Woodturning A Rose By Any Other Name
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Where best? – Right Here!
While redoing some landscape in my yard, I removed an old rose bush including the root ball. This root was a bugger to dig out. When I realized how big it was, I just had to try turning it.
I’ve turned other smaller rose roots previously. They are always unique experiences – sometimes frustrating experiences. I planned to turn this one completely while wet. However, when I started sanding it, the sandpaper loaded up with the wet wood almost immediately. I put it away in a paper bag for a day until the surface moisture could evaporate. Then I could sand it and let it warp.
My day turned into two weeks and it beat me to the warp stage. This caused other problems in trying to sand and finish this vase.
However, the delay also generated an opportunity to change the design. The individual roots at the bottom had spread. Incorporating these roots into the design instead of parting them off radically changed (and improved) the result.
I’ll keep a lookout for another large rose root.
My vase is 7 inches tall and about 4 inches in diameter, finished with walnut oil. It has developed its own character.
Enjoy!
Multi Axis Woodturning Virus Free Kiss Thingy
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best right here where we are!
I have been informed that the original was probably by Luc Deroo.
When I saw a similar project in a past issue of American Woodturner, I immediately knew how I would turn this “Thingy”. After turning several projects based on Max Brosi’s work, I had developed the background and experience base to turn this without any previous demonstration.
The wood species is unknown but could be maple. It is 4″ diameter finished with shellac. The wood is from a standing dead tree from my yard. It was not soppy wet but not totally dry.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Limb Bowl As Winged Emerging Bowl
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best right here!
While on the topic of limb bowls, I cut down a small dead tree from my yard. I decided to turn yet another style of limb bowl. This one combines some of the emerging bowl concepts with natural edge and limb bowl concepts.
The wood is mystery wood, could be maple of some sort. It is finished with walnut oil. 10 x 4.
Be sure to check out the other styles of limb bowls in these recent videos:
- Woodturning Limb Bowl – It Learned A New Trick (this link)
- Woodturning Limb Bowl With Bird’s Beak (this link)
Enjoy!
Woodturning Limb Bowl With Bird’s Beak
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best? Right Here!
I had a little more of that locust branch from the last video.
Why not turn another similar but different bowl – One where I could vary a couple of things and see what came from it.
So, here we are. Since it is a little shorter but the same diameter, the sides are steeper. I also left the walls thicker overall and thicker near the base (although that is contrary to general practice). Fortunately, I was able to save the bark.
This one is just under 7 inches long. It is an interesting contrast with last week’s bowl. Both have their place. It is finished with walnut oil.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Limb Bowl – It Learned A New Trick
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. But you are already here where best!
Generally, I like large diameter trunks for bowl turning.
But sometimes, I’m presented with smaller wood that tells me it can be beautiful.
I work with what I have.
This bowl is from honey locust. Final size is about 9×3. It is finished with walnut oil.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Project Stand – Steam Bent and Multi Axis
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best? Right Here!
I’ve searched for a long time for a good stand for small projects and Christmas ornaments. This is one of the two best that I’ve seen. However, I will continue my search.
This display stand consists of two almost separate projects.
The top is steam bent air dried cherry. I split the cherry to be more sure to follow the grain. My wife’s new pressure cooker provided 10 minutes of steam to heat the wood. After 10 minutes of steam, the wood easily bent to my prepared form. I left it in clamps overnight to be sure it cooled and dried again from any moisture. A little sanding cleaned up the surface.
The base was mounted to an offset chuck adapted from “Build A Shop Made Chuck For Offset Turning” American Woodturner February 2015 pages 35 -40. The adaptation adds a work platform that interchanges between a standard chuck and the infinite axis chuck.
Together, they make for a great project stand.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Pierced, Curved Leaf – Lemonade From A Lemon
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best right here already!
After my lampshade disaster, I was about to throw that wood into the fireplace. But after Lauren, a woodturner from our club, shared what he has done after a similar disaster, I decided to try something.
This leaf is from the largest pieces of the exploded lampshade. It is carved and pierced. The lampshade contributed aspen wood with a nice curve.
It is about 5 by 5 and finished with rattle-can lacquer.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Ornamental Pear Bowl – My Patience Is Rewarded
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best of all is right here!
When I first started woodturning, I wanted to turn bowls – I still do. I’m always amazed at the color, figure, and shape that results. Often, the shape evolves.
This bowl is pear from a neighbor’s ornamental tree that blew down last summer. For this bowl, I wanted it perfectly round – no warp. So, I rough turned it while green and soft but left the wall thickness big, about 3/4 inch. I sealed the bowl with “Tree Saver” sold by Craft Supplies USA.
Periodically, I weighed the rough bowl and recorded the weight. Last time, the weight actually increased. To me, this means it is close to equilibrium and time to finish turn.
This bowl is about 8 inches diameter and 2 inches tall, finished with walnut oil.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Volcano Salturn In A Perfect Sphere
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best right here!
After seeing Dave’s demonstration of a salturn or volcano salt shaker, I remembered one I made over seven years ago. You can view that video,“Woodturning An Unusual Salt Shaker in Maple” at this link.
I felt inspired to turn a new salturn just not the same as the one years ago. I think turning a sphere is a basic skill that every woodturner should master early on. Despite my early failures, I later learned and mastered the octagon method which when combined with a process using cup centers, yields perfect spheres.
Combining a perfect sphere with a salturn is a challenge. If you’re a novice woodturner, master turning a sphere first. I have produced several videos that include a sphere. Here’s a couple:
Turn A Perfect Wood Sphere Or Ball – No Expensive Jig (Link Here)
Simple Wood Faceplates For Perfect Balls Or Spheres (Link Here)
How To Turn Perfect Hollow Sphere – No Jig (Link Here)
I keep the two multipliers in a note on my phone:
- Distance from top to first corner = diameter times 0.293
- Length of octagon’s side = diameter times 0.414
By the way, I prepared the cherry spindle back in 2016, turning green cherry into billets, waxing it thoroughly, and allowing it to dry.
Preparing Green Cherry – Not Solely For Bowls (Link Here)
Enjoy!
Woodturning Green Mesquite Bowl In One Spin
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best of all – Right Here.
After turning a bowl from mesquite a couple of months ago, I noted that I cannot obtain mesquite regularly. Subsequently, Mark from Phoenix, AZ offered me a bunch of mesquite.
So, here is another bowl from mesquite with more of a pedestal design. The wood was fresh green wood. However, the mesquite, being a very dry wood, did not warp significantly. Therefore, I did not need to rough turn, dry the wood, and remount to turn again.
This bowl is finished with walnut oil and is about 8 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall.
Enjoy!