Hope this finds all of you and your families safe and well.

 

The weather here has been beautiful. Even had an awesome thunderstorm last night. 

 

 

Our Patriot Turners-

@FrederickH managed to score some really nice turning tools and asked our members their opinions.

 

Check out his post and see if you can provide some additional advice-

 

 

Most of us have been asked to stay at home during this health crisis. One of the other forums, at the Patriot, is showing our members' quarantine project. @John Hechel posted a beautiful walnut bowl! John says it is his first ever bowl! Wish my first one turned out that nice!!!

 

Check out his project- and other posts at-

 

 

New member @Purpleheartguy posted some of his turnings in our gallery. He is just getting into turning but it looks like he sure has a knack for it.

 

 

You can see his other images in the gallery beginning here-

 

 

@FlGatorwood is turning his first inside-out ornament! He gave us a sneak preview of what it is going to look like!

 

Check out his post at-

 

 

What’s Coming Up-

The Mid Atlantic Woodturning Symposium is still planning to hold their event in September. 

Click on the above image for the link to their site and more information.

 

 

As we mentioned last week, our sponsor- Woodcraft- is hosting a Turning Tuesday event each week. If you didn't catch it, Frank Byers demonstrates turning some garden tools.

 

 

 

For The Newbies-

@Purpleheartguy mentioned in his turning posts that he didn't own a chuck. Yet he turned some beautiful pieces with the tools he had. Here's a video from Mike Peace showing how to create a bowl, on the lathe, without a chuck. There are several videos on YouTube on how to do this-

 

 

There's always some questions about what's the best way to dry green wood for the final turning. I found this video from Woodcraft San Carlos where the presenter discusses several methods. Easy to understand. Note: Use you wife's microwave at your own risk 

 

 

Negative rake scrapers can be helpful in getting clean cuts and less catches. Sam Angelo has a video demonstrating their use, sharpening and why you might want to consider adding one to your turning arsenal.

 

 

 

Expand Your Horizons-

Mike Peace has a nice video showing how embellished an ash bowl. Not your typical finish.

 

 

 

New Turning Items-

If you like the idea of having one handle to be able to be used with a variety of lathe tools, this may be something you cam use-

 

You can see more at- https://woodturningtoolstore.com/modular-woodturning-tool-handle-new-product/

 

 

Everything Else-

Rick Turns posted his March list of YouTube woodturning videos. Please take a moment to give him a thumbs up, acknowledging his hard work.

 

 

 

@Purpleheartguy's comments got me to thinking about some of the chucks I've made.

 A very useful one is simple a piece of hardwood drilled and threaded to match the headstock threads. Then a piece of scrape glued to the face. The scrape is a sacrificial piece to which the project is glued.

 

 

 

Another really useful one is the Longworth chuck. It can be used for reverse chucking a bowl to finish off the bottom.

 

 

I used the same type of drilled/tapped hardwood block for the mounting portion of the one I made.  Sometimes you can get lucky and find a used tap, that matches your lathe threads, at the surplus store.

 

 

Safe turning and stay well

Thank you for this great summary. It's much appreciated!!!

A great post, packed with lots of good stuff.  Currently finishing up some reorganization stuff but @FlGatorwood has me thinking I want to try that inside out ornament.  

Great post Lew.  You sure gave us enough content to keep us busy for quite awhile.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Thank you, Lew and Gunny for the kind words.  I did not expect that as I did not remember what the day was.  I gave the unfinished ornament to the guy who brought the wood.  I wanted his wife to have the joy of finishing to her liking.  I explained that the hole in the top would allow for some fishing line or other hanging device to go through.  And, she can add beads or whatever else she can fit through openings and have them hang inside.  It was fun and I have more in the pipeline.  Also, more ideas.  Different woods and stains coming.  

Thanks so, much for all the great content. I'm gonna try to make the long worth chuck. How did you figure out spacing and where to put the slide holes for the grip?

13 minutes ago, Purpleheartguy said:

Thanks so, much for all the great content. I'm gonna try to make the long worth chuck. How did you figure out spacing and where to put the slide holes for the grip?

Do a google search for "make a Longworth chuck" and you will see plenty of videos and plans.

 

Lew I see you got another packed post going on here ....Good Job

@FrederickH Thank You!

 

@Woodbutcherbynight Thanks! Wanna see that ornament when finished!!

 

@HandyDan Thank You!

 

@FlGatorwood Thanks! I was typing this when I saw your post. I appreciate being able to add it to this weeks Wednesday's...

 

@Purpleheartguy Thank You! I'm adding a PDF to this entry that shows how to make one. As Gerald said, lots of videos out there. The one I made is sort of a combination of many sources. 

   Construction of a Longworth Chuck.pdf

 

@Gerald Thanks! And, thanks for response to @Purpleheartguy.

Lew, I downloaded the pdf and I'm gonna try to build one tomorrow.  Thanks so much!! I wish I had found you all when I first got out of the military! You've all been a blessing and a great motivator for me.

@Purpleheartguy We are very glad you are here.  I would like to hear your story sometime.  Thank you for your service.  

1 hour ago, Purpleheartguy said:

Lew, I downloaded the pdf and I'm gonna try to build one tomorrow.  Thanks so much!! I wish I had found you all when I first got out of the military! You've all been a blessing and a great motivator for me.

As Flgatorwood said, we are glad you found us. We really enjoy the friendship of the new members. Thank you for your service, Brother. 

1 hour ago, Purpleheartguy said:

You've all been a blessing and a great motivator for me.

And that is what the site is about.