If you happen to have technical difficulties, this video is also posted on YouTube. But it is best right here. So stick around.

During this project, I turn a sphere using the octagon process and refine it with a process using cup faceplates. This saves me money because I have avoided purchasing a sphere jig. The octagon process guides any woodturner including novices to learn and to turn a sphere quickly and easily.

However, this project goes beyond a basic sphere to apply an interesting bead pattern and to hollow the sphere.

My decorated sphere is poplar about three inches (75 mm) diameter finished with my utility finish of beeswax and mineral oil. By the way, this is a mixture of 1/4 pound beeswax to 1 pint of mineral oil. The beeswax is chopped up into a container in which the mineral oil is also poured. I used attic heat over two days to melt the mixture (stirring after one day). I could have used my hot car in the summer but my attic does not move. These options avoid using a double boiler that would otherwise have been required for fire safety.

I cut the beads with a D-Way beading tool.

For hollowing, I used my DIY doughnut chuck which consists of:

• a base plate (mine is threaded instead of a steel faceplate);
• three T-nuts in the base plate (1/4″ x 20 tpi) oriented so that bolt tension pulls them into the wood instead of out of the wood.
• To the base plate, I can attach various options such as cup faceplates or center positioners so that I can use this doughnut chuck for sphere, vases, or whatever.
• An outer cinch plate through which has recessed holes for three bolts to cinch up to the baseplate.
• The outer plate has a mortised hole to receive a custom rings to fit to various projects.
• An assortment of 1/4″x20 bolts of various sizes to accommodate different project needs. IMPORTANT. for safety these bolts go from the cinch plate to the base plate so than any excess length is between the baseplate and the lathe headstock. In other words, well away from the work area.

Enjoy.