Woodturning A-Z

Abrasive cloth.
Cloth abrasive is much better than the paper backed product for woodturning because it is more flexible, longer lasting and it prevents sharp corners on the wood from cutting through into your fingers. There are many different makes and qualities available - some with special coatings to prevent clogging. The best is "resin reinforced" which means that a coat of resin is applied which keeps the little particles of grit in place even during heavy cutting. See "Jflex".

Airlite Respirator
A lightweight battery powered helmet with built in air filter. Formerly made by Racal but now by 3M.

Alternative ivory/horn/amber etc.
A plastic material made to look like ivory etc which is suitable for many turned items.

Alumina.
Synthetic aluminium oxide used in its crystalline form for abrasives in grinding wheels and "sandpaper" etc. Natural forms of this compound include emery, corundum, sapphire and ruby. Ruby is red because it contains chromium as an "impurity" hence the term artificial ruby used for pink grinding wheels.The term artificial sapphire is used for some "ceramic" sharpening stones. Trade names for alumina abrasive include aloxite and alundum.

Aluminium oxide abrasive.
A man-made abrasive produced by fusing bauxilite (which is made from bauxite) in an electric furnace. Used for grinding wheels, abrasive cloth etc. Common colours for aluminium oxide grinding wheels are grey (the cheap wheels on imported grinders), white (the pure form which is very friable and cuts cool) and pink (better for woodturners - see pink wheels).

Arbor.
A special shaft or mandrel used for holding drill chucks or grinding wheels etc. Morse taper arbors are used to fit drill chucks etc into the morse taper sockets in the lathe head or tailstock.

Arbortech.
A power carving device using a cutting wheel with teeth designed similar to chainsaw teeth.

Auger.
A lamp auger is a special long drill made to drill flex holes in lamps. It is passed through the hollow tailstock into the revolving wood through a special guide bush.

AWGB.
The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain.

About The Author
Roy Child is part of a small family firm founded by the late Peter Child. In addition to a shop and woodturning mail order business in Essex (UK), they offer woodturning tuition courses based on Peter's original 2 day course and manufacture pyrography equipment.