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Our Christmas Project is underway. Help us to make a military family's Christmas one to remember! Check out all the awesome prizes and details here- https://thepatriotwoodworker.com/forums/topic/42294-adopt-a-warrior-family-for-christmas-2025/ Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker is putting his new laser to good use creating unique Christmas ornaments! Check out these two post from Steve to learn more about how these are done Unfortunately, there was a "catch" during the turning process as Steve explains here- A couple of weeks ago we had a post asking our preference for either a Longworth chuck or vacuum chuck. There have been a few additional comments. The post picks up here- From @Gordon on our "Off The Lathe" topic, a gorgeous natural edge bowl in a board type turning. Check out the comments and catch with some of the other comments on past posts. @RustyFN scored some awesome maple! Preparing the blanks for storage kept him busy!! Head on over to Rusty's post to see the rest of the blanks!! New member, @Rusty S, shared a heart breaking incident with a walnut turning he had "almost" finished. In his post, he explains what happened and received lots of sympathy from those of us in the "BTDT Club" What's Coming Up- If you missed the Fall Vendor Showcase, it is available on YouTube. Unfortunately, the link won't embed the video but clicking the link will take to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKJVVo-vrKA Cindy Drozda will be hosting here Tool Talk on Friday November21, 2025 Here's the link for registration- https://streamyard.com/watch/nFhunNEiiBP6 Cindy also has some of her previous IRD's available for rent. This trailer is for her Gilded Sphere Box- The link for renting the IRD video- https://www.cindydrozda.com/html/IRDvideo4rent.html For The Newbies- Turning tools are expensive. Some manufacturers sell the tools without handles, which reduces the costs. Tools with round shafts are fairly simple to create handles by drilling the correct size hole. But, what about the tools with square shafts? Sam Angelo has a solution- Looking for a project that can help you advance your skills and learn a few new ones? Check out this ornaments from Carl Jacobson. Using a jam chuck can solve a lot of "How do I hold this piece". Richard Raffan demonstrated using this type of chuck for bowl/lid turning Expand Your Horizons- Add a little custom bling to your life with turned ring! Mike peace show how it's done. You know if Alan Stratton is going to share a video it will have some cool jigs involved! This one is no exception! I've been known for doing some crazy glue-ups on some of my turnings, but this one is insane! Roger Wollam demonstrates Tangential segment turning. Tim Yoder demonstrates how to create and finish captive rings- Tomislav Tomasic may have you rethinking how you create your tenons on those turning blanks Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- If you haven't seen it yet, check out the unique Easy Wood Tools, midsized rougher created specifically for The Patriot Woodworker Christmas project- To paraphrase a well known person- "Bid Baby Bid" We find Easy Wood Tools turning all sorts of materials. Deadrise Wood Crafts turns some leather pens with the EWT Finisher- AQMmv-7pm-VQD3_r469MQFle62m0SG9I0ceXBA7FbygjjqzzYYdCwNFT_dWRub7Igo02bz1e-fSnigagyR6yTpQPLFF9Ah05ZHK--oE.mp4 Demonstrations for next week- Come burn off some of those turkey and pumpkin pie calories by checking out this demo- https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- These are not new items but they are from a fairly new company. This is another review of the CBN wheels from the Ukraine company https://www.uksg.tools/ Everything Else- Want to thank @kmealy for sending me this YouTube video from Stumpy Nubs. Keith knows I love Celtic Knot patterns. Stumpy's video shows an easier way to glue up a Celtic Knot rolling pin. It's pretty cool and his diagonal cutting jig is really easy to make/use. The only thing I would caution on is to NOT cut the square blank completely through. By separating the blank and gluing the insert will cause the overall blank to "grow' in length on each successive rotation. this will cause the "knots" to be out of alignment. Here's the video- Safe turning
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From the album: Adopt a Warrior Family For Christmas 2025
This Easy Rougher has been donated back to our community for the Navy Christmas Family fundraiser by Erwin Davis. Erwin was awarded this wonderful turning tool in last Summers fundraiser and he was kind enough to let us re-gift it for this years Christmas project. Thank you Erwin! -
From the album: Adopt a Warrior Family For Christmas 2025
Use our Chuck Mounted 3/8" Mandrel for use in turning small projects like bottle stoppers and handles to be paired with a variety of turning kits and components. No need to remove chuck from the lathe Mounts to most 4-Jaw chucks Quickly swap between projects and chuck turning Fluted thread for self-tapping or use with threaded insert 3/8" x 16 TPI Nickel Plated Hardened Steel for superior strength, quality & built to last 2 of these chucks are offered to two winners. -
From the album: Adopt a Warrior Family For Christmas 2025
This very special Easy Wood Tools Mid Size Rougher was custom made for this years Patriot Woodworker Christmas Warrior Project. Enter our raffle to support our adopted Christmas family for a chance to win this rare handled Easy Wood Tools turning tool. The crew at Easy Wood Tools made a special window of time to custom paint the handle of this tool, it truly is a beautiful tool to look at, and of course without saying a joy to use. Good luck! Features a 21.00" overall length with 14" maple handle. Stainless steel bar is 3/8" square and 7" long. The maximum reach over the tool bar is 3". Comes equipped with standard cutter Ci2-SQ, and a hex key. Optional carbide cutters sold separately include the Standard Carbide Cutter Ci2-R2 (radius) and our Patented* Negative Rake Carbide Cutter Ci2-R2-NR (*Pat. No. D902968). -
Our Patriot Turners- Everyone must be trying to keep warm this week! Bidding on the St. Jude Children's Hospital charity Christmas ornaments will begin December 2. More details on how and where as soon as I hear. Carl Jacobson and Rebecca DeGroot as just some of the familiar names who have donated to this auction. What's Coming Up- Lots coming up in the near future! Click on the images for links to registration and more information. If to missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last Friday, she shared it on her YouTube channel- Cindy has several IRD's that can be rented. A few previews These and more are at Cindy's website- https://www.cindydrozda.com/html/IRDvideo4rent.html The Woodturning Tool Store, with Tod Raines, will be redoing a 5 sided dish on November 14 Check out the Fall Vendor Showcase for some of the latest ideas! For The Newbies- Sam Angelo compares/contrasts negative rake scrapers to the traditional scraper design- When looking to purchase turning tools, there is a lot to consider. Tomislav Tomasic discusses the various grades of steel and why that is important. Expand Your Horizons- Should you buff out that turning or use an abrasive paste to get the look you're after. Mike Peace has some thoughts- How are you going to chuck that odd shaped piece? Cole Jaws, a unique jig or maybe buy a special spiked faceplate? Tim Yoder demonstrates his method as he turns a paper weight- With the holiday season fast approaching seasonal turnings are popping up all over the web! Carl Jacobson turns birdhouse ornament. Note the use of the new Easy Wood Tools chuck mandrel and Niles Decorative loops https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/decorative-loops/ https://www.easywoodtools.com/product-page/chuck-mounted-3-8-mandrel This has to be one of the coolest ideas for decorations- And, for our Shop Smith buddies- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools demonstrators will be doing their thing next week at these locations! https://www.hartvillehardware.com/?utm_source=FaceBook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=HartvilleHardwareAccount&fbclid=IwY2xjawOB-NVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJYXlVVXEyTGxrRlFPcE1lc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlVdpuOkOEjbVcrJm_13Zl5oQoGpAam8ozoXO_Y3fFBIG4DKYvPGNMJUoR8m_aem_fTNmYor992OTqsw0A3YikQ https://www.klingspor.com/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/dayton Nathan McCollim using the Easy Wood Tools chuck mounted multi-spur drive center and finisher. AQNwl8keFlIfkNLLAoocqlNwPuJsN6HCarQRyWS2kEiDp34FvdEJIRUuq6fMvsV2RMsys9RFtT8RbGzxwRstCZ9-j3ulsqZiUyOwpNU.mp4 @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Hoping to see some new stuff during the Vendor Showcase on Saturday! Everything Else- Picked this up from a Craft Supplies USA link. Big thumbs up for their support of the nations veterans. Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker showed us his rendition of a turned Dragon Fly! Steve's turning are always on the cutting edge of imagination! In his post, Steve explains where the inspiration came from and some of the construction details- We've had a couple of additions to our "What's Off" post. @Fred W. Hargis Jr added another coin holder plaque to his collection. Awesome segmented turning and species selection- Check out our members comments here- The Turners Warehouse and Easy Wood Tools are working together and hosting a Christmas ornament contest/auction to benefit the Saint Jude Children's Hospital. Ornament will be auctioned off and all of the proceeds will go the hospital. We will have more information about where and when you can bid for the donated turnings very soon. I mailed my donation today- What's Coming Up- Click on the image for link to registration- For The Newbies- Tomislav posted a video where he discusses turning speed, as in RPMs. Lots of great information- Here's a really cute seasonal idea from Carl Jacobson. Expand Your Horizons- Just past the first of the month and the collaborators have posted their "4Ways" project. Some hollowing and some spindle work. What happens when that bowl becomes a funnel? Alan Stratton has a solution- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools products in action this week! AQPO3Hj67uJvmtXV37O9OT1s1Z5heHCyW5GulW3tuyaXjq2Hxjs7RuyyDBxs9POEw4vpberawNlxYTgeRr137CLzreJLpPCsleFP0To.mp4 Check out the Easy Wood Tools demonstrators for next week! https://woodshows.com/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Mentioned this last week and now here it is in action. The new Easy Wood Tools chuck mounted mandrel Not new but on sale from Niles Bottle Stoppers- https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/threaded-rings-for-urns/ Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker made some more lids for the artisan who sells bee products. Steve decided to make a change on some of them These new knobs are really nice. Check out more of this design in Steve's post- @RustyFN did another gorgeous basket illusion turning. I cannot imagine the patience it takes to create one on these- not to mention the steady hand and great eyesight! Our turners really like this one judging from their comments @calabrese55 turned a marvelous segmented, hybrid vase. Unfortunately, he discovered a flaw and decided to make a design change. Mike explains what happed and why he decided to do the redesign- @frenchwwr posted this in the "What's On Your Workbench" forum. Pretty cool lamp made from spindles! What's Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. Holiday Ornaments- Fall Vendor Showcase Cindy Tool Talk from last Friday A most worthy turning event and contest to benefit the Saint Jude Children Hospital From the page description- In this special event live turn-off, we have Rebecca DeGroot, Nathan McCollim, Jake Thompson, Mark Branch and Carl Jacobson joining us to turn an ornament for the 7th annual St Jude Children's Hospital fundraising auction sponsored by Easy Wood Tools! Chad will be joined by Christy and Chris from easy wood tools as MC's of the turn off and we will get to see what each of these awesome artists are turning in real time! If you would like to get in on the fun and also make and ornament to donate for the auction you can find all the information here: https://www.turnerswarehouse.com/page... And if you want to pick up your own Easy Wood Tool to make your ornament turning smooth you can browse them here: https://www.turnerswarehouse.com/coll... We hope to see you in the chat for all the fun! And from Mike Peace with more about the contest- For The Newbies- More on the skew. Tomislav Tomasic demonstrates using and sharpening- Tim Yoder answers a question on sharpening- Expand Your Horizons- If you needs some ideas or tips for the ornament turning auction, Mike Peace may some ideas. Not as cool as @Steve Krumanaker's !! Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools shared this video from Nathan McCollim. A project turned completely with Easy Wood Tools products. NEWPRODUCT FROM EASY WOOD TOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Chuck Mounted 3/8" Mandrel is used to mount small project turnings without removing your chuck from your lathe. This mandrel is used for small project turnings such as bottle stoppers and small handles to be paired with a variety of project kits and components. It features a 3/8” x 16 TPI thread with a fluted tip, for self-tapping, or can be used with correct sized threaded inserts. It is made of nickel-plated hardened steel for superior strength and corrosion resistance. Includes polyester washer to prevent project sticking. Mounts to most 4-jaw lathe chucks. 100% Made in USA. https://www.easywoodtools.com/product-page/chuck-mounted-3-8-mandrel Easy Wood Tools live demonstrations next week- https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/wi-brookfield-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=milwaukee https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/baltimore https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/lexington @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- See the EWT section for the new mandrel! Turning stuff on sale at Woodcraft. Click on the image for the link!! If Made in America is important to you but carbide tools are not your thing. Sam Angelo reviews Robust turning tools. Everything Else- Safe turning
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Seventh Annual Turners Warehouse Ornament Contest and Charity Auction 2025
lew posted a topic in Wood Turners
https://www.turnerswarehouse.com/pages/ornamentcharityauction https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D8VkXaJAT/ Sponsored in part by Easy Wood Tools
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Our Patriot Turners- @Headhunter posted another fantastic bowl in our Ringmaster sub-forum. Tony is always coming up with spectacular ideas for his work and this one is at the top of the list! Check out his post for more information and images! An entry on our continuing post of "What's On". Seems this happens often when a turner says "just a skosh more" What's Coming Up- Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk from last Friday is available on YouTube- Also, Cindy is hosting a IRD on making a ginger jar. This is from her email. Saturday, October 25th, 1pm Eastern (17:00 UTC). Click on the image for the link to registration For The Newbies- Thinking about buying that first lathe or upgrading to a newer model? Tomislav Tomasic has some thoughts- Halloween Ornaments!!??!! Give these a try from Craft Supplies USA Expand Your Horizons- Are you considering selling your turnings? Craft shows, Etsy or other venues? Carl Jacobson and Ruth Niles have some things to think about https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/marketing-tips/ Alan Stratton creates a sphere, a box and a multi-axis pumpkin! Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools and Woodcraft are teaming up for some great prices and demos for this weekend! And, here's where you can find the EWT demonstrators next week! https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tampa https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tulsa https://www.hartvillehardware.com/middlefield-location https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/orlando https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/orlando https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/raleigh https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/oh-cincinnati-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=cincinnati https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/cincinnati https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/harrisburg-york https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/sacramento Tim Yoder turns a hybrid blank into a Sorcerer's Wand using Easy Wood Tools! @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- San Angelo reviews the Peke Safety Powered Air Filtration System Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker is the master at turning birdhouse ornaments! He can see these awesome little houses in the most unlikely places. Check his post for more images and what species he used for these. What's Coming Up- An update on the Fall 2025 Vendor Showcase from Tod Raines and Cindy Drozda. The link for registration- https://streamyard.com/watch/UEPASfQYUjg2 This Friday, October 10, 2025, Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk The YouTube link- https://www.youtube.com/live/nBjS2woRNJU?si=RERI2OapWi-VleUQ For The Newbies- If you have tried turning with a tenon and had the tenon break, Mike Peace shows us methods of salvaging the turning- Expand Your Horizons- Tod Raines' presentation from last Friday focused on making wooden jaws for a four jaw chuck. The wooden jaws are less prone to damaging the turning. Some good instructions on making the jaws. Live demonstrations can have their share of "oops" moments. Fast forward to the 1 hour mark and see the "mistake" and Cindy's comment just before the excitement. Richard Raffan turns a bowl to salvage it from splitting. What caught my eye was the way he used a shop made jig to hold the turning to the lathe while he created the bowl feet. Simple but affective. Very near the end of the video, just past the 22 minute mark Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tool Demonstrations for next week- https://charlestownewoodturners.org/ https://www.woodworkingshop.com/woodworking-extravaganza?srsltid=AfmBOortMTJHpUxUpUHBQ-n1P3ZiLX628bhOnkhPrfM6A1VkMsyPRgZg https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/appleton?srsltid=AfmBOorIkkkEMwjeU3Lbt8FM8cpQrFyH4Fo_3TsmDTe1pw77kLx_nVsy https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/lexington https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city Easy Wood Tools negative rake cutters were developed for turning acrylic and hybrid blanks. Jake Thompson turns this one for a very worthy cause. At the end of this video, EWTs Yorkshire Grits are used to bring out a glass like finish @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- New from Sorby tools! Looks like a much easier tool to use than the full size texture/spiraling tool Available from our very generous sponsor- https://www.woodcraft.com/products/sorby-micro-spiral-set?srsltid=AfmBOooVjnNIgh5-vGlf4l_MjIRBT1goQ8eIT7tbv33eIthOBSgPr1K7 Not new but on sale from Highland Hardware. The Wood Slicer bandsaw blade. Great for cutting stock for segmented turning. Click on the image for the link to the sale- Another source for modular tool supplies The Woodturning Tool Store Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- Member @Steve Krumanaker showed us a neat setup he concocted for easily transporting a lathe for demonstrations! In his post, Steve explains his setup and some of the design features- I was watching @Handfoolery's guitar build on YouTube. He has posted some of his journey on the Patriot woodworking forum. What caught my eye was the equipment he was using to apply finish to the guitar. Finishing is not my strong suit and the spray set up he used looked like it would work well for turned items. https://preval.com/diy-pro-products/preval-sprayer/ The video showing him finishing his guitar- New member @Tay-da-Tay asked us for information oh harvesting a tree with burls. I've never been fortunate enough to have been able to have this experience. Hoping our members/readers can offer some advice. What's Coming Up- If you missed Cindy's Tool Talk, last Friday, she has it posted on line- For The Newbies- Sam Angelo has a video comparing/contrasting the bowl gouge and the spindle gouge. Tomislav Tomasic discusses bowl gouge sharpening- A cool Halloween turning project from Craft Supplies USA- Expand Your Horizons- More skew practice! Richard Raffan turns some spatulas!! Alan Stratton is back posting! In this video he combines segments, Celtic rings and glass hardware. First of the month and the "4-Ways" collaborators are at it again. This month we are missing Tomislav Tomasic. He is recovering from some surgery. The project is a carvers mallet. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools demonstrators are in full swing! https://www.mcfeelys.com/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tampa https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/charlotte https://www.facebook.com/CBWTurners/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tulsa https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/colorado-springs Turners everywhere are discovering the benefits of Easy Wood Tools products. Tim Yoder- Download.mp4 Carl Jacobson- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Woodturners Wonders has a sale on Axminster products. Click on the image- Robert Sorby has a buffing addition to the sharpening machine- https://robert-sorby.co.uk/product/proedge-buffing-kit/ Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker has been making these for quite some time and keeps coming up with interesting designs In his post, Steve shows us more laser designs and how they are put together. What's Coming Up- Picked this up from a Cindy Drozda's video last week- More information when it becomes available. For The Newbies- From Tomislav Tomasic a couple of nice shop projects- Tim Yoder explains his preference between oil vs. poly in this short video- Expand Your Horizons- Tomislav has been busy this week filming some projects that would make great gifts or a additions to your sales inventory. First, some cool salt "shakers" If your skew chisel is feeling lonely (like mine), here's a nice, skew turned kitchen utensil! Great skew practice. Mike Peace turns a 3 axis tool handle for an interchangeable tool collet. Link to the collet in "New Turning Items" below. Sometime back, I remember reading about a turning club that made wig stands for donations to the Cancer Society. Richard Raffan shows how to turn one. He called his a "judicial" but the general shape should work for most applications. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools is looking for more demonstrators! Click the image for complete details. EWT pays a stipend, milage and has discounts for demonstrators. If you belong to a club, spread the word. Maybe a member would be interested. Some demos coming up next week- https://aurorafarmersfair.org/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/indianapolis https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/ga-sandy-springs-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=sandy-springs https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tulsa https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/rockville https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/san-antonio Tim Yoder is a big Easy Wood Tools fan. Watch him in action with these videos. Check out the way he mounts the wood for this turning!!! Acrylic Curls! tim.mp4 @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Sam Angelo and Mike Peace both did videos on this wooden handle adapter from Carter and Sons. Just add your own wooden handle. Inserts are available for different diameter tool shafts. I suspect it is a relatively new item. https://carterandsontoolworks.com/collections/aluminum-handles/products/wooden-handle-adapter Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- A little bit more happening this week! Long time member @Steve Krumanaker is still making items for a local artisan. He showed us the wooden lids he turned for herb jars- Steve's lids include a metal lid inset. He tells us more about these and some of the other types he turns in this post- We also had an entries in the "What's On" and "What's Off" posts. A red oak medium sized bowl and a smaller bowl What's Coming Up- Cindy Drozda was at SWAT. Wonder if @Gerald talked with her? Cindy did a walk about and posted it on her YouTube channel- She also posted the video of of the bowl turning battle between Mike Mahoney and Stuart Batty- And, Cindy has a Tool Talk coming up this Friday. Click on the image for the link to registration. For The Newbies- An article, from Fine Woodworking, reviewing midi lathes. If a full size lathe isn't in your budget or you have a very small shop, this might be helpful. https://www.finewoodworking.com/2023/10/27/tool-test-midi-lathes-2 Tim Yoder shows us a less expensive way to sand some of those turning projects- Expand Your Horizons- Mike Peace dives into buffing. In this video, he demonstrates the use of the Beall Buffing System. I usually put Ron Brown's newsletter thoughts at the end of our Wednesday's post. Ron's thoughts, this time, really fit into expanding your horizons. Correct Proportions Help Make A Pleasing Shape The Golden Mean, also known as the golden ratio, golden section, or Fibonacci rule, is a principle of design that can be applied to wood turning to create objects with proportions that are considered aesthetically pleasing. The golden ratio is approximately 1.618. This ratio is found throughout nature, from the spirals of a seashell to the branching of trees. Artists and architects have used it for centuries to create a sense of balance and harmony. Applying the Golden Mean In wood turning, the golden mean can be used as a starting point to determine the proportions of various elements of a turned piece, such as: • Height to Diameter: For a vessel like a vase, the golden mean can guide the ratio of its height to its widest diameter. For example, if a vase is 10 inches tall, the golden ratio suggests its widest point should be approximately 6.18 inches (10 divided by 1.618) from either the top or the bottom. • Dividing the Space: The ratio can be used to divide the bowl's form into different sections. For instance, the ratio of the bowl's base diameter to its rim diameter could follow the Golden Ratio. This would create a pleasing visual progression from the bottom to the top. • Location of Features: The golden mean can also be used to position design elements on a turned piece. For a hollow form or vase, it can help determine where the widest point should be located to create a visually appealing curve. Similarly, on a wide-rimmed plate or bowl, it can guide the size of the central bowl in relation to the overall diameter of the piece. • Proportions of a Foot: The size of the foot or base of a bowl can be determined using the golden ratio in relation to the bowl's overall diameter. This helps create a stable and visually balanced foundation. • Proportions of a Finial: A finial is typically composed of several distinct segments, such as a base, a sphere or urn shape, and a tapering spire. The Golden Ratio can be used to determine the ideal proportion of these segments to each other. For example, a designer might ensure the ratio of the total length of the base section to the total length of the tapering section is approximately 1:1.618. This creates a natural-looking visual flow, preventing any one part from appearing too large or too small. Tools and Considerations Woodturners can use golden ratio calipers to apply this principle to their work easily. These calipers are designed to maintain the golden ratio as they expand and contract, allowing the turner to quickly check and adjust the proportions of their piece while it is on the lathe. Trent Bosch* offers high-quality Golden Mean Calipers HERE. Prices range from $40 to $175. While the golden mean is a powerful design tool, it is not a strict rule. Many turners find that using the golden ratio as a starting point or a general guideline helps them create pieces that feel "right" to the eye. It's important to remember that design is also about personal preference and artistic expression, and a piece can still be beautiful and well-proportioned without adhering strictly to the golden mean. Some artists prefer a more intuitive approach, relying on their "eye" and experience, which may lead to proportions that are very close to the golden ratio without any deliberate calculation. Trent Bosh also offers an excellent visualization with several examples for using the Golden Mean Calipers in this 8-minute Video.* There are several YouTube videos that show you how to make your own calipers if you prefer. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Some great savings on those easy wood tools! https://www.thewoodturningstore.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorjI1m11YEv2ly3Mt17JasshNCyx_w_aMJ90hXPCw-n3_zvdwVW A couple of demos in early September- https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/fl-altamonte-springs-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=altamonte-springs https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/az-phoenix-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=phoenix From Nathan McCollim demonstrating how "Easy" it is to learn turning with Easy Wood Tools! AQMcZvOK77-bg2XUyRjjsDUvwMhM0RPXER-BLRMnv2rqtzSRtJYH0qiEObuzn1g9o0tbfzxDORcVk3Ishka-KiV7eMgD5_TG4X3MLWQ.mp4 @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Definitely not new but relates to Ron Brown's thoughts on pleasing proportions. https://trentboschtools.com/product/golden-mean-calipers/ Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- Things have been a little slow around the lathes this past week. We did have lots of comments on Ron Brown's newsletter discussing the use of sharpening jigs. The comments start here- On our ""What's On" post, a few bowls in various stages of development. More information can be read here- What's Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last Friday, She made it available on YouTube- Click on the image for the link to more information and registration- For The Newbies- Tim Yoder shows us how to adjust the banjo locking mechanism- A nice video from Craft Supplies USA on bowl gouges If you've already ventured into bowl turning, Richard Raffan demonstrates how to shape the outside of a bowl using a "pull cut" Expand Your Horizons- Tomislav turns an "emerging bowl". a round bowl with square wings. Looks challenging! Carl Jacobson turns a resin urn. Check out those Easy Wood Tools with negative rake cutters! Mike Peace discusses the use of friction polish and how to get the best finish on a turning. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- In Mike's video, the Yorkshire Grit abrasive paste is used to further refine the surface. Both the Original and Microfine products are available from Easy Wood Tools. https://www.easywoodtools.com/copy-of-shop-apparel JP Woodwork uses Easy Wood Tools to turn a natural edge winged bowl An Easy Wood Tools demo for those in and around the Oklahoma City, Woodcraft, next week https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Not new but back in stock at Woodturners Wonders- https://woodturnerswonders.com/collections/8-inch-wheels?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8.15.25 Free Ship%2C CBN Wheels&_kx=gV5SF2As_3IwtBi5TrpHVQM0F3UvGVbQKzhWGippDlk.VJvU8R Everything Else- Apologies if I missed any turning post this week. Between computer changes and other "emergencies", it has been a challenging week. Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- @calabrese55 has been exploring the differences in acrylic epoxy blends. He recently tried a new type and shared the finish results with us and his observations- Check out what Mike has discovered and our turners' reactions- What’s Coming Up- Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk, from last Friday, is available on her YouTube channel- For The Newbies- Mike Peace shares his thoughts and experiences for coring bowls with his favorite coring system- Carl Jacobson turns some simple craft show projects and talks about various chucking techniques- Expand Your Horizons- The beginning of the month means it is time for the "4 Ways Collaboration"- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Did you know Easy Wood Tools has their own University?? Here you can find helpful videos, technical information and articles covering a wide spectrum of information! https://www.easywoodtools.com/resources The Easy Wood Tools negative rake cutters are designed to be used to shape acrylics. Watch McCollim Woodworking (https://www.youtube.com/@mccollimwoodworking/featured) start to shape a light saber. Light Saber 2.mp4 JP Woodwork uses Easy Wood Tools to turn a vase from a branch- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Everything Else- A little while back I asked for help on identifying a species of wood cut from a tree in a nearby cemetery. We pretty much settled on mulberry. I cut some bowl blanks, roughed them out, soaked for a couple of days and now they are in my little dryer. They are all about 6" in diameter and between 2" to 4" tall. Probably reach moisture equilibrium in 8 or 9 days. Mimi wanted the bowls as a remembrance of her cousin, as he is buried in the shade of that tree. Safe turning
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Back porch thermometer recorded 99° today! Luckily, I had stuff to do in the basement. Our Patriot Turners- @Headhunter posted a couple of his segmented Ringmaster bowls in our Ringmaster sub-forum. Amazing designs on these!! He showed us some closeup views in his post and explained where their new home will be. What’s Coming Up- If you missed last weeks presentation from Tod Raines, on chuck maintenance, it is available on Steamyard https://streamyard.com/watch/rAtEceTTQCVp. Cindy Drozda will be having a Tool Talk this Friday. You can sign up here- https://streamyard.com/watch/DRbzDT7r5HAk Cindy will also be doing a live IRD on Saturday. Registration is here- https://www.cindydrozda.com/ The Mid Atlantic Woodturners Symposium has been sharing information about their demonstrators for the September event. Registration and more information here- https://mawts.com/ For The Newbies- A few short videos from Tim Yoder. This one on tail stock maintenance #woodturningwithtimyoder.mp4 This one on what to look for when buying gouges Tim Flute.mp4 And sizing bowl blanks for safe cutting- From Mike Peace, a jig to size the tenons on your turnings. Expand Your Horizons- Richard Raffan demonstrates how to turn a spiral rim bowl Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Time is running out for these awesome prices! The Mike Peace video for a tenon jig reminded me of an accessory available from Easy Wood Tools to size tenons/mortices. Comes with a handy magnet to keep it at the ready, on your lathe. https://www.easywoodtools.com/product-page/easy-chuck-template-set We highlighted the EWT Detailer a while back. Tim Yoder found another use! Tim Napkin EWT.mp4 Cutting coves, with the Easy Wood Finisher, is a snap as illustrated by Nathan McCollim Bell 5.mp4 Some Easy Wood Tools demonstrations next week! @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- New item from Niles Bottle Stoppers. Stainless steel decorative loop The decorative loops work great for key chains, Christmas ornaments, and attaching a cord to a bottle opener so that you can hang it. They are made from solid 304 Stainless Steel with the same 3/8″-16 threads stud as all of our other stoppers and openers. They work great with our stainless steel inserts. The cross hole is 1/8″ diameter with a overall length of 7/8″. https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/decorative-loops/ Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- You might remember @RustyFN taking us along on his journey when making his basket illusion vase. He entered the vase into an art center showing and came home with second prize! Here's more on what we all thought- We had activity this past week on our "What's Off" post. @calabrese55 shared his knowledge on some of the various types of acrylic resins along with images of what he discovered about the turning characteristics- Some great information for those who do resin casting/hybrid turning. Also posted was a John Beaver style wave bowl with a recessed wave. Made from spalted sycamore. I was not impressed with the wipe on finish. Multiple applications did not produce a smooth surface. Probably should have saturated with CA or used a non-film finish. New material and comments start here- While not strictly a turning topic, but most turners use "Super Glue" at some time or another. Thanks @kmealy for this link to an informative video on how CA glues work- What’s Coming Up- Last Friday, Cindy Drozda had another Tool Talk. If you missed it, she posted the video on YouTube- For The Newbies- Another tool rest tip from Tim Yoder- Woodworker's Journal no longer publishes the weekly email newsletter but they have made available the articles/projects online. For turning projects, tips and ideas head over to- https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/category/how-to/woodturning/ An essential skill, for any turner, is the ability to turn coves and beads. In this video, Tomislav demonstrates how it's done. Expand Your Horizons- Watch Richard Raffan turn a flat bottomed sewing tray. Flat bottom turnings are deceptive. Looks easy but ain't! Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- One of the attractive characteristics of carbide tools is the shallow learning curve. First time turners can create items with relative ease. This is especially enjoyable for younger turners who may not have developed all the motor skills necessary to manipulate traditional HSS tools. A short video of a Dad introducing his two children to the joys of turning, using Easy Wood Tools- Kids Learning to Woodturn.mp4 This week's demonstration. If you are in the Oklahoma City Area, check it out! The EWT email newsletter has some great deals and sale savings, but you gotta sign up- https://www.easywoodtools.com/ New Items- Everything Else- From Ron Brown's newsletter Accepting a Commission So, you've decided to take on a commission. Good for you. You've convinced someone that your particular brand of artistry, be it with a brush, a chisel, or a lathe, is precisely what they need to adorn their life. And they, in turn, have decided to trust you with their vision, and perhaps more importantly, their hard-earned cash. It sounds simple, a straightforward exchange of skill for currency. But like most things that appear simple on the surface, this transaction is a good deal more intricate once you start peeling back the layers. When an artist or craftsman agrees to a commission, they're not just agreeing to produce a physical object. They're accepting a responsibility. You're essentially promising to translate an abstract idea – often someone else's abstract idea – into tangible reality. This requires a unique blend of technical prowess, creative interpretation, and, dare I say, a touch of mind-reading. You have to understand not just what they say they want, but what they actually want, often before they fully grasp it themselves. It's about delivering on a promise, not just with your hands, but with your intellect and your integrity. On the other hand, the customer, having placed their trust and finances in your hands, arrives with a set of expectations. These can range from the crystal clear, "I want a cherry wood bowl, 12 inches in diameter, with a fluted rim," to the delightfully vague, "Surprise me, but make it artistic." It's your job to manage these expectations, to clarify ambiguities, and to ensure that what you deliver aligns with what they envision, even if that vision is still a bit hazy around the edges. And this is where the cautions come into play for both parties. For the artist, it's the danger of overpromising and under-delivering. It's the risk of misinterpreting the brief, or worse, not having a clear brief at all. It's the temptation to take on a project that stretches beyond your current capabilities, perhaps out of financial necessity or an inflated sense of self. For the customer, the caution lies in unrealistic expectations, a failure to articulate their desires, or an unwillingness to grant the artist the necessary creative latitude. It's the risk of micromanaging a creative process that thrives on a certain degree of freedom. Then, of course, there are the liabilities and consequences. If you fail to deliver the agreed-upon piece, or if it falls significantly short of the agreed-upon quality, there are repercussions. It's not just a matter of hurt feelings or a tarnished reputation, though those are certainly significant. It can involve financial penalties, the return of deposits, and the kind of negative word-of-mouth that can cripple a burgeoning career. Conversely, suppose the customer repeatedly changes their mind, refuses to provide necessary input, or defaults on payment. In that case, the artist also faces consequences – lost time, wasted materials, and a frustrating experience that sours the well. Ultimately, accepting a commission is an exercise in mutual understanding and trust. It's a professional agreement that, at its best, culminates in a piece of work that satisfies both the creator and the client. But like any worthwhile endeavor, it requires a clear understanding of the responsibilities, an open dialogue about expectations, and a healthy respect for the potential pitfalls. It's a dance, really, and both parties need to know the steps to ensure a graceful and successful performance. Over the years, I have managed to build over 1,000 custom pieces, mostly furniture and cabinets, many of which are made from solid walnut, cherry, and oak. I’ve also been blessed with my share of commercial projects, including period-correct bookcases for one of the halls at the University of Georgia in Athens. One of the food vendors for the Georgia Bulldogs football games contracted me to build rolling food service stations. That one took 40 sheets of plywood and 30 sheets of black plastic laminate. It was an incredible amount of work, and in the end, everyone was pleased. I’ve learned to paper everything in as much detail as possible and have the customer sign it. My delivery dates for completion are always set well beyond when I actually think I can finish. Just saying. . . Commissions are mostly great fun with the occasional trial and tribulation thrown in. If you ever have a request for a commission, I encourage you to consider it seriously. Safe turning
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Another thunderstorm about to roll on through! Our Patriot Turners- @FrederickH showed us his red oak burl bowl he has just about finished. Gorgeous color and spectacular character. Checkout Rick's post for more images and his description- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration Cindy Drozda will be have her live tool talk on Friday, July 18th, 2pm Eastern (18:00 UTC). The Mid Atlantic Woodturning Symposium announced the addition of Helen Bailey to the demonstrators' lineup. For The Newbies- A short video, from Tim Yoder, on Tool Rest Care A very informative video from Richard Raffan on using the skew chisel. Expand Your Horizons- Wanna turn a bowl but haven't purchased that scroll chuck yet? Ernie Conover has got you covered. This tutorial was published in the Woodworker's Journal. https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/turning-bowl-just-lathe-faceplate/ Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- We have pretty much covered the individual Easy Wood Tools. Seeing the tools in creative action is a great way to learn how to use them and their capabilities. This video shows the use of EWT tools while finishing an already roughed out bowl- If you are in the Baltimore MD area this coming weekend, stop in at the Woodcraft store and catch this great demo by David Welch! https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/baltimore?srsltid=AfmBOor9jiSeqV1Fz_JMQGbEEq8FQjjSktp4fKfeqMwWqFnNf1brKFrl @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Ron Brown is working on a new bandsaw circle jig that should be useful if you do "Bowls From A Board" This product should ship on or around August 1, 2025. Check out Ron's website https://www.ronbrownsbest.com/ Everything Else- I've committed (or maybe should be) to doing a demo at the local turning club in early August. I always try to do something a little different than just turn an item. The demos are scheduled for about 1 hour so it is challenging to come up with something unique and doable in the limited time frame. My plan is to show how to do the John Beaver "wave bowls". These bowls take me several days from start to finish. Using several bowls, in various stages of completion, I think I can do an interesting demo; especially since both types of bowls start out with the same operations. I have created 4 Sycamore bowls- 3 as part of the demo and 1 is a finished recessed wave bowl (I have a protruding wave bowl, too). The center bowl is at the point where the decision is made to create the recess or protruding wave. The "wave" isn't glued so folks can see how the pieces are held during turning This bowl will be used to explain how the protruding wave is created This bowl will be used to show how the inside of the bowl is finished. This one is glued together but not finish The finished bowl is on the lathe now and getting a Poly bath. Once it dries, I'll finish off the bottom to reshape the foot to get rid of the dovetail recess. Safe turning
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Congrats to all of the Summer Fund Raiser raffle winners! Thanks to all who participated. Our Patriot Turners- @Headhunter posted some of his gorgeous bowls in our Ringmaster Subforum. Check out his post for more images and the comments from the group- @BuckeyeHomestead added his latest project to our "What's Off" posts! What an amazing transformation took place with this turning! This is what he started with- Check out his post to see the finished piece!!! @RustyFN showed us a neat segmented bowl he turned as part of his club's challenge. Rusty always comes up with amazing items for these contests! In his post, he tells us a little more about this item- We all thought Rusty's basket weave illusion vase was incredible. Well, so did the folks at the art center where it was displayed!! Read what Rusty told us- What’s Coming Up- If you missed last weeks Tool Talk, from Cindy Drozda, she has it posted for viewing- For The Newbies- Our generous sponsor, Woodcraft, posted a great blog on getting started in woodturning. Read the entire blog here- https://www.woodcraft.com/blogs/woodturning/getting-started-in-turning?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=July25&utm_id=SocialOrgainc&utm_content=MiM Mike Peace reminds us of the importance of protecting our lungs. In this video, Mike reviews an affordable dust mask. I used an earlier version of this mask which had "ear loops". I found that particular model a bit cumbersome because of my glasses and BTE hearing aids. The filtration properties, however, were excellent. Expand Your Horizons- The flavor of the week is hollowing- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Next week's Easy Wood Tools demonstrations around the country. If you are near one of these demonstration, stop by and chat with the demonstrator! They are ready and willing to answer your questions and show you how to get the most from the Easy Wood Tools products. @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Thinking of a new chuck? The Axminster Discovery GK88 Chuck might be something for your stable. Everything Else- Somehow I missed posting this notice from @Gerald about the passing of renown artist/turner David Ellsworth. Kent Weakley also posted a tribute to Mr. Ellsworth- Safe turning
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TWO DAYS LEFT TO ENTER THE RAFFLE TO SUPPORT OUR SITE! WE STILL NEED A LITTLE MORE MOOLA TO MEET OUR GOAL! IF YOU HAVEN'T DONATED, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING! Our Patriot Turners- @RustyFN is preparing stock for a craft fair in which he is participating. He has made really fantastic pieces. Check out more of his pieces in his post- @FrederickH and @Gerald both added to our "What's On" post. Both showed us burl bowls they are working on! Rick's is an oak burl and Gerald's is cherry. The latest additions to the post start here, with lots more images- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. From Cindy Drozda- I hope to see you online at my Free Tool Talk Livestream! It's this Friday, July 4th, 2pm Eastern (18:00 UTC). From Highland Woodworking- For The Newbies- Mike Peace demonstrate turning a wooden mallet from a log. Very handy project for the shop and great between centers turning example. Sam Angelo presents what he feels are essential tools for the woodturner, in this video- Would your significant other like a wooden spatula? Great for those who use no stick cookware! Expand Your Horizons- Hard to believe but the "4 Ways" collaboration has been creating fantastic projects for over 2 years! This month's the turners do their interpretation of salt and pepper shakers! Maynard G. Krebs would be proud of Tim Yoder's "bongo" Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- A bunch of Easy Wood Tools demonstrations coming up next week! If you are near by check one out! A turner I watch on YouTube, from the United Kingdom, is an avid Easy Wood Tools user. Jamie (JP Woodworks) recently made an inertia sander. Like all his turnings, he used Easy Wood Tools to create the project. You can get a pretty good look at the EWT tools in action. @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Everything Else- Have a safe July 4th celebrating this great nation's 249th birthday. Safe turning
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Just a little over a week left to reach our goal of $1800. If you haven't gotten your raffle tickets- DON'T DELAY! Our Patriot Turners- @FrederickH salvaged an oak burl and wondered whether we thought it was worth turning. You can probably guess we were 100% in favorite of doing it!! Check out more images and our members comments here What’s Coming Up- Last Friday (June 20) Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk was about cutting threads. She used a dedicated jig for her demonstration. If you missed it, she made it available on YouTube- Click the image for more information and registration For The Newbies- If you are getting ready to turn that first bowl but need some advice on mounting the blank, Mike Peace has some ideas- Sam Angelo follows up with more ways to mount turnings on the lathe- Woodcraft has a great page on their site for turning lessons. If you need ideas on awesome projects, check it out! Click the below image!! Expand Your Horizons- On your tool rack , there's the spindle gouge, the bowl gouge and the parting tool. But, what about that skew chisel gathering dust. Richard Raffan and Tomislav Tomasic have some tips, techniques and ideas for improving our skew skills! Speaking of Richard Raffan, he was recently given the 2025 Honorary Lifetime Award by the AAW- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- If you are in the Leesburg, VA are on Saturday, June 28, stop by the Woodcraft store and check out the Easy Wood Tools demo- https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/northern-virginia?srsltid=AfmBOooX-T5uZvqRSaE53QE8POZK3Az_uUkkKI4F6AiBz28zxtHegHai Another EWT shared video showing how easily a bottle stopper can be made- AQMKdmjEumcWBsnzATzgqKdhM_B42S3eIyZZnqgeYCBchGv6K1yRedL_mLQVDjURiFkIQvYOXHI2FkUFbc40B6C7.mp4 @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Tim Yoder recently reviewed a new CBN wheel for his grinder. Woodcraft has a sale on turning kits and supplies! Click on the image for the link to all the goodies! Highland Woodworking has the Woodslicer Bandsaw Blades on sale-. Click on the image for the link Everything Else- @Gerald asked for some images of the John Beaver wave bowls I am preparing for a demo I am doing in August. This will be a club demo for the local Cumberland Valley Woodturners. These are just some images of the bowls in various stages of development that I will use to show how they are made. The actual production of a bowl, from start to finish takes several days to allow for glue drying, coloring, sanding and finishing. The bowls are roughed out but left a bit thick so that there will be enough "meat" for gluing later in the process Special supports are made to custom fit inside the bowl to provide a way of holding it together while turning operations are done later. The supports are hot melt glued in place. John Beaver uses MDF but I didn't have any. The supports are drilled to accept dowels to maintain alignment. One of the supports is labeled to keep things aligned. The blank is moved to the bandsaw and a wave is cut in two steps. Dowels are inserted and a pressure block added to the tail stock to make sure everything stays in place and aligned. At his point, the bowl could be made with a wave that stands proud of the surface or recessed below the surface. Recessed wave waiting for the squeeze out to gel. The inside of the bowl will have the supports removed and then turned to the final thickness. The extra "meat" in the wall thickness makes sure there is enough surface for a good glue bond when turning the inside to a respectable wall thickness. Safe turning
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We only have about 3 weeks left to get your raffle tickets for the Summer Fund Raiser. This fund raiser will help keep our site alive and allow us to help veterans. Please Donate! Our Patriot Turners- @Turn n Learn posted some more items he scored with his lathe and wondered what some were used for. New comments and items begin here- @Gordon made a cool jam chuck using some neoprene rubber- He posted more images and the source for the rubber in his post- @Fred W. Hargis Jr gave us a heads up for an awesome sale price on new Jet and Powermatic lathes- Check his post for the link to Craft Supplies USA If you aren't sure what to look for in that new lathe, this video from Popular Woodworking may help- From our "What's On" posts, @BuckeyeHomestead posted a picture of his NEW Jet lathe and its first project That's an awesome lathe! @RustyFN had some difficulty with buffing out a finish. He explains the problem in this post- Check out what Rusty said and maybe you have some tips that will help him. What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. For The Newbies- Sam Angelo posted a nice spindle gouge tutorial Tomislav Tomasic created a great video on tips for turning. His videos have excellent closeup of gouge positions. From Popular Woodworking, a written tutorial on lathe tool sharpening- https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/sharpening-for-woodturners/ And another on scrapers https://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/the-woodturning-scraper/ Expand Your Horizons- The theme for this week is embellishing- Mike Peace bleaches and burns turning to add neat effects- From Popular Woodworking- https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/square-platter-with-textured-rim/ If you are looking for a nice gift project, Jimmy Clewes' coffee scoop tutorial might just be what you want- https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/turned-scoop-with-pewter-finial/ Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Over the past several weeks, we have been showcasing the individual Easy Wood Tools. One thing that should be noted is that all Easy Wood products are made right here in the good ol' U. S. of A. Fascinating video of the manufacturing processes- All of the Easy Wood products are available directly from their home base in Lexington, KY and on Amazon. However, some of the best prices can be found by cruising their social media pages for special sales from woodworking retailers i.e. Woodcraft etc. For the month of June, a few - If you are thinking about attending the St. Paul, MN symposium, Easy Wood Tools will be well represented- And another shameless self promotion- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Everything Else- From Ron Brown's Newsletter: Good Enough Perfection is often unattainable, and just as frequently, unnecessary. I hear from turners all the time who proudly sand salad bowls to 4,000 grit. Anything above 320 grit is just a waste of time and effort for most wood projects. However, acrylic and resin projects may well benefit from using abrasives up to 12,000 grit. The caution here is not to get bogged down in the last 2 percent trying to make something perfect when 98 percent of the work is very close to perfection and Good Enough. When I used to build custom furniture from cherry, walnut, oak, and hardwood plywood, I quickly discovered that stopping at 220 grit produced excellent results. Especially when covered by sanding sealer and pre-catalyzed lacquer as finishes. It’s true, sometimes less is more. The secret was to be careful with each finer sanding grit, ensuring that all scratches from the coarser grit were entirely removed. That is where patience really pays off, as I deliberately go over the entire surface, then examine my work with a raking light source before moving up to the next finer grit. Most folks don’t realize that excessive sanding with fine-grit paper creates heat that releases and then hardens the lignin in wood, often resulting in a splotchy finish. The finishing material will not be able to penetrate the surface evenly, and it looks awful. If you’ve ever blown up a bowl, it usually comes from making one last cut to get the finish just right and the walls as thin as possible. You forgot that wood moves and bowls can go out of round as you turn, even if they’ve been drying for months. As wood is removed, the moisture content can change, causing the thin walls to warp, or harmonic vibration to set in. That final cut produces an unexpected catch and bang! Fresh bowl pieces are lying around the shop once again. The problem with patience is that it takes so long. My projects rarely turn out exactly like I see them in my mind. My hope is to bring them close to my idea of perfection and bring them to the “Good Enough” stage of completion. I know some of you think I’m smarter than I actually am. What you see are the results of persistence, patience, and starting over many times before I was able to show you a finished version. You will never see the eight failures that came before. Remember how WD-40 got its name. I would rather have you do something slowly and well than do it quickly and poorly, sometimes referred to as Half-Fast. Many years ago, I got tired of hearing myself say “Oops! I didn’t see that before, and now it’s too late to fix it.” I am deliberate in my inspections before proceeding to the next step. It is always easier to fix it then, rather than several steps later. Safe turning
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First Wednesday in May! Where does the time go?!? Our Patriot Turners- A little slow this week. I think everyone is out mowing! A couple of "Blasts From The Past"! From our Ringmaster sub forum a chaos turning from @Headhunter More images are at the gallery- And from member @Big B (aka Brian Longshore)- This was posted at- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. From the AAW- From Cindy Drozda- I hope to see you online at my Free Tool Talk Livestream! It's this Friday, May 9th, 2pm Eastern (18:00 UTC). For The Newbies- Tim Yoder answers another turning question. This one is about drilling on the lathe. And, here's a simple spindle turning project that also uses drilling on the lathe. Easy to make and then send home with your grandkids !! Expand Your Horizons- Tomislav Tomasic made a knockout bar handle. At the end of the video, he added a short segment on turning a sphere without a jig. Pretty cool. The "4 Ways" collaborators have posted their versions of a "Glasses Holder". These 4 projects are always really interesting to me. Love the way they interpret to the challenge in different ways. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- If you are in the Oklahoma, OK area, check out Jesse Horn's demo at the Woodcraft store! https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city While you are there, take a look at the Easy Wood Hollowing tools. The EWT "Hollowers" come in three shapes- Straight (#1), 45 degree (#2) and 90 degree (#3). The Hollowers come in three different lengths, as well. The Mini Hollowers are about 15" long; the Mid Hollowers are about 22" long and both use the Ci5 standard or negative rake cutter. The Pro Hollers are about 32" long and use the Ci3 standard cutter or negative rake cutter. The #1 Hollower also works great for hogging out bowl interiors and making very small cove cuts. A short video from Craft Supplies USA demonstrating the use of the three hollowers- This short video from Easy Wood Tools, Doug Dixon, talks a little about the hollowers. Doug is one of the driving forces behind EWT and an expert in carbide cutter development. Doug Dixon from Easy Wood Tools sharing about their hollower. He is so knowledgeable and just fun to hang with #woodturning #turnerswarehouse.mp4 @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Not sure if this is a new tool. Picked it off of the Spring Vendors Showcase that was highlighted here a week or so ago. The cutting head and extendable handle look interesting. YouTube won't embed to video so click the link if you want to view the video of the hollowing tool. https://youtu.be/pKJVVo-vrKA?si=SJOyeYDEqGQM3XbO&t=6011 Everything Else- Safe turning
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Wow, where did the month of April go?!?!?! Our Patriot Turners- @RustyFN gave us an update on his latest basket illusion vase. It is absolutely gorgeous!! Head on over to Rusty's post and see what our members had to say- What’s Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's Live Tool Talk, she has it uploaded to her YouTube Channel- Click on the image for the link to more information and registration- https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/dayton https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/raleigh For The Newbies- A short video from Tim Yoder on choosing a drive center- Expand Your Horizons- Mike Peace demonstrates a multi axis turning with a beautiful piece of cherry burl- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools has settled into their new digs! Click on the calendar for the link to the interactive page. The Easy Wood Tools Detailers are typically used to create fine lines on a turning. They can also be used to shape tiny details in objects like finials. The Detailers come in two configurations. The Easy Detailer, which uses the standard Ci4 cutter or the negative rake Ci4-NR cutter And the Easy Micro Detailer, which uses the Ci7 cutter or the negative rake Ci7-NR cutter This short video from Craft Supplies USA demonstrated the Easy Detailer This video, from Tracey Malady uses the Easy Detailer and Micro Detailer to help shape a finial- When using this tool, the best surface is created by having only one side of the cutter in contact with the material, at a time, as the cutter goes deeper into the turning. New Turning Items- Tomislav Tomasic reviews his new Vicmarc VL300 Wood Lathe. That sure is a nice piece of equipment, Everything Else- Safe turning
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Just a friendly reminder- Income Tax deadline is less than a week away! Our Patriot Turners- @RustyFN posted an update on subject he started a while back. Rusty was looking for plans for a lathe stand suitable for a handicapped turner. Looks like this will be a winner- See this post for our members comments and more images- Last week's post on our "Off the lathe" generated a great safety tip by @Gerald. Check out the what Gerald mentioned and the new item added to the continuing post. @Fred W. Hargis Jr showed us his finished table. Fred had mentioned that he was working on turning legs for this project. I'd say he did a mighty fine job on these! Here's the post Fred made in our "Good Monday Morning" portion of the General Woodworking forum. What’s Coming Up- If you missed the Spring Vendor Showcase, you can watch the replay. Click on the image below- Cindy Drozda is hosting and IRD on making Mushroom Boxes Registration information is here- https://www.cindydrozda.com/ For The Newbies- A very comprehensive article on choosing and using a lathe chuck. Included are several informative videos. Click on the image for the link to the entire article. Easter in closing in on us. How about turning some easter eggs. How about those Easy Wood Tools!! Expand Your Horizons- A more elaborate Easter Egg- Texturing can add a new level of interest to your turnings. There are a variety of texturing tool on the market. These two videos introduce some different approaches. The first video is from a live demo so it's a little long- Mike Peace uses a totally different tool to create textured details Richard Raffan ebonizes a bowl with his own mixture of ebonizing solution. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools introduce the negative rake cutter to overcome the chipping caused by traditional HSS tools when turning acrylics. These cutters leave an amazingly smooth surface on resins and wood alike. They produce continuous streamers of resin as can be seen in this video- From the Easy Wood Tools site: @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- A couple of weeks ago, Tim Yoder mentioned a storage unit for holding sanding discs. The units are now available at- https://www.turningwood.com/product-category/ds/ I see that our sponsor, Woodcraft, has turning kits and supplies on sale. Click on the image for the link to the Woodcraft sale page- Everything Else- Safe turning
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