Carl’s Turntable
I often use my homemade turntable (aka lazy susan) when painting and finishing things. It really helps me get a nice even finish on things with out finger prints.
Make Your Own
My homemade turntable currently looks like this. I was recently painting something black.
The bottom of my turntable.
Note the 3/4" access holes in the bottom of turntable. They allow access to the screws that attach the turntable bearing. See next photo.
My turntable is just two pieces of 1/4" plywood attached to a turntable bearing.
I got the bearing from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) item # 6031K21. $13 on 10/8/2021.
You may be able to get a cheaper one on Amazon, etc with free shipping.
The top is 12" diameter, 1/4" plywood. The bottom is 9" diameter, 1/4" plywood.
This photo shows the turntable (green arrow) is attached to some 3/4" plywood spacers (red
arrow).
The spacers allow me to easily slip by fingers under the top and pick it up.
Turntable Tips
I always use what I call a "project board" on top of the turntable. Under the piece I am
finishing.
This board allows me to pick the piece up after I am done spraying it and move it to a warm
dust free place while it drys.
Notice that one corner is cut off at a 45 degree angle. This is very IMPORTANT. It marks the
start/finish line.
When I am spraying on a clear finish I start at the cut off corner and rotate the piece while
spraying. I stop spraying when I get back to the cut off corner.
My project boards are cut out of scrap 1/4" plywood. They are around 10" by 7".
I have lots of different sizes of styrofoam scraps that I use to hold up bowls, etc while finishing the bottom, etc.
I use a pole to finish the bottom of hollow forms and vases. The pole is made out of scrap
wood.
Note: The hollow form in the photo is sitting in my "Downdraft Paint Booth".