Our Patriot Turners-

@RustyFN turned some more incredible ornaments! I really like his finials and choices of colors!

Check out Rusty's post and the comments from our members-

@Fred W. Hargis Jr asked a question about an adapter he pickup with some other lathe accessories. After some back and forth and Google searches, he was able to come up with the answer. We all learned a few things along the way! Check out the item and its use in his post-

Steve Krumanaker @Steve Krumanaker Posted some of his "Bee Lids" on social media. If you do that sort of things, please check out his awesome work!

What's Coming Up-

If you missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last week, she posted the replay on YouTube.

Highland Woodworking will be holding bowl turning classes

Highland Woodworking Tools

Basic Bowl Turning | Woodworking Classes | Highland Woodw...

For The Newbies-

Tomislav uploaded a video filmed "close and slow", really great camera work showing tool presentation.

He also posted a great comparison between regular scrapers and negative rake scrapers.

Craft Supplies USA's video on sharpening bowl gouges is quite interesting and filled with tips-

Tim Yoder explains why "Flutes" are important!

Expand Your Horizons-

Mike Peace takes us along as he explains the various examples of bowl rims. Some cool ideas to dress up that bowl!

@Fred W. Hargis Jr's question (above) led him to the topic of vacuum chucks. Sam Angelo just added a vacuum chuck to his shop. Fred, maybe this will help!

Speaking of new additions to the shop, Richard Raffan got a new lathe an few months ago. He recently added a cool storage unit to help with the setup.

Jim Rodgers post the third in the series of turning a acrylic box with hand chased threads.

If you aren't fortunate enough to have an Easy Wood Tools Rougher, that accepts carbide beading cutter, Tim Yoder shows us how to convert a spindle gouge into a beading tool-

Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools-

Thinking about trying carbide tools? Here's some reasons from the industry leader and originators of carbide turning tools!

The Easy Wood Tools demonstrators will be out in force next week!

https://www.mcfeelys.com/

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/storelocations/burlington

https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/baltimore

Woodturning with EWT tools, Nathan McCollim turns a neat top

New Turning Items-

The Woodturning Tool Store has the Axminster Eccentric Spiraling Chuck back in stock

Axminster

From Niles Bottle Stoppers, their Threaded Rings are on sale! Low profile and urns threaded inserts.

Niles Bottle Stoppers

Everything Else-

Some good tips, from Ron Brown, for getting the most out of that free wood, from those winter fallen trees.

• The Quick Harvest

• The moment a tree hits the ground, the moisture starts escaping through the ends like a leaky pipe. You’ve got to plug the holes.

• Seal it Fast: Get some Anchorseal or a thick coat of latex paint on those end grains within 24 hours. No excuses.

• Leave Some Room: Cut your logs about six inches longer than you think you need. Consider it an insurance policy against the cracks that are coming for the ends.

• Ditch the Pith: Don't leave your logs sitting "in the round." Split them right down the center, through the pith. It relieves the tension, and in woodturning—just like in life—too much tension leads to a breakdown.

• 2. Smart Storage

• You don't need a high-tech lab; you just need some common sense and a little shade.

• Keep it Cool: Don't bring that wood into a heated garage. Use the cold to your advantage. A north-facing spot or an unheated shed is perfect.

• The Bag Trick: For smaller rough turned pieces, toss them in a paper bag with some wet shavings. Give the bag a flip every few days to keep the mold from getting too comfortable.

• Off the Dirt: Don't just pile it on the ground. Stack your wood on scrap runners. Bugs and rot are looking for a free ride, and the soil is their staging ground.

• Go for the Oval look: There is just something about an oval bowl that can have a special handmade appeal. To try it, turn a green blank to final size all in one session knowing it is going to warp and go oval. I sometimes even add large rubber bands to accentuate that un-round shape.

• 3. Mistakes to Avoid

• Happy Birthday! I hope this finds you well, happy, and prosperous!: Winter sun might feel good on your face, but it’ll shrink the "skin" of a log and crack it wide open. Keep it covered.

• The Bark: Unless you’re planning a natural-edge bowl, get rid of the bark. It’s basically a Five-Star hotel for wood-boring beetles, and they don't tip.

• Procrastination: Storm-damaged wood is stressed. It’s got "reaction wood" inside that wants to move. Process it into rough blanks as soon as you can.

Safe turning

 

Thanks for the content Lew. Interesting as always.

Thanks for the post Lew. As Dan said always something to check out

Thanks Lew.

Sam's video was useful Lew, thanks. It actually didn't occur to me to make a vacuum chuck, I'll try that before dropping money on a commercial one. That rotary valve he showed on the head stock is the one my mystery adapter fits to my lathe, only it's made for the Oneway version of the rotary valve.

@HandyDan Thanks!

@Gerald Thank You!

@RustyFN Thanks!

@Fred W. Hargis Jr Thank You! Hope you can engineer it to work for you.