Woodturning A-Z

Sap Wood.
The living layer of wood just under the bark. Generally lighter in colour.

Sawtooth bit.
A useful kind of drill bit with a row of saw teeth cut into the periphery.

Screwchuck.
A faceplate with a single central screw used for quick mounting of simple projects where a central screw hole is acceptable.

Scroll chuck.
A kind of chuck with jaws that are opened or closed by the action of a spiral "scroll" inside it.

Sealer.
Applied before the finishing coat of polish to speed up the polishing process.

Seasoning.
The process of drying out timber until it reaches an equilibrium moisture content with its intended environment.

Segmented Turning.
Where the blank is made up out of many little blocks of wood around its periphery.

Shear scraping.
The scraper is twisted so it is at about 45 degrees to the vertical. This gives a cleaner finish. Special shear scrapers are made with the 45 degree angle built in.

Shearing cuts.
A cut which involves holding the cutting tool at an angle to the direction of cut which results in the blade slicing sideways as it cuts, cutting cleanly through the fibres of the wood.

Shellac.
A substance produced by the lac insect. Soluble in alcohol and used in French Polish etc.

Silicon Carbide.
A man made abrasive compound used for making grinding wheels (usually green), abrasive paper (usually black) etc.

Sizing tool.
Fits onto a parting tool or beading tool or bedan and cuts to a precise diameter.

Spigot.
A special shaped turned projection designed to fit into the chuck jaws.

Spindle locking.
A device which prevents rotation of the spindle to enable faceplates and chucks to be unscrewed easily.

Spindle Nose.
The end with the thread, register, shoulder and morse taper socket.

Spindle or shaft or mandrel.
This revolves in bearings in the headstock.

Spindle turning.
The art of producing chair spindles and similar articles which can be held between the centres of the lathe. The grain runs parallel to the lathe bed.

Split ring.
An accessory for a ring chuck.

Steady.
A device used to stop vibration of slender workpieces.

Sticky chuck.
A disc of metal which is stuck to the workpiece using hot melt adhesive and then mounted in a chuck.

Superflute gouge.
A bowl gouge with a special flute section.

Superglue.
Cyanacrlylate adhesive available in various viscosities and setting times.

Swing over lathe bed.
Refers to the height of the lathe centres over the bed and governs the maximum diameter that can be "swung". Swing = twice centre height.

Swivel head.
A headstock which can pivot around it's vertical axis allowing large diameter turning.