Woodturning Valentine’s Box With Infinite Axis Chuck
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This video combines three elements: a cross grain box; a laminated box lid; multi-axis turning.
The box portion is 3.5 inches diameter hard maple turned with a cross grain orientation. That means the grain is running perpendicular to the turning axis. A cross grain box expands and contracts unevenly with changes in humidity. This, in turn, requires a more loose fit between the box and the lid. The box was hollowed mostly with a bowl gouge and cleaned up with a box scraper. The interior is finished with an odorless wax. The exterior is finished with shellac friction polish.
The lid is laminated colored birch produced by FrogBlanks.com. They have a large selection of different laminations to choose from. FrogBlanks is offering a 15% off coupon YT-AWT for a period of time. Where FrogBlanks are not available, DIY laminations could substitute.
The lid is turned with my Infinite Axis Chuck. This chuck is a multi-axis chuck that enables turning axes that are not parallel. What I like is that I can turn what appears to be non-symmetrical features into the wood. On the FrogBlank wood, this is particularly interesting.
For videos on the Infinite Axis Chuck, I recommend:
Plans for the chuck at https://www.aswoodturns.com//plans-n-resources/
Shop Built Eccentric Chuck From PVC Fitting (link)
Woodturning Jewelry With Infinite Axis Chuck (link)
Eccentric Spindle Woodturning With Infinite Axis Chuck (link)
Woodturning Eccentric Twig Vase With Infinite Axis Chuck (link)
Eccentric Bottle Stopper With Infinite Axis Chuck (link)
Woodturning Christmas Ornament Using Infinite Axis Chuck (link)
Enjoy!
Woodturning Apple Branch To Cider Mug
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Last year after completing my spring pruning, I had an apple limb that I cut in short segments and bored out the center including the pith. They’ve been drying since then. My video for that is “Preparing Green Apple Branch For Natural Edge Projects” at this link.
I’m using one of those segments for this project. I’m trying to use the natural shape of the limb to make a bark edge mug. After starting with the wood from last year I need to clean up the center, glue in a bottom, shape a handle, and waterproof the wood if it is going to survive liquid. The bottom is hazelnut also from my yard.
Fortunately, I’ve also experimented with dissolving acrylic in acetone for use as a waterproof finish. My video for this experiment is “A DIY Approach To Waterproof Wood” at this link.
While there is no instant gratification in creating this mug, now I can instantly enjoy some apple cider from my apple mug.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Blooper – Exploding Lampshade
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Where Best? Right Here!
After receiving this trunk of fresh aspen at the club wood raffle, Dave suggested that I turn a lampshade. I turned a lampshade several years ago but had resolved to avoid turning another until I had completed a deep hollowing rig. Here’s a link to that video Extreme Woodturning – Cedar Lampshade
Well that hollowing rig did not work well. But later the Southern Utah Woodturning Club gave me one that they made for their members. This new rig works great.
So, why not a lampshade?
Well, turning went very well until I was nearly finished. Then a catch and the whole project blew up. Why? Probably multiple reasons. Better luck next time. Perhaps another faceplate on the live center would have avoided this. It would need to allow me to easily measure wall thickness.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Quilt Burnisher For Paper Pieced Quilts
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My sister asked me to turn several burnishing tools for her quilting. She is an avid quilter.
Why not? These are approximate 9 inches long with one end having a slant flat end. Both ends could be used to press a seam, attach a pattern, or whatever.
These are turned from spalted box elder, maple and cherry, finished with shellac friction polish.
Enjoy!
References:
DIY Triple Wire Woodburner For Woodturning
Nailed It – Woodturning “Woodies Breakfast”
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. But, you’re already here.
What to do with a pretty piece of wood with an old rusty nail in it?
Turn a bowl, of course. But avoid the nail.
The wood is spalted box elder. Someone drove a nail into the tree. The tree grew over the nail then the center rotted out leaving the tree hollow.
This bowl is 5″ by 2″ finished with walnut oil. Two small rusty nails decorate the top.
Enjoy!
Multi-Axis Woodturning – What Is This?
This video is also posted to YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Why go anywhere else but here!
After turning several projects where I mimicked Max Brosi turning that I saw him demo, I decided to try a take off. This is based on his Octahedron which is named for the octagon used early in its turning. However, instead of six outlets, this one has only three.
In the end, it kind of looks like a PVC plumbing fitting. But who needs a wood plumbing fitting? I intend to make a complete set of these – just to prove that I can.
This wood is crab apple about two inches diameter, finished with walnut oil.
This is not that hard and a lot of fun.
Enjoy!
Resources
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Carving Tools
-Micro Motor Carver
Ram iCube 07-ICUBE
I purchased this at AAW symposium from MDI Woodcarvers Supply
Woodturning Large Ash Bowl – What’s Not To Love
This video is also posted on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best right here.
This block of ash was freshly cut last June when I received it in my club wood exchange. I love turning fresh wet wood – except for the part where I have to wait for it to dry.
Well, I turned it rough and thick leaving plenty of wall thickness expecting it to warp. I’ll need that thickness to turn it round again once it is dry. When I finished it, I counted it with a green wood sealer, “Wood Saver” from Craft Supplies USA.
Then it rested, and rested, and rested, in my office. Periodically, I weighed it and recorded the date and time. When it stayed near the same weight, it was ready to finish.
The bowl is 13″ diameter and 3″ high, finished with walnut oil.
Enjoy!
Box Elder Burl Hollow Form – The Easy Way
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This box elder burl came from my club’s wood exchange raffle. It is not a large piece but, looking at the raw wood, it has great potential. It screamed, “Hollow Me”.
I complied. Yellow alcohol die accents the burl figure. However, I sanded most of the dye off, leaving only enough to accent the figure.
The top opening is only about 1/2″. All of the hollowing was through the bottom. The vase is about 4″ diameter and 5″ tall, finished with rattle-can lacquer.
Enjoy!
Christmas Ornament Challenge – 2019 Results
This video is also posted on YouTube. But you’re already here.
Announcing the results from the 2019 Christmas Ornament Challenge.
Wow! This has been great. Take a peek at all the great ornaments and send your appreciation to those craftspeople who created them.
A page view of all ornaments is on the challenges page. You can browse and see enlarged ornaments at your leisure.
Enjoy (We certainly did)!
A Woodturner’s Nightmare “Woodie’s Nemesis”
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When on a wood acquisition journey, we cut off the end of a hollow box elder log to assess the amount of good wood. When we did, we also found old rusty nails inside the rotten hollow.
The vendor gave me the offcut. I think he just did not want to have to dispose of it.
But, at home, I thought a lot about whether I could turn the piece with the nail.
Here goes. It is about 10 inches in diameter and about 6 inches thick, finished with walnut oil. The stand is also spalted box elder.
Enjoy!