Woodturning A-Z

P.E.G. Poly ethylene glycol.
This dissolves in water and diffuses into the structure of wood preventing shrinking and splitting. Generally considered uneconomic compare to traditional methods. See green turning.

Part Seasoned.
Not yet ready for use! Rough turning and drying recommended before finish turning.

Paste Wax.
Wax and solvents made to boot polish consistency.

Pin Chuck.
A kind of chuck which grips into a drilled hole. Handy for initial hold of irregular bowl blanks.

Pink wheel.
A grinding wheel made from refined aluminium oxide with an additive which toughens the grit and makes it pink or red in colour. Pink wheels hold their shape better and cut cooler than white. They are the best available for sharpening woodturning tools. Sometimes hyped as "manmade ruby" because they have similar chemical composition. Our own pink wheels are made from a mixture of different grits specially formulated for HSS woodturning tools.

Pole lathe.
A lathe operated by foot pedal. The springy "pole" connected to a rope wound round the workpiece down to the foot pedal provides the power transmission.

Poppet.
An old fashioned term for a drive centre and tail centre.

Pre loaded bearings.
Some lathes have means to tension the front and rear bearings against each other to remove any slight free play.

Pummel.
The point where square section wood joins round, turned timber eg on some furniture legs and spindles.