The last day of 2014! I wonder how long it will take me to remember to write 2015 on my checks? 

 

It looks like the "Old Jail Pen Project" is coming to an end. The young fellow, I was helping, finished his portion of the pens and has everything just about ready to go. There was a piece of the old beam remaining so I thought it would be neat to create a gavel from the wood. Turning the pens from that old wood was challenging but the gavel was even more so!

 

 

 

 

I started with a gouge, which worked OK for rounding the work pieces. When I attempted to create the beads, the soft wood tore out. With the exception of the coves, on the gavel head, the entire gavel was turned with the skew.

 

I wanted some type of display for the gavel. An Internet search turned up plenty of ideas. My original plan was to make the display with a support for the handle. The handle would have set parallel to the base. After I cut the base and routed the edge, I set the gavel on it to confirm the size, went to reheat my coffee. When I returned, the angled position really caught my eye so-- change of plans!

 

 

 

 

To further associate the gavel to the history of the wood, I created an inlay of a "carpenters mark" cut from the beam from which the gavel and display board were made.

 

 

 

 

Having the gavel in the angled position is not very stable. One of the images, from my search, showed a slight recess for the handle and head. To locate the correct position, I used some carbon paper (yes, I still have some from the old typewriter days). 

 

 

 

 

 

For the handle, I created a round divot

 

 

 

At this point, I was stumped on visualizing the recess for the gavel head. Usually when this happens, I take a long walk and think things through but it was dark and supper time so, off we went to the Hibachi Supreme Buffet and Home Depot. Halfway through the Hot and Sour soup it came to me- Modeling Clay! 

 

 

 

I should be able to reproduce this in the wood.

 

 

A lot of sanding on the base, glue the inlay in place and apply a finish. I think I'll use lacquer in order to preserve the natural color.

 

 

 

Many of you are fans of Scott Phillips. Here's a link to Season 22-

 

http://wbgu.org/americanwoodshop/season22.html

 

A couple of these are on wood turning.

 

 

 

Also, Tim Yoder has a new video up. He turns a neat little alarm clock-

 

 

 

Happy New Year and Safe Turning

I really love the gavel. You did an outstanding job on the turning. I like it displayed the way you have it.

 

Great job Lew!

Great job Lew, nice modifications and originality in your planning. The clay idea was very cool indeed. Happy New Year to you too Lew, your Wood Turning Forum did well this 2014! Thanks to you!

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

you should be able to replicate that dimple using a forestner bit in your drill press

Now that would have been easier than hand carving the darned thing. I guess I'm just too impatient to wait for some great advice!

Lew looks really good. Love the added touches you added too.

Another way to get the indentatio is to use a straight router bit and your carbon paper. put the carbon down and put the handle end of the gavel in.  center the head and press down or raise it a bit and "drop" it down.

 

route out the part marked by the carbon paper and repeat.  A little smoothing with a gouge or a dremel will help make a smooth imprint.

 

It does look good!!

Another way to get the indentatio is to use a straight router bit and your carbon paper. put the carbon down and put the handle end of the gavel in.  center the head and press down or raise it a bit and "drop" it down.

 

route out the part marked by the carbon paper and repeat.  A little smoothing with a gouge or a dremel will help make a smooth imprint.

 

It does look good!!

 

Thanks for the idea, Mike!

Love that gavel Lew. Also neat video from Tim

Thanks, Charles.