Wednesday's Wisdom for Woodturners May 30, 2018

[lew]

Kids got out of school for the summer, today. No subbing until August!

 

Lots of activity by our Patriot turners this week!

 

@PostalTom made a set of pen jaws from an article by Mr. David Reed Smith. Tom reports that the jaws worked like a charm.

 

Check out the sweet looking pen he made using the jaws-

 

 

 

 

@Charles Nicholls has been turning some gorgeous bottle stoppers.

 

 

Charles answers comments about this project in his post-

 

 

 

 

@Steve Krumanaker is adding details to a beautiful maple bowl he turned. Steve's talent with wood burning techniques is awesome!

 

Our turners had lots of great comments-

 

 

 

 

 

@RustyFN started a log bird house. Unfortunately the log cracked before he had a chance to finish the turning. Rusty asked our turners what might have caused this and what could be done to prevent it.

 

 

Maybe you can add some more tips/techniques that you have found that work for you.

 

 

 

 

 

@Ron Altier posted a question about an unfamiliar turning product.

 

Several turners offered identification and use-

 

 

 

 

This little item popped up on Nova's Facebook feed. If you do a lot of both outboard and spindle turning, you might find this useful.

 

 

 

 

 

Capt. Eddie has a new video on "Better Sanding". It's nice to see him still teaching and giving us great information-

 

 

 

 

 

I finished up the handle for the hedge shears that were left on the front porch. Fortunately, the original tang holes were round which made the replacement handle easier to make. I used my steady rest to stabilize the work while drilling the holes.

 

 

 

Then just shaped the handle to match the original. Used a mallet to drive the handle onto the tang. Finished with wipe-on poly

 

 

 

 

Also got time to finish up the natural edge bowl made from that flame box elder. A bunch of coats of wipe-on poly.

 

 

 

 

Safe Turning

 

[Gerald]

Good one Lew. That bowl looks great. A tip on the holes drilled; Drill the hole before turning and use a 45 degree cone on the live center tailstock set into the hole and no need for the steady and the hole will be perfectly centered on the turning.

[PostalTom]

Thanks for the mention Lew.  That handle looks perfect.  If it wasn't for the grain, I wouldn't know which one you made.  Good job.

[Grandpadave52]

Nice job on the handle; Beautiful bowl.

Another excellent week in review.

[HandyDan]

Good post Lee.  I need to get into the shop and get busy.

[Steve Krumanaker]

Nice job again and that bowl is beautiful. Gerald is right, anytime I'm making something like a handle the hole gets drilled first.

Steve

[lew]

@Gerald Thanks! Years ago I purchased a bench top drill press- from the same factory as Grizzly. It has limited range on the size of stock that I can drill. To make matters worse, The quill has worn enough that getting a perfectly plumb, deep hole is a hit and miss operation. For shallower holes I do use your suggestion. I even made a few cones, of various angles, that slip over the live center.

 

@PostalTom Thank You!  Not exactly sure of the wood species I used. I got some odds and ends in a trade a few years ago. It could have been white oak or maybe ash.

 

@Grandpadave52 Thanks! I gave the bowl to the young man the gave me the box elder logs. He seemed to like it.

 

@HandyDan Thank You!

 

@Steve Krumanaker Thanks!

[Charles Nicholls]

I have got to get me one of those steady rests. If anyone is interested in making me one, shoot me a message, ty.

The wood turners have been busy this week