Holding Big Bowl Blanks

[MBG]

I'm an inexperienced turner (10 bowls so far, and several pens) who got hooked on bowls. I found some wood that I can make 16" to 18" diameter bowls. I know, I will most likely split the wood down to make more reasonable sized bowls but really want to make a large bowl (besides - that was the justification for a larger lathe to the wife).

Anyway, my lathe came with a 3" faceplate - too small. I did find an 8" FP on the bay which should work well but I was wondering if I could have used something I had on-hand:

My chuck with a worm screw and steel cole jaws applied without the retaining knobs. Then I could have put screws through the back of the cole jaw plates into the blank. My cole jaws are 1/2" thick and maybe 9" diameter.


Thanks,

Mike

[dbhost]

My Harbor Freight lathe came with a 6" faceplate that I prefer using for larger turnings VS my Penn State 3" plate.

Penn State does have a 6" face plate for about $30.00

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/CF6.html?prodpage=1CF

Of course you will need to locate one to fit your headstock threads but that one will fit my lathe anyway...

[bmyers]

You could make a larger faceplate out of another piece of scrap wood or baltic birch to fit on to your 3" faceplate.

[gerti]

You could make a larger faceplate out of another piece of scrap wood or baltic birch to fit on to your 3" faceplate.

I'd be concerned about the forces working on that.

And remember: do not use drywall screws with face plates! They are to brittle and can snap when you get a catch. http://jlrodgers.com/pdf/faceplates.pdf