Had a request for an ornament with a cross showing on it.  Decided to make two at the same time and glued up a blank.  Here it is with the two crosses drawn on it.

 

 

I turned the area with the cross down to where it was just round all the way around.

 

 

I was able to achieve some nice crisp edges with the East Wood Ci1 Square cutter. 

 

 

Since it is turned just round anything I take off from here will open the window.  I want a 1/4" opening for the uptight so I have to reduce the diameter 1/8" remembering that whatever is removed is doubled since the 1/8" is cut in all four adjoining pieces.

 

 

Next it is time cut the cross bar. A 1/4" wide cut needs to be cut deep enough to form the bars but not too deep.  In this case go as close to this arc as you can but stay far enough away because when the pieces are split and turned around this is the largest possible diameter that can be achieved.  If you have to go deeper the risk for failure becomes greater.

 

 

 

Once done split it in half and lay the pieces out and check your work.

 

 

Split them all apart and, spin them around and glue them together.  Then mount them on the lathe for the final turn and sanding.

 

The usually look best if left in cylinder form so as not to mess with the opening for the cross upright.  Get the finish on and your hook to hang it and you're good to go.

 

 

See below red arrow.  This is the critical area.  It gets thin quickly.

 

 

Any questions?  Ask away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fantastic! I wish I had the ability to picture the steps in my mind to create the design.

Pretty darned awesome there Dan!

Very nicely done! The ornament and the little tutorial as well.

Thanks Dan

 

Steve

Wow, Dan, That is fantastic. Beautiful wood too, Yellow Heart? Does the stand go with it?

Herb

Edited March 1, 20197 yr by Dadio

Now, that's about the neatest thing I've seen. They're beautiful, and I second Lew's observation. That took some extra special cogitation. 

top self...

4 hours ago, lew said:

Fantastic! I wish I had the ability to picture the steps in my mind to create the design.

 

After you do a few the visual gets easier but it has never been easy.  It is hard to wrap the brain around it at times.

3 hours ago, Dadio said:

Wow, Dan, That is fantastic. Beautiful wood too, Yellow Heart? Does the stand go with it?

Herb

 

It is actually old growth straight grained Fir salvaged as doors fro100 year old houses.  The stand stays with me.  It holds a dozen or more items at one time and I use it for picture taking.  They said they had their own stands.

Beautiful, you make me want to learn how to use the lathe feature in the Shopsmith.

I just can't visualize things that far ahead.  It's a beautiful ornament. 

8 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

That took some extra special cogitation. 

Exactly, make mine a double cause it took me longer....

Good job Dan and you are right getting that thin makes it near heart attack to get right. When I did mine I did a traditional inside out turning and then stained the inside which had problems of its own. My biggest mistake was I made them way too long  at close to 8 inch.

 

Those are beautiful @Gerald. They're not too long. You just need a taller hanger. 

You inside out guys are amazing geniuses. 

Artie, as a SS owner, I fear that our start speed of 750 rpm may be too much for finish turning of the outside near the image.  I am just guessing here, but once turned right side out, isn't the speed from 300 to 500?  Somebody set me straight please on doing the outside turning and speeds.

I have the electronic motor, I think the slowest speed is 250 rpm, but I’m not swearing to that.

I see no reason to use slow turning speeds.  I spin them at normal spindle turning speeds.  When they are turned to the outside there is a lot more glue surface used making the final turning a lot stronger.  The areas circled in red in the picture below are glue surfaces on all four sides when it is turned for the outside and final turn so they can be spun at normal turning speeds safely as long as your pieces were cut square and true at the start to make a good glue joint.  This is the first turn for the inside.  Notice the tightly wrapped fiber tape on the ends.  There is less glue than the tape is wide.  It is surprising how hard it is to break apart when it is time to.

 

Preparation is key.  Square parts and careful gluing is perferred.

 

I was thinking of the second and final glue up.  Yes, in this position you should be able to run up to normal speeds, but when it is hollow, I would be very afraid and maybe without justification, but I had a cherry bowl to blow apart on me, so I am scarity cat.  LOL  I was not sure of the speed when it is in its hollow position.  Thanks, Dan.  

 

Yep, Artie, you start about 250 rpm.  I don't remember at the moment.  You should be able to do this with no problems.  

Speed is not a problem when doing inside out turning because it is spindle turning. Many ways to get off on it but too much pressure fron the tailstock can split the work.

I always love seeing your work Dan. First rate as always!