Charnwood W815

[Fossy]

Would this lathe be powerful enough to turn fence post finials from pressure treated wood. 3 inches diameter and 3.5 inches long?

 

[j0hn-th0ugh]

Would this lathe be powerful enough to turn fence post finials from pressure treated wood. 3 inches diameter and 3.5 inches long?

I noticed this thread has been quiet for a bit, so I thought I'd add my thoughts. The W815 should have enough power to handle a 3-inch treated blank, as long as your tools are sharp and you work with light passes. Pressure-treated wood has tougher fibers, which can be hard on smaller motors. Did you end up turning those finials or are you still deciding if the machine is up to the task?

 

[d@rkr00m]

Would this lathe be powerful enough to turn fence post finials from pressure treated wood.

just want to share some tips, to make the W815 feel more powerful you need to keep your gouges and chisels razor sharp. A dull tool forces the motor to work harder, causing bogs.
Use a roughing gouge for the initial shaping of the square stock,
and hollow out the center of the finial first. Removing material near the axis of rotation significantly reduces the drag and makes the motor’s job much easier.

if you already own the W815, don't upgrade yet. Focus on keeping your tools honed and mastering lighter cuts, that motor will handle the 3 inch material fine for finials.

 

[Hazz020]

Yep, it should handle that just fine, even smaller lathes have enough power for short, 3 inch pressure treated pieces like that