There is a means of producing with the Verschoyle Mandrel a very big variety of articles both quickly and cheaply from sheet metal. This is called spinning. I do not propose writing generally about it, but only on the producing of articles up to about 6in. in diameter from material round about 24 gauge, of brass, aluminium and so forth, for up to about this size all of this work can easily be done at home.

There is no special dexterity called for in spinning, only practice and setting about it in the right way. As for the extra tools and accessories, if one already has a Verschoyle Mandrel their extra cost is almost negligible.

If you press a tool into a piece of thin metal it makes a dent. If you rotate or spin the metal round this dent becomes a groove and the piece of metal has acquired a different shape. If you set behind this piece of metal a backing, say of wood, in which shapes have been made, then the process of denting and spinning round will produce a circular cylindrical shell with a permanent shape agreeing with that turned in the wood backing. This shall only requires polishing and the article is made.

From this it is apparent that wood turning is the basis and most important part of this process, for the forms into which the shells are pressed, also the followers supporting the face of the work, are made from cheap woods - sycamore, maple, beech, etc. Actually the dent and groove definition is too vague, for what actually takes place is that a ripple of metal forms above the tool. So the whole operation of spinning consists in distributing this ripple in the direction one desires it to go in so that it appears and is absorbed in the remainder. This should be called more correctly flowing, and the process technically becomes controlling and distributing the flow of the metal.

It is difficult for the non-technical mind to grasp the idea that the material of which sheet brass is composed, thin and solid as it appears to be, can be so easily made to flow, much in the same way as does pastry under the rolling pin. But all the same it is a positive fact that it does so. If one cuts through a cup or other deep spinning lengthways one will find that near the edge of the brass will be ever so much thicker, perhaps half as thick again or more still, than the original gauge of the sheet used, while all the remainder will be of the original thickness.

A firm, uniform, smooth rotation of the metal is essential, also a firm unyielding control of the tool. These features are peculiar to the Verschoyle Mandrel, so what I am writing must be clearly understood to apply to this tool. In my consideration the same work is difficult and laborious on a treadle lathe, even on any belt-driven lathe, unless specially constructed for the purpose.

Sheet metal tends to toughen, so that generally a certain amount of forming can be done in one operation when the piece has to be annealed. So a gas stove or a Primus stove, or any clean fire handy, is an essential to spinning most metals.

Following on the definition of the metal ripple to be distributed in the desired direction, it is clear that a positive friction must be maintained between the point of the tool and the surface of the metal. The tool must just hold the ripple and not cut nor groove it nor slip over it. The best tool for this purpose is a piece of suitable hard wood. Such a wooden tool does not seem to toughen the material to the same extent as a metal tool does, and one can consequently go a little farther between annealings. It does not form grooves nor does it stretch or drag the metal thin in places, nor does it loosen the piece on its form as does a metal tool.

For the purposes of this article I will divide spinning into two classes :-

The ones which have a hole in the bottom such as parts of candlesticks, vases, reflectors, and so forth, in fact most built-up pieces :

The ones that have no holes, such as trays, cups, plates, saucers and so forth, in fact most pieces complete in themselves.

One has always to bear in mind that the spinnings have to come out easily, quickly and frequently for annealing and must go back again speedily with the least trouble.

So, whatever the piece, one has to get some sort of a register spun in the very first time, so that the annealed piece can be rechucked truly right away. Therefore the pieces with a hole are the easiest to handle, since they can be re-chucked every time on a stud fixed in the centre of the form, which of course forms a register at once.

Beside, the tailstock is hardly wanted for such pieces.

The pieces that have no hole must be held in place against the form by the pressure of a rotating press piece or follower forced up by the tailstock. The lever tailstock is the one for this purpose, the lever giving a great deal more power.

The follower of wood is carried on the spinning centre fixed in the tailstock spindle.

It is clear from this how important the register must be in pieces having no hole, in order to ensure that they go back every time true on the form.

Before leaving this question of registers I wish to emphasise the advisability of always giving this careful consideration before starting. Some registers have to be spun the opposite way round on a separate form.