Woodturning Bowl – No Cole Jaws For Foot
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I received this wood, podocarpos, in my club wood exchange. I was not familiar with it but it was a great wood to turn.
Since it was only two inches thick, I did not want to sacrifice any height for a mounting tenon typical in bowl turning. Instead, I used a technique more commonly used for large trays or platters. Instead of using a tenon, I cut a mortise in the bottom.
All too often, when I see a mortise in a bowl turned by others, it is a deep (ugly) mortise. However, with good techniques, the mortise can be shallow and hidden in the bottom.
For this bowl, I decided to buff it. My buffing setup uses a spindle extension “Hold Fast Long Buffing Adapter” and “Beall Bowl Buffs” available in 2,3, and 4″ diameters. (I use 4″).
Enjoy!
Ornament Challenge 2021 Kickoff
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It is time to make your ornament for the 2021 Christmas Ornament Challenge. The time to submit your picture is during the month of November 2021.
This year, there is something for everyone. Grand prizes for the top ornaments selected by public vote and the two hosts in the form of gift cards. Other vendors are providing discount codes for EVERYONE who submits an ornament. The top three craft clubs will receive a free IRD.
This video has all of last years ornaments for your inspiration. Draw from what you see and interpret an ornament your way.
We love to see the pattern of inspiration and people stretching their limits.
For official rules, go to www.OrnamentChallenge.com
For inspiration, go to www.OrnamentChallenge.com
During November, go to www.OrnamentChallenge.com to enter your ornament.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Golden Chain Bowl – A Long Time Coming
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I was not familiar with this wood, Golden Chain, when my Oregon neighbor cut it down. I thought it would be a usual turning experience.
I tried to core some of the wood as I needed practice. I got beat up. That is when I did my research. Golden Chain is native to Europe where it is known as Laburnum. It is toxic in any form to animals. Most importantly, it is very hard and dense and often a substitute for ebony.
Rough turning the wood green into a bowl was not too hard. Wet wood is always a pleasure to turn. I sealed the wood and put it away to dry.
Meanwhile, I moved to Utah and got distracted for about nine years. The wood is definitely dry now. I have to bite the bullet sometime and finish turning it. Yes, very hard and dense. I am happy I did not have to turn the entire bowl while dry.
Laburnum has a beautiful mellow brown color. Sapwood adds a great contrast. It is 8″ diameter; 2″ tall finished with walnut oil and buffed.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Elm Burl Vase That Almost Was Not
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I almost threw this wood out – three times. As wet wood, it was a small left over piece. As rough turned, it looked like it would come apart. In finishing, I feared it would fly apart.
The wood is elm burl, that came from a tree a couple of miles from me. They had cut it into short slices. Not very good for bowls. The finished vase is about 4 inches tall and 3 inches diameter with walnut oil finish.
I used my recently revised doughnut chuck to finish the bottom. This version uses a large base on a threaded wood faceplate with t-nuts at 120 degree intervals. A center hole enables custom center profiles. A hefty ring matches the bolt holes but with enough recess that the bolt heads are below the surface, protecting my hands from accidental contact. An inner mortise holds custom rings for different size projects. It is simple to make.
Enjoy!
Secure Cross Grain Box – 3D Print Meets Woodturning
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The wood for this project is plum burl salvaged by a wood carver. Unfortunately, he lost his job due to Covid and had to move. The wood could not go with him.
This box has a 3D printed insert. This insert, printed on my Prusa mk3i printer, I have designed to be a simple twist, lift, and back twist pattern. My wife does not want to spend an hour opening her box. It is complex enough to foil a casual thief – but not complex enough for a dedicated thief.
Plus, the plumb wood is pretty.
The box is 3 inches diameter a little over 1.5 inches tall and finished with shellac friction polish.
Enjoy!
Five Options For Woodturning Lathe Faceplates
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I use a lot of faceplates in many different configurations. I prefer to start with an inexpensive block of poplar, thread it, and then adapt it to my project. When finished, I may face off the base block and put it away until another is needed. I have a box dedicated to my cache of faceplates.
Steel faceplates are too expensive to have a lot of. To add insult to injury, attaching wood requires screws which can ruin my turning tools if hit.
Beyond all steel faceplates, there are two options: a steel nut embedded in wood; direct threading in wood.
For a larger 1 1/4″ x 8 tpi spindle, 8 tpi is not an industry standard. The standard for 1 1/4 threads is 7 threads per ince. Therefore, an 8 tpi nut is a special specification, very expensive and hard to find.
Instead, taps are available for 1″, 1 1/4″, and M33 spindles. Direct threaded into a block of inexpensive poplar is quicker than embedding a nut in wood. Poplar performs well for all my projects.
I’ll show you mine – Please show me yours.
Enjoy!
Live Edge Woodturning – Apple and Pear Box
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Sometime ago after some annual pruning, I saved an apple limb. Shortly afterwards, I cut it into smaller sections and cored out the pith and center. Then left it to dry.
Now, it is dry and ready to become a box. I only need to refine the inside, add a bottom, and form a top. The bottom is walnut, the lid is pear. All finished with walnut oil then buffed.
The box is about 3.5 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall.
The video where the limb was cored is here:
Preparing Green Apple Branch For Natural Edge Projects
Enjoy!
Shocking End To Bandsaw Wood Preparation
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I accidentally cut my finger on my bandsaw but not where most of injury is. I did not see the risk near the power shutoff. Next to the off button is the return channel for the blade. This channel is open wide enough that a finger can accidentally hit the saw blade.
I had to have three stitches on my left ring finger.
For now, I am covering the return blade channel with duct tape to prevent a future repeat occurrence.
Enjoy!
Mousing Around With Woodturning – How To Capture A Mouse
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I want to turn a couple of mice refrigerator magnets for small gifts. A mouse is not a mouse without a long tail. In the past I would turn a mouse and then figure out how to drill a hole in its backside for a tail.
With some advance planning, holding a mouse becomes almost trivial. But holding a mouse on a wood lathe is not the whole story. There are a couple more operations off the lathe where holding a small round mouse is important for the safety of both the mouse and me – the operator.
Let’s see what they are.
BTW my sanding pad is also mounted to my lathe using a #2 Morse taper collet to hold the 1/4″ shank of my sanding pad. Then a piece of 3/8″ all thread serves as a drawbar to keep the collet and pad secure in the lathe spindle.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Top With Spin Platform and Box
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Why turn a top by itself. When spinning, a top is fun and colorful. But, when not spinning, it just lays around looking weird.
Why not make the top the lid to a small box? Now it can look nice and a small treat be inside.
A bonus. When the box is inverted, it is a platform for a spinning performance.
I first saw this project turned by Eli Avisera.
Enjoy!