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Tomorrow- Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker showed us some of his spectacular little bird houses and some other objects! Steve is not going to let Christmas creep up on him this year! Check his post for more images and our member's comments- @Gordon asked our opinion on comparing the Longworth chuck to a vacuum chuck. Several of our members employ the vacuum chuck and Gordon received some great advice. Check out the post and add your ideas- @Headhunter posted some of his bowls in our Ringmaster Sub-forum. Hop over to Tony's post to see where the idea for the design originated and the species used- From our "What's Off" an example of waste not - want not. A little spalted sycamore bowl salvaged from a failed project. What's Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration What have you been working on in your shop? Share it with all of us at this Friday's free Zoom Sharing Session! September 12th, 2:00 pm Eastern, 18:00 UTC September 19 through September 21 2025 For The Newbies- Tomislav Tomasic discusses scraper sharpen and how it can reduce your sanding efforts- So you've started turning bowls but you want to make them more aesthetic looking? Mike Peace has some tips- Expand Your Horizons- Alan Stratton is back! I've followed Alan for years and really enjoy his projects. Of course I'm a "jig junky" and Alan loves to make jigs!! @Headhunter uses a Ringmaster to make his bowls from a board. In this video, Alan puts his own spin (see what I did there ) on doing one. Tim Yoder showed us how he uses a "story stick" in a short video, last week. This week he gives us a look at what the overall project was and an insight into making wood live on. Woodturning has gone through many changes from the spring pole lathe to carbide tools. But are we ready to embrace "AI"?? Check out what Tomislav thinks- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Lots of Easy Wood Tools demonstrations happening in the near future! https://www.mmwtc.org/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/appleton https://okstatefair.com/ Last week we posted the short video of Carl Jacobson with the Joyner Offset Jig. This is the step by step setup tutorial. See how the Easy Wood Tools products compliment the use of the jig. @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- A couple of sales on turning equipment- https://longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=30 Click on the below image for the link to the sale Everything Else- A video series that will help you appreciate your lathe when making a bowl- https://www.finewoodworking.com/2017/11/02/ep-1-finding-the-bowl-within-the-log 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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I'm going thru some of my collection and currently have a stack of late '70s and early '80s issues. Some things: Lots of how-to articles Articles by some of the classic writers, Tage Frid, R. Bruce Hoadley, and others Some very classic articles that came in my early woodworking education and I still use. Ads for lots of "mail order" suppliers Full page ads for Shopsmith Ads for machinery no longer made Lots of letters to the editors asking questions, criticizing prior columns, or adding advice or techniques.
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Vintage FWW on which three tools are essential. Author's choice Bandsaw Jointer Wide belt sander Got me thinking. My most used stationary power tools Table saw Planer My most used portable power tools Drill Router Random Orbit sander My most used hand tools #4 plane Chisels Hand saw Measuring tools : square, tape measure, pencil, 6" rule Clamps & vise
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Use Sketchup to design furniture. A course by Dave Richards offered through Fine Woodworking. https://courses.finewoodworking.com/offers/YvLvpMKt/checkout?coupon_code=FWW35
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I'm reading a Fine Woodworking book on "Boxes, Carcases, and Drawers." It's just a collection of articles from the early days of FWW. One of them is by Tage Frid, one of the major authors of the day. He writes, "Furniture construction is broken into two main categories: frame and carcase. In frame construction, relatively narrow boards are joined -- usually with a mortise and tenon joint -- as in a chair or table base, or a frame and panel door. In carcase construction boards are joined end to end using dovetails, tongue and groove joints and the like, as in a drawer or hutch." Seems simple enough, huh?
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- tongue and groove
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Birds chirping, sun shining, grass is green here in south central PA- probably snow tomorrow! Our Patriot Turners- @jthornton Posted a question about dust collection for his lathe. He posted pictures of his shop along with a description of what he currently has set. Please check his post and see if you can offer any suggestions to help him. JT continues to work on his "Dizzy Bowl". He has taken a lot of time to document the steps a and share the progress with us- You can catch up with his continued progress here- @Masonsailor finished up the bowl that will be the prize in his neighborhood's get-together. Some lucky family will really be happy with this- You can catchup here- "What's On Your Lathe" got a post from @forty_caliber. I think he must have hit the jackpot on Pecan! What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to registration and more information- For The Newbies- Ever use CA glue to fix a turning only to find out later that the CA stained the wood? This came in an email from Kent Weakley from Turn A Wood Bowl- Richard Raffan demonstrates how to modify an already turned bowl. Notice the use of the jam chuck which will be talked about more in Cindy Drozda's presentation. Another toothpick holder with a unique shape. Some spindle work and a little hollowing from Carl Jacobson- Expand Your Horizons- Alan Stratton continues to add Celtic Knots to his turnings. This time he experiments with a bowl. Embellishing a turning with color can turn an ordinary piece into something spectacular. This one from Craft Supplies USA on dying- Ebonizing may only be a single color but it can add striking effects to a turning. This article from Fine Woodworking was written more for the woodworker but can easily be "applied" to a turned object- https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/ebonizing-wood-2 A video for the recipe for the ebonizing solution can be found here- https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/video-ebonizing-oak-steel-wool-vinegar?oly_enc_id=7454G3912223B7R New Turning Items- Neither of these are really new. But some insights from other turners on equipment and resources. Everything Else- Been finishing up those little natural edge, flowering cherry tree bowls. Pictures to follow...
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Very interesting tour of a shop https://www.finewoodworking.com/2019/10/29/shop-tour-christian-becksvoort
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Very interesting tour of a shop https://www.finewoodworking.com/2019/10/29/shop-tour-christian-becksvoort
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A while back, someone asked a question about using breadboard ends on a table top. This just popped up in my email- https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/tables-and-desks/episode-5-breadboard-ends
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I have about 17 or 18 boxes of "vintage" (to use an auctioneer's term) woodworking magazines, including a whole set of #1-243 (and probably more if I sorted them) plus a number of years of sequential and scattered earlier ones of FWW. They are too valuable, I believe, to just scrap them and probably time (according to the Mrs.) to get rid of them. I see them selling on eBay by sets of 1-20 or so, but have no idea if they actually get sold that way. Nor do I want a part time job selling and running to the post office every couple of days for onsie-twosies. There's way to much volume and weight to ship out (the 243 set occupies about 5 full boxes) The Cinci Library would probably take them, but just sell at their annual "garage book sale." The more local library does not seem to have any archives like that. Every time I go there, there's a couple of carts of books being downsized for $1 a bag. Any thoughts on a quick and easy way to sell them? I've enquired at a local online auction and waiting to hear back if they are interested.
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I see that Fine Woodworking has re-instated their forums https://www.finewoodworking.com/discussion-forum I got on and surprised to see nearly 6000 pages of threads. Then on the third page, I saw one of my posts from 10 years ago. Not organized by topic, but it's there.
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Crept out to my shop today and found a corner that was hiding out in the last go round with my shop clean up last weekend. Slowly but surely I am digging out. And getting my shop ready for production once again. I am getting anxious to say the least, but I have had to clean, and perform deferred maintenance on my machines and hand tools. Reminds me of what John Moody went through a short time ago. I went through my magazine collection and I have them sorted by publisher. Next I'll get the ones I want sorted by date and I'll get them in some binders or on a shelf. But for now I am donating to our local high-school wood program my stack of WOOD Magazines, but I am keeping my Fine Woodworking, Shop Notes, Woodworker's Journal, Popular Woodworking, and American Woodworker, Woodcraft and Wood Smith magazines. I threw away the annual tool review specials that each publisher puts out, like best tools of 2004 etc. Those are dated, but I am keeping the rest that have wonderful articles of interest to me. Sorting It's nice being out here in the shop, with my Pandora music playing away my Appalachia tunes, nearby my kids are playing basket ball right out side my shop door, so I'll take a break and join em, and let em whoop up on ol dad!
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I've done loose tenons because (a) I can make tenons stock to very precise tolerances and (b) I built a slot mortiser / milling machine that does a great job making slots. I tried the traditional tenon cutting rig and never could get results that I liked. The problem for me was the doubling of error due to the flipping of the stock. Any error is always compounded. I have seen guys who use a shaper to cut tenons and using shim stock they can make 'em any way they please. I've considered doing the same thing with a table saw arbor using spacers shims and twin blades. Never actually tried it, but I know I ain't the only person who considered it. Somewhere I saw a vid of some mexican luthiers using twin stacked circular saw blades (really big ones) mounted on what looked like a shaper to re-saw wood for guitar fronts and backs. They had to have at least a 10" depth of cut. it looked scary. Recently I stumbled across this 1992 American Woodworker article on exactly this: Cutting Tenons And of course there's a more recent incarnation of it here http://www.woodcraftmagazine.com/posts.php?id=218 Not that long ago the dopes at FWW got themselves all in a tizzy over something I've been doing for as long as I've owned a table saw (more than 40 years), and years they called it the speed tenon. I call it a bit rough on the blade, because it dulls one side lots more than the other making it cut funny after not too long. Set the rip fence for the length of the tenon, set the blade height to cut the shoulder, slap the wood in the cross cut fence and use the rip fence as a positive stop. Most of the cutting is done with the edge of the saw blade. http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/42295/behold-the-speed-tenon It is a little more precise than the traditional tenoning rig because you can control blade height nicely, but any error is still compounded. Everything old is always new again.
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I just renewed my subscription to Fine Woodworking, and I tried to start a new subscription for American Woodworker, and I found out that American Woodworker is now in cahoots with Popular Woodworking! Call me lame! I did not know this! I love Popular Woodworking, so it's a win win, but I also loved American Woodworker! Anyway, I started a new subscription for Popular Woodworker as well.
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