The past week has been a blur. Folks in and out. Trips to friends and relatives. Maybe things will start to settle down soon.

 

Last week's "Wednesday's" had a post from Patriot member Bondoman and his Christmas turnings. If you missed it, check out these neat snowmen he made

 

 

 We often discuss what makes a good food safe finish for our turnings (and other projects).

I went back through the "Wednesday's" archives and found this link-

http://www.creative-culinary.com/wood-butter-helps-renew-wood-utensils-and-bowls/

There's a recipe for bee's wax and mineral oil to create a "Wood Butter". I've found this combination to make an excellent finish for any article that is used in food contact. The consistency can be adjusted by the ration of bee's wax to mineral oil. It doesn't take much bee's wax!

 

While I was browsing the archives, I also found this neat idea for buffing pieces. Who needs the Beall system when you have this-

 

"Here is a tip from the IAP forum on making quick and
cheap buffing wheels for the lathe. The photo shows a paint-roller buffer. You can't beat
the price - about $9 for a long nap lambs wool roller at
Home Depot. It works, and it neither as aggressive nor as
hard as the commercial buffers and it is really difficult to
get it overloaded with buffing compounds or wax.

You can put down 4 bands - Tripoli, White Diamond, wax, and
leave the tailstock end bare for just polishing.

Turned the end pieces, and make the drive end so it
would work in either a chuck or between centers. Ends made from wood can be glued into the roller with a
silicone adhesive so they can't get lost."

 

Tim Yoder has a nice little angle measuring device for lathe tool grinding. Here is his demonstration of how it works-

 

 

I hardly ever sell any turnings. They are made for my enjoyment or as gifts for friends. Those few times I have had the opportunity to sell something, left me struggling to determine a fair asking price. Here's a video addressing this "problem" and is geared primarily for turners-

 

I think there are a lot of opinions on this topic, so take from it what you will.

 

Finally, a video from Martin Saban-Smith. Here's a turner who is not afraid to think "out-of-the-box" when it comes to finishing-

 

 

Safe Turning

 

 

 

A lot of items to view again this week.  Thanks Lew.  I did take a liking to Bundoman's snowmen.  Very whimsical.

 

Good job Lew! Sam's video is very interesting and I'll have to watch it a few times. As someone who has recently done their first show I can say, pricing your work to sell is difficult on several levels. It's hard to believe people will pay what a person needs to make selling worthwhile but I've seen it happen. Was with another artist at a very small venue in a country store. Most of the artists were displaying items  in the 10-20 dollar range. My buddy was displaying  large turnings, many of them $200.00 or more each. Almost immediately he sold a walnut vase for $400.00. The same person bought two vases from him. Before the day was over he sold several pieces. He told me he and his wife almost left when they saw the venue but didn't have anything else planned so they decided to display. Ya never know.

 

Steve

Edited December 29, 20169 yr by Steve Krumanaker

Nice Post! A lot of info in there