I was looking through my new copy of Woodturning Design Magazine and read an article about Steve Sherman. he does some beautiful work!

his website is www.shermanwoodturning.com    on it there are some videos of very impressive work in the minature world.  now that tools are available, i may get back to that area and see if my older body and do it again.....

take care, bill

Bill are you thinking about turning miniature items. 

 

I have seen some that John Lucus has turned and they are really small. He has some very small tools he uses.

 

 

Hey John,  i turned a few minitures about 15 years ago. we got a new car and my "woodshop" was regulated to the other half of the garage. out went the radial arm saw and in went a table. i was also heavy into building model airplanes, R/C type and didn't need big tools. i built a lathe using a concrete drill driver with two speeds. 1700 and 3400. i made a "capture device out of some plywood, mounted the ply and drill motor to a piece of MDF and used a 1/4" thick piece of angle iron for a tool rest. i made my tools out of regular size flat bastard files by using the dremel and carbide bits to shape the small ends of the files. in the picture on photobucket, you can see a couple of the turnigs and two face plates.
i made the face plates out of Chevrolet intake valves, ply and sacrificial 2x4..........glues the faceplates together with epoxy and the working piece to the face plate with yellow wood glue......just like in school. http://s698.photobucket.com/albums/vv342/brickwoodward/    these are not near as small as folks are turning today, but i'm going to jump right in and see how much kindling i can make on the new learning curve!!!

take care, bill

John Moody said:

Bill are you thinking about turning miniature items. 

 

I have seen some that John Lucus has turned and they are really small. He has some very small tools he uses.

 

 

Bill I just marvel at some of the miniatures I have seen. There are a few guys out there really doing some small stuff. I saw your post on Wood. Next time you are over there, look up some of the ones John Lucus has turned They are so small.

 

Make sure you take some pictures and let us see what you are doing when you get it going. I have a hard enough time with the big stuff, I not sure I am ready for miniature.

thanks John, if the doctor lets me get off the walker next week, i'll be in the shop getting an overdose!!!!!

Walker?? Did you have an accident?

yeah, on jan 8, i fell cleaning the shower and broke my femur on the bottom rail the shower doors run on......surgery the next morning and home a week later.   last monday i got permission from the doc to go back in the shop and play, providing there was room for the walker.  no problem, i moved some stuff around and i've been happliy making chips ever since!! i should be off te walker in another week and maybe back to work in a couple more??  no hurry though!!

John Moody said:

Walker?? Did you have an accident?

Man Bill! I had no idea you were injured. Sorry to hear about that, but your making sawdust now, and that's a good thing. Glad you made it back ok and your on your way to a recovery.

 

Thanks John.......I really appriciate the kind words!  i've had a problem all my life, not knowing when to slow down or quit!!

 

i finished a spin top like one the TreeWright, UK youtube mad and after playing with it for a few minutes, figured the one made by another guy on "woodturners resource" is a better and easier design to play with!!  i'm easly amused and like toys!!!  later this week i'll get busy on a couple of miniture goblets to see if i've regained any techniques of years ago??

John Morris said:

Man Bill! I had no idea you were injured. Sorry to hear about that, but your making sawdust now, and that's a good thing. Glad you made it back ok and your on your way to a recovery.

 

Toys, a kid at heart, but it makes it even more fun knowing you get to make them!! Looking forward to some pics Bill of those miniatures. Thanks, and, glad your doing better.

Bill glad to here you are doing better!!

 

Any chance we could get a picture of the spin top you made. I love to see the thing other people are making.

 

Keep us informed as you improve. I know you want to get off that walker, but take your time.