More rain to fill the PA potholes

 

 

Our Patriot Turners-

@Fred W. Hargis Jr is making progress on his coin displays. He is turning the pedestals for each coin and ran into a little problem and asked our advice.

Check out Fred's post for our members suggestions.

 

I finally dug out the chainsaw and went for some sycamore. Cut everything on site instead of manhandling big chunks of logs. A bunch of approximately 6 x 6 pieces and some a little bigger. Ends sealed with old Titebond glue. Seven of these pieces have been rough turned, 4 soaked and in the drying box and 3 more in the soak now. I was surprised how much the log had spalted since the last time I cut from it, especially since it was not in contact with the ground.

 

 

What’s Coming Up-

If you missed Cindy Drozda's tool talk with Emma Cook, it is available on YouTube-

 

For The Newbies-

From Tomislav Tomasic on the importance of tool rest positioning-

 

Expand Your Horizons-

No Longworth chuck, no Cole Jaws? No problem! Sam Angelo demonstrates how to finish off the bottom of a bowl without those special chucks.

 

Spindles, bowls, hollowing-- been there, done that?? But have you turned a Jelly Fish?? Carl Jacobson shows us this turned art work-

 

Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools-

Easy Wood Tools has a great selection of accessories for holding pieces on the lathe. For the headstock, besides their awesome Easy Chuck, they have faceplates, faceplate rings and drive centers.

Faceplates-

Faceplates are available for lathes with headstock spindles threads of 1 x 8, 1.25 x 8, M30 x 3.5 and M33 x 3.5. With diameters ranging from  2" to 4.5". The faceplates have a large number of holes to ensure secure mounting even on rough surfaces.

 

Faceplate rings-

The faceplate rings are machined from cold rolled steel. These heavy rings will work with most 4 jaw chucks. These are available in 3, 4.5 and 6 inch diameters. As with the EWT faceplates, the large number of holes provides secure mounting on uneven surfaces. With faceplate rings, there is no need to replace the chuck with a faceplate.

 

Drive Centers-

Being able to mount spindle work without removing your chuck can save time. EWT offers two styles of chuck mounted drive centers.

4 Prong-

This heavy duty center offers a retracting point for easy centering and will work with most chucks.

Multi-Spur

As with the 4 prong drive center, the retracting point makes for easy centering and will fit most chucks.

 

EWT hasn't ignored the tailstock either.

Live Center-

Standard #2 Morris taper with a 3/4 x 10 threaded nose for additional adapters. The center point position is adjustable.

Stabilization Cones-

Available in 1.5" and 4" diameter with 3/4 x 10 threads

 

Some of these items are demonstrated and reviewed by Carl Jacobson-

 

Another well known woodturner demonstrating EWT tools-

 

Upcoming EWT live demonstration-

 

Be sure to check you local Woodcraft store for additional live EWT demos during the month of June.

@Jordan Martindale

 

New Turning Items-

Everything Else-

From Ron Brown's newsletter

 

Opportunity

"There is little opportunity when nothing changes...but with change comes opportunity."

 

My daughter is brilliant! As a scientist working in a large laboratory developing poultry vaccines, change was constant: personnel, protocols, facilities, and equipment. It bothered her every time. My counsel was always to welcome changes because there is little opportunity when nothing changes. But with change, opportunity always comes, and it always did.

 

For the hobby woodturner, this speaks to stagnation. If your techniques remain the same, your projects look the same, and your understanding of wood and tools doesn't evolve, your opportunities for growth and enjoyment are limited. You might become proficient at a few specific tasks, but you'll likely hit a plateau.
•    Limited Skill Development
•    Repetitive Projects
•    Missed Learning
•    Lack of Innovation

 

"...but with change comes opportunity."

 

This is the exciting part! Change, even when it feels a little daunting, opens doors to new possibilities and growth in your woodturning journey.
•    Learning New Skills: Experimenting with different wood species or mastering a new finishing technique (like CA), expands your capabilities and opens up new project possibilities.
•    Exploring Different Project Types: Moving beyond simple bowls to tackle complex spindle projects, or even furniture components, can lead to greater satisfaction.
•    Adopting New Tools: Investing in a new tool, jig, or fixture, even a seemingly small one, can revolutionize your workflow and the types of projects you can undertake. 
•    Discovering New Materials: Experimenting with epoxy resin, metal inlays, or even incorporating non-traditional materials into your woodworking can lead to unique and exciting results.
•    Sharing and Learning from Others: Engaging with the woodturning community online or in person exposes you to different approaches, ideas, and critiques, fostering growth and new opportunities for learning. 

 

Other key precepts to consider:

•    Master New Forms: Progressing beyond basic shapes to complex forms (hollow vessels, segmented/off-center turning) provides significant skill development.
•    Experiment with Different Woods: Exploring various wood types (hardwoods, softwoods, figured, green) reveals diverse textures, colors, and challenges.
•    Learn New Tool Techniques: Utilizing different gouge profiles, scrapers, and specialized tools expands achievable effects and forms.
•    Explore Embellishments: Incorporating carving, burning, painting, or resin inlays adds artistic dimensions to turned pieces.
•    Improve Sharpening Skills and Techniques: Continuously refining tool sharpening and lathe stance improves cut quality, control, and intricacy.
•    Embrace New Technologies: Integrating modern technologies like laser engravers and advanced finishes offers new creative possibilities in woodturning.

 

Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone at the lathe. Embrace the challenges that come with learning new techniques, experimenting with different materials, and exploring new forms. Each change, each new skill acquired, each different wood you turn, is an opportunity to grow as a craftsman, to create more unique and satisfying pieces, and to deepen your enjoyment of this excellent craft.

 

Safe turning

Thanks Lew.  Thanks for the newer tools posting.

EWT is rocking it Lew, thanks for all the news and follow up!!

Thanks Lew. As always, another post filled with resources and relevant information.

 

Nice looking spalted sycamore blanks in your inventory. It should yield some interesting projects.

Thanks Lew. Some good as stuff always. I have a Sweet Gum log about 4 foot long in shop which spaulted on shop floor.

A couple of years ago I won a set of the  EZ wood faceplate rings along with those drive spurs and some other stuff in one of the drawings here. Those rings are handy as are the drive spurs.

@HandyDan  Thank You!

 

@John Morris  Thanks!

 

@Grandpadave52  Thank you!

 

@Gerald  Thanks! I always though the wood had to contact "dirt" for spalting to occur. Learning something new all the time.

 

@Fred W. Hargis Jr  Thank you!!  I have pretty much given up on faceplates and go for the rings all the time.

Thanks Lew. I can’t wait to see a piece of that spalted sycamore turned. I bet it will be beautiful.

@RustyFN Thanks! Hoping it isn't too punky. May need to use some CA on the soft spots.