About Alan Stratton

Alan Stratton has been a member since August 11th 2017, and has created 631 posts from scratch.

Alan Stratton's Bio

Alan Stratton's Websites

This Author's Website is http://www.AsWoodTurns.com

Alan Stratton's Recent Articles

Woodturner’s Band Saw Sled – Essential for Advanced Projects

In the remote possibility of technical difficulties, this post is also available at YouTube and FaceBook.
Best Right Here!

Woodturners Band Saw Sled

While making last week’s project, it was an appropriate time to upgrade my band saw sled incorporating inspiration from a demonstration at last year’s Rocky Mountain Symposium in Colorado.

In that demonstration, he used a sled that had some features that I thought would be good to incorporate into the sled I have been using and upgrading for several years. One problem – these features depended on a salvaged lathe spindle. The spindle provided a threaded mount and length for stability. My previous sled used a 3D printed knob that held a chuck or threaed faceplate to a 3/4″ plywood.

Then the idea hit. I had also designed and 3D printed a chuck hub that could serve a similar purpose. And, in fact, would be even better and much less expensive.

My new design will cut arc’, sloped cuts, straight cuts, and freehand cuts. For each cut the turning project is mounted to a chuck or threaded faceplate. Then, with the sled, it can be safely cut. This design also enables exact offset cuts by using a spacer inserted behind the plywood base holding the chuck hub. Therefore, all other settings are preserved – no dismantling required for the offset.

Projects that follow John Beaver require offset curve cuts. My Celtic knot vases require offset slant cuts at specific rotations.

Dimensions depend on the bandsaw capacity. I share my dimensions and their rationale in the video. Please adapt to your equipment. Please also share your enhancements.

Chuck hubs and knobs that match popular spindle sizes are available at by Etsy store at
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AsWoodTurnsTools

Universal T-Track hardware, I purchased from HomeDepot.com.

Enjoy.

p.s. If you would like a more in depth demonstration than my weekly videos, please contact me for an IRD (Zoom Demo) on this or other topics.

A Child’s Stacking Toy Grows Up – Now My Fancy Wood Box

Stacking Box for Adults

Please view this post here on this page. However, if there are technical difficulties, it is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.

A viewer, Steve, sent me a set of pictures and asked how to turn it. I had to scratch my head and recall presentations by Janice Levy and others. Then figure out how to cut an inner box out from the center of a larger box.

First conclusion. Don’t cut it out of the same block – well, almost. But first elongate the lamination so that the plies are identical. Then turn the two stacks to fit together as if they had be cut apart.

Second project. What is the order of operations? How to I mount the wood to do what is required. This led to a secondary question – How to switch mounting from one end to the other end to proceed.

While at it, I souped up by band saw sled to safely make the cuts. Well, I had previous band saw sleds for Celtic knots and straight cuts. This one did not require precision like those, but still needed to be safe while cutting a freehand curve. While I was at it, I found that the sled could also cut a smooth curve like John Beaver uses for his works.

Woods: Walnut, yellowheart, wenge, maple, cherry, bloodwood, and dyed veneer.

Finish: wipe-on poly

Size: about 6 diameter and 5 tall.

Enjoy.

Enhanced Bark Edge Flower For Mother’s Day

Wood Flower

Please view this post here on this page. But, in case of technical difficulties, call a 10 year old for help or view on YouTube or FaceBook.

I have turned this style of flower before. However, I had purchased some Cold-Bend Hardwood and thought to use it to enhance my flower.

Plus I stabilized the wood with Cactus Juice to stabilize the bark to assist it to stay attached.

The wood is walnut, sassafras, bloodwood finished with shellac or mineral oil.

The bendable hardwood is still wet and too flexible at this diameter to turn on my lathe. I shaped it with a rotary rasp tool.

A previous video with this style flower is:
Woodturning Spring Blossoms – This Year Spring Needs Help
Enjoy.

Peach Bowl To Preserve Precious Memories

Peach Bowl

This is not the best example of wood for bowl turning. However, it was essential to turn this bowl anyway as a return gift to the lady in whose yard this tree grew. I filled the major cracks with ultra violet activated resin which I am finding very convenient for small repairs. It is supposed to be longer lasting than CA glue.

The completed bowl will be returned to the lady to preserve her memories associated with her family and this peach tree.

The bowl is nine inches diameter and three inches high, finished with wipe-only poly.

Enjoy.

Rose Bowl From The Root

Rose Bowl

This video post is best viewed here on this page. However, if you have technical difficulties, it is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.

After digging up an old rose bush from my yard, I attempt to turn the root ball to get a bowl.

At 8″ by 3″, this bowl warped dramatically making it too warped to finish turning and sanding it on the lathe. Still, I carved and sanded it before finishing with walnut oil.

It is unique.

Enjoy.