Inside out turning starts with a glue up of four sticks cut perfectly square and glued together to make a square twice the size of the cut pieces. 

 

 

There are limits to how deep a cut can be made and not have the turning ruined because the cut was too deep.  One inch square pieces will be glued up to create a two inch blank in this case.  When the blank is mounted in the lathe the first order of business is to turn the area where the window is to appear to the max diameter which in this case is two inch diameter or a one inch radius as seen on the right.  On the left is what it would look line if it was turned inside out now.  The center diamond would be air space and the points of the diamond are where the windows will appear when more turning is done.  This shows that a one inch deep cut measured from the corners would be too far.  The maximum cut has to be at least one eighth inch short of one inch and that may be pushing it.  So if two inch sticks are glued up to make a four inch square the cuts have to be less than two inches deep measured from the corner.  Depth of cut mystery solved.

 

Okay, time to get the table saw tuned up to cut perfect square and install a smooth cutting blade.  Start by cutting four sticks the same length and perfect square.  I used one inch square by six long pieces here.

 

 

Decide the best looking orientation of the end grain and put a rubber band around them.  Mark the four inside corners and number the pieces. 

 

 

Keeping the same orientation turn the inside corners to the outside and glue them together.  A quarter inch line of glue on the ends is about all that is necessary as they will need to be split apart later. 

 

 

Let it dry and wrap the ends with tape.  Heavy plastic tape can be as an added insurance that the blank will stay together.  The tape is also a reminder to not turn that area away.  It needs to remain for gluing later.

 

 

Mount the blank in the lathe and turn it just round in the area the window is to appear.  With it turned just round there will be no windows when turned back to finish as shown here.

 

 

 

Anything turned away from here on will open the window.  This was put back in the lathe and small grooves cut into it to show result.  Notice how any cut made is automatically doubled.

 

 

 

Next is how to make an ornament with a cross for the windows.  Here is the blank mounted in the lathe.

 

 

Here it is turned just round where the window will be and the cross upright length, one and a half inches, is marked out.

 

 

Everything turned away now will open the window double the depth of cut.  The upright of the cross is going to be a quarter inch wide so a groove one eighth deep needs to be cut the length of the upright.  

 

 

Each side of the horizontal part of the cross is to be a quarter inch long so a groove that deep a quarter inch wide needs to be cut next.  To make it round seven sixteenths measured from the corner had to be removed plus two sixteenths for the upright and now four sixteenths for the horizontal arms comes to thirteen sixteenths leaving just three sixteenths of meat left to hold it together.  Good to go.

 

 

Here it is broken apart to check the window. 

 

 

Didn't care for the top and bottom of the upright so it was put back together and the sharp corners were blended in and the finish put on it.  Be careful not to get finish on the glue surfaces.

 

 

When the finish is dry it is time to knock it apart and turn the inside to the outside and glue it back together.  Then mount it in the lathe for the finish turning.

 

 

Turn the whole thing to just round again.  If turned deeper where the window is the window will get steadily wider as wood is turned away.  There is plenty of meet above and below the window to shape as desired.  Just watch where the inside cavity top and bottom are so they are not cut into.

 

 

Once it has the desired shape, part it off and put on the finish.

 

 

Dan

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

very well done....

thanks..

Great tutorial, Dan! Thanks!!

Very Nice!!

Thank you!!

Very Nice! I always wondered how that was done. Thank you !

Woah...slick! 

Great step by step and a very nice looking ornament!

 

Steve

Great tutorial and outstanding piece...this would make a great blog too Dan; easier for someone to find down the road...gotta believe others will give this a try after reading your post here. Kudos

Great job Dan. I never thought of finishing the inside when I did mine so I only applied dye.

1 hour ago, Gerald said:

Great job Dan. I never thought of finishing the inside when I did mine so I only applied dye.

 

I like to use brushing lacquer inside.  It dries very quickly and doesn't hold up the process very long.  Does make a stink though.

  Great looking piece. Thanks for the pics.

 

10 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

this would make a great blog too Dan;

  I would agree

I have yet to see the advantage of using 4 chunks of wood.

I turn one square and rip it into 4 chunks on my table saw

after I turn in on my lathe. It seems like so much less work.

2 hours ago, Kevin Beitz said:

I have yet to see the advantage of using 4 chunks of wood.

I turn one square and rip it into 4 chunks on my table saw

after I turn in on my lathe. It seems like so much less work.

 

Using four pieces of wood facilitates the use of thinner stock. 

8 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

 

Using four pieces of wood facilitates the use of thinner stock. 

But if your trying to hide the glue line it seems like 

it would be easier if it all came from the same chunk 

of wood. Some day I need to try starting out with

4 sticks. I have never done it that way.

47 minutes ago, Kevin Beitz said:

I have never done it that way.

 

Take a length of wood wide enough and cut it in half.  Fold the two halves at the cut line and keep that orientation for the finished ornament.  The grain matches quite nicely.

Thanks Dan. Great explanation and pictures. I have been wanting to try this and this post will help a great deal.

9 hours ago, RustyFN said:

Thanks Dan. Great explanation and pictures. I have been wanting to try this and this post will help a great deal.

 

I'm will gladly answer any questions that may arise.  That goes for anything I make and post here.  I do my best to explain everything I make so everyone can make their own.  Copy anything and everything I do.  I always take it as a compliment.  Run into a snag?  I'm here for you.