knocking together a primitive lathe. See the YouTube videos for “bow lathe”. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/17 "2021-06-18T12:55:16Z")
If you have a power drill, try this: [3 in 1 Homemade Lathe Machine. Part 1 - Drill Powered Wooden Lathe - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-CmIeht24&ab_channel=MazayDIY) ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/18 "2021-06-18T13:04:04Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Look around you–maybe you can fashion a rudamentary one. By Grabthar’s Hammer, you shall be avenged @Lucas_Jackson ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-wood-without-a-lathe/944463/19 "2021-06-18T13:21:42Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > See the YouTube videos for “bow lathe”. I would be careful searching for lathe videos online. There are some pretty gruesome ones involving industrial lathe accidents.