- Joined
- Feb 24, 2019
- Messages
- 947
If all he wants is a rounded shaft, and doesn't want to fudge with setting up a sphere cutter, here's what I'd do.I assumed the OP wanted a hemisphere. That's certainly what I was trying to approximate. I don't think the sphericity was critical but I'll let him answer that.
I'd chuck the 1/2" rod in a handheld power drill and shape it on a belt or disk sander. Use a template or eye to make it "round". Once the shape is set, put it in the lathe and use a file and sandpaper to touch it up.
But this is coming from someone who went 50 years without a lathe.