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Our Patriot Turners- Last week, @Gordon asked us our opinions on the Longworth chuck vs. a vacuum chuck. Gordon posted his decision along with information on what he bought. Check it out!! Although his project was posted in the Patriot Woodcarving Forum, I wanted to share @FrederickH's latest work- it does have some turning involved. Ricks use of leafing is amazing! Check this link for more images and while you are there, go back and read about the entire project. Leafing is an awesome way to embellish turnings! What's Coming Up- Click on the image for the link to registration and more information For The Newbies- A sharpening tip from Tim Yoder One of the best species of wood to turn is FREE WOOD! Unfortunately, the opportunity to obtain this species doesn't always coordinate with your turning schedule. Being able to keep the wood from cracking/splitting until you are ready to use it is important. This video, posted by Popular Woodworking, demonstrates how to seal the ends of the pieces.- Looking for a project to boost your spindle and hollowing skills? Richard Raffan's scoops might be something that will help. They also make great presents! Expand Your Horizons- I thought about @Steve Krumanaker when I saw this video from Mike Peace. Steve turns miniature birdhouses as Christmas ornaments for presents. Mike turns a way to feed all those miniature birdies! How about combining some woodworking and woodturning in the same project? This tutorial is from Popular Woodworking https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/shaker-side-table/ The table is similar to one "Norm" made on the New Yankee Workshop. He called it a Martha Washington Candle Table. His had a tilt top. I made one for my "Mrs. Washington" but she hated it- gave it to friends. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Tim Yoder uses the Easy Wood Tools Yorkshire Grit products to finish a bowl. One of the features, about Easy Wood Tools, I am often asked about is- "where are they made?" This short video is enlightening about the manufacturing- AQOVDmH8xqZdQHIR4aQ0HVhuTfzPhp9nKey6_5eo1Mt0FsctgJoKaGDRuP7HxgxhYPmrWZy__ZxYRTIPGJBNdJRB.mp4 Next week's Easy Wood Tools Demonstration schedule https://valleywoodworkers.org/ https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/nc-cary-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=cary https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/cleveland-east https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/ca-rocklin-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=rocklin https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/parkersburg https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/fl-brandon-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=brandon @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Everything Else- Had company for supper, just finished up with the dishes- Safe turning
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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- @Gordon posted a gorgeous bowl he is working on. Beautiful grain patterns!! See what our turners had to say about this one- We had another entry in our "What's On..." post. This red oak bowl measured approximately 10" x 3" You can read more about the turning and finish here- What's Coming Up- Cindy Drozda posted her Tool Talk from last Friday. She covered a hook tool and a chuck she purchased at SWAT. Click on the image below for link to registration and more information For The Newbies- Duplicating an already turned item can be made a bit easier by the use of a "story stick". Tim Yoder demonstrates- Mike Peace share information about the difference between end grain and face grain bowl turning- Expand Your Horizons- Another month has rolled around and the Four Ways collaborators have come up with a really neat turning item. Typically, picture frames are a flat work project but these are made on the lathe! Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- We are still waiting to hear what the mystery product will be, from Easy Wood Tools. In the meantime, check out the upcoming demos https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/tampa https://www.facebook.com/CBWTurners/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/colorado-springs Pretty sure you get a little tired of me bragging about the EWT chuck. If you have never used one, some of the nicer features may not be obvious. I snagged this video segment from Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk, posted above, showing Cindy adjusting and changing the jaws out on the chuck she purchased at SWAT. NOTE: I am in no way implying the chuck she bought is inferior. It's just the ZOOM Ring and screwless jaws are worth their weight in gold (and frustration and time). Project 1.mp4 Easy Wood Tools shared these videos of their products in use. The Bowl From A Board is a little different than the Ringmaster process but shows the negative rake cutters in action with acrylics- Even Easy Wood Tools can get a catch- just not very often- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Came across this software for segmented, basketweave illusion and multi lamination turning. The software is only available for the Windows OS 😓 https://www.segturn.com/ 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! 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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- Things are a little slow this week. I did an Easy Wood Tools/Club Demo last Thursday evening. Showed the process for doing the John Beaver wave bowls. I don't get the club meetings as often as I should. Seems that Thursdays are always busy. One of the members- a brother of one of my former school students- snapped this so he could see how old I have gotten. What’s Coming Up- Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk will continue the Emma, Tod, Cindy collaboration piece. It's Friday, August 15. It’s coming along nicely! I’ll be sanding and finishing, and showing how I sign my work. It’s free and open to everyone. Join me for talk about tools, woodturning tips, upcoming events, and interesting Woodturning stuff. Make comments, ask questions, or say hello. Win a prize in the Raffle! Subscribe to my list, and get the links to my free events by email. Please tell all of your woodturning friends and club members! https://streamyard.com/watch/C6bayNKnBhM7 SWAT is almost here! https://www.swaturners.org/swat-registration-2025.html For The Newbies- Richard Raffan uses a lot of scrapers for both inside and outside of bowls. In this video, he shares/describes his scraper arsenal. Picked this up from Ron Brown's newsletter. Some good advice about sharp(ening) tools- Free-hand Sharpening vs. Jigs For some people, a good piece of wood is a work of art. For others, it's just a blank canvas waiting to be transformed. And for a select few, it's a constant reminder that they don’t know what they don't know. When I first started turning wood, I was a walking, talking example of that last group. I was a greenhorn with a gouge, completely unaware of my own ignorance. Fortunately, I crossed paths with a seasoned pro named Nick Cook. Now, this guy could sharpen a tool by hand with his eyes closed, so I had to ask him: Why do you bother with those fancy jigs?" His answer was a master class in common sense. He gave me three simple reasons: 1. It saves time. A lot of time. 2. It's repeatable. You get the same perfect edge every single time. 3. Your tools last longer. They just do. Those three points really stuck with me. Later, while working the woodworking show circuit, I heard a lot of complaints. People loved the idea of sharpening jigs, but hated the time it took to set them up for different grinds. So, I went to work and created setup aids for 6 of the most common HSS lathe tools; 7 if you include the 4040-grind setup block. They are: Bowl Gouges, Spindle Gouges, Skews, Scrapers, Parting Tools, and Spindle Roughing Gouges. For the last 20 years, these setup aids have helped woodturners quickly and easily get the perfect edge. Most woodturners see their tools as a one-time purchase. They're not. They're a consumable, just like a lightbulb or a roll of paper towels. Sharpening a bowl gouge by hand often takes three or four passes. A good jig can do it in a single pass, removing less material in the process. Less material removal means your tools last longer. It’s simple math. But here’s the real kicker: if sharpening is quick and easy, you’ll actually do it. Most people will tolerate a dull tool far longer than they should because the idea of sharpening it is such a hassle. A sharp tool makes a clean cut. A dull one just scrapes and tears at the wood. When it comes to turning, that difference doesn't just affect the wood; it affects the entire process. Benefits of Sharp Chisels 1. Smoother Finish: A sharp chisel produces a much cleaner cut, resulting in a smoother surface that requires less sanding. This can save a lot of time and effort in the finishing stages of a project. 2. Reduced Tear-Out: When a tool is sharp, it shears the wood fibers cleanly. A dull tool, however, can tear out the grain, creating a rough, uneven surface that is difficult to fix. 3. Increased Control and Safety: Sharp tools are easier to control. A dull tool requires more force to make a cut, increasing the risk of a "catch," which is when the tool grabs the spinning wood violently. This can be dangerous and damage the workpiece. A sharp chisel, on the other hand, allows for more precise and controlled movements. 4. Faster Material Removal: A sharp tool removes material more efficiently. This means you can get through the initial shaping of a piece of wood much faster. 5. Improved Shavings: Sharp tools produce long, continuous shavings. Dull tools produce fine dust or small chips, which are a clear sign that the tool is not cutting effectively. It's important to note that even carbide tools, which are known for their longevity, will eventually become dull and require sharpening or a new tip. Regular sharpening is an essential skill for any woodturner to maintain tool effectiveness and achieve high-quality results. You should sharpen your wood-turning chisels frequently, even several times during a single project, to maintain their edge. Expand Your Horizons- Tomislav shared a great video showing a technique called "back hollowing". For those of us who learned the traditional method of hollowing this is really different! Mike Peace makes a small, threaded keepsake box for cremains. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Found this video comparing the Easy Chuck to the Nova G3 Chuck. The Influencer does a pretty good job of comparing/contrasting the two. Some Easy Wood Tools Demos coming up- Did you know Easy Wood Tools sells "unhandled tools"? Check this out- https://www.easywoodtools.com/unhandled @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Ron Brown's new spindle duplicator is ready to go! https://longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=90&product_id=589 Hope Live Star Drive is available. This is available in he USA from- https://blackforestwood.com/products/live-star-drive?_pos=1&_psq=hope+live&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Everything Else- Tim Yoder cheated death to retrieve this piece of wood. 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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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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A lot happening this week! Our Patriot Turners- New member @Turn n Learn posted a question about chuck jaws and which ones we use. He is lucky enough to own an Easy Wood Tools chuck. Please stop by his post and see if you can add to the advice or members gave- This is his chuck- And a picture of his lathe- Tony introduced himself Please make him feel welcome! We've had a couple of additions on our "What's On" running post. @Gerald and @calabrese55 both added items. See more images and check out how Mike makes his segment calculations starting here- @Fred W. Hargis Jr is making great progress on his coin holder plaques. He posted this picture in the General Woodworking forum- Fred tells us where he is in the build- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. For The Newbies- A nice video from Craft Supplies USA on Scrapers. Covers the use, sharpening and some of the myths about scrapers. Expand Your Horizons- Turn Geometric Shape into a box, a hollow form for this months "4 Ways" collaboration. Some really neat ideas! John Lucas has published a new video on turning an end grain bowl. This short video is just a preview. All John's videos are available from https://www.glennlucaswoodturning.com/product-category/guides/ Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- One of the more recently added products to the Easy Wood Tools line up is their Wire Burning Kit. The set consists of two handles and 3 sets of wires. Both wire ends have colored plastic grommets for quick attachment to the handles. Red grommets signify .016 diameter wire, white grommets are .020 diameter wire and blue grommets are .026 diameter wire. Each gauge wire is available in 3 lengths- 6", 9" or 18". This video from Carl Jacobson demonstrates the burning operation And this shows the product being unboxed and used If you are in any of these locations, during June, check out the live Easy Wood Tools demonstrations and take advantage of the sale prices on all the EWT products- A little shameless self promotion (above right) @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- A new item from Ron Brown to help with centering a turning blank, on the lathe. Ron calls it a "Centering Genie" A short video of the operation- A bunch of sales on turning tools are currently happening. From Lyle Jamieson- http://lyle@lylejamieson.com From our sponsor Woodcraft- https://enews.woodcraft.com/q/0fOPEbuuaMTfutmbE1_HFhUhY0i90HGE0R4AaZvh1CIRPbWQSj2NQL50r Spiracraft is having a 3 day sale. You may remember that Bradley is closing shop, for a while, due to health reasons. https://spiracraft.com/ From Taylor Tool Works- https://taytools.com/ Everything Else- I'm doing a local club demonstration in August. I thought explaining/showing how the John Beaver wave bowls were made would be an interesting presentation. The process from start to finish can take a couple of days due to glue drying time so I thought I would make several bowls showing the stages of development. Those 7 roughed out spalted sycamore bowls have volunteered. Four have been drying for about 8 days and the other 3 for 5 day. I weigh them every day and look for checks/cracks/splits Only 2 of the bowls have shown excessive cracks. I used CA on them as soon as the cracks appear and that seems to stabilize them. The crack were expected on these 2 due to the branch inclusions/knots. I think they will be fine for the "early stage" of the bowls construction. Safe turning
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Finally received some rain here in south central PA. A little too much in some places, but it is filling the reservoirs back up. Our Patriot Turners- Our turners posted their work this past week on both our "ON" and "Off" the lathe topics! From the ON topic- @Gerald showed us a really nice wig stand- Gerald tells us a little about the species in this post- From our OFF posts- @Gordon post a lovely bowl with natural inclusions- Gordon explains where he found the wood to make this one in his post- @calabrese55 creates the most fantastic multi-medium, segmented turnings. In this post, Mike, shows us how he does his epoxy pours and what the finished turning looks like- Member @BuckeyeHomestead is considering upgrading his lathe and asked our opinion on what he was thinking about. Check out what the opinions and suggestions from our members and see if you can add to what's been said. What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- If you missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last week- For The Newbies- Richard Raffan discusses bowl and spindle sanding in this video- New to hollowing? A quick tip from Tim Yoder to help with stability- Expand Your Horizons- Last week's post had a video from Tomislav Tomasic on creating a free hand sphere. Sam Angelo tries his hand at turning one. The perfect accompaniment to those weed pot vases that are currently a popular turning- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/cleveland-east https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/indianapolis During the month of June, Woodcraft will be running promotional sales. Stop by your local Woodcraft store and check out the Easy Wood Tools demos that will be taking place throughout the month! One of the lesser known Easy Wood turning tools is their 1/8" Parting Tool. This second generation tool is almost identical to the original version with the exception of how the carbide cutter is affixed to the handle. The cutter is now permanently mounted into a holder blade. The blade and cutter are replaced as a single unit. Also, the carbide cutter is only available in a negative rake configuration. The Parting Tool can part off pieces up to 5" in diameter. Carbide cutters are available for the original Parting Tool- Pi1 This video demonstrates the ORIGINAL tool in action. The information on the cutter replacement is not applicable to the SECOND generation tool. Also, pay no attention to the man wearing flip flops- he is a figment of your imagination @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Not a new item but if you are considering one of Ron Brown's products, https://longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=common/home Everything Else- And from Ron Brown's Newsletter: Small Beginnings Guiding New Turners with the Wisdom of Starting Small As mentors, we ignite a passion for woodturning. While beginners are eager for complex creations, we must guide them to a fundamental truth: true mastery often blossoms from humble beginnings, nurtured by patience and foundational dedication. This guide reinforces the profound virtues of starting small, equipping novices with the essential base for lasting success. The allure of intricate designs can distract beginners. However, the path to such pieces is paved with fundamental skill mastery. Starting small isn't limiting ambition; it's strategically building understanding, one manageable step at a time. Like a sapling needing strong roots, new turners need to cultivate tool control, wood understanding, and form perception through simpler projects; think pens, bottle stoppers, spinning tops, French rolling pins, turned lidded boxes, acorns, smaller bowls from green wood, etc. Focusing on basics like spindles and simple bowls allows beginners to: • Develop Core Skills: • Essential tool interactions are best learned on uncomplicated projects. • Understand Material Behavior: • Smaller projects offer a safe space to experiment with different woods. • Cultivate Patience and Observation: • Starting small encourages careful attention to the wood's transformation. • Build Confidence Through Success: • Completing achievable projects fuels motivation. • Minimize Errors and Frustration: • Simpler pieces reduce the impact of mistakes. Illustrating this approach are renowned turners who began modestly: Nick Cook: Celebrated for a wide variety of craft items up to and including functional architectural millwork, Cook's early work focused on mastering basic shapes, providing the bedrock for his later artistry. Nick is one of the best know demonstrators in the world today. David Ellsworth: A pioneer of thin-walled vessels, Ellsworth's early exploration of green wood properties through simpler forms was crucial for his signature style. Mike Mahoney: Known for functional bowls, Mahoney's initial focus on well-crafted, everyday pieces laid the foundation for his respected status. As mentors, we nurture potential by guiding students towards a deliberate learning pace. Encourage them to value each cut on simple forms, seeing each small project as a vital step. By sharing the wisdom of those who started small and achieved greatness, we inspire our students to embrace the journey, build a strong foundation, and realize their artistic vision. Recognizing the ultimate potential in each student regardless of age, gender, background, or occupation is the correct attitude recommended with every student we are privileged to mentor. I began with a $300 Jet 1236 in 1982 and a $10 set of turning tools with no grinder. Although much smaller, I moved to a Jet 1015 manual speed change for several years before purchasing my Powermatic 3520A. It is still my main lathe some decades later. I was very fortunate to have compassionate mentors along the way that allowed me to develop the high level of skill I enjoy today. A heartfelt thanks to all of them. 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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Cruising through April! Our Patriot Turners- @Gordon posted a question about wood identification. Specifically, he scored some really nice pieces but was uncertain about the species. Check out his post and see what our turners thought. If you have a better guess, I'm sure Gordon would love the input! @calabrese55 posted a great little jig in our Turner's Tips Sub-Forum. This neat little device can really help you dial in the correct size for chuck tenons or mortices. Head on over to the sub-forum and see more images and how it works. @RustyFN got a good start on another "basket weave" vase. These turnings sure do take a steady hand and awesome eyesight! See Rusty's post for additional images and more progress @Fred W. Hargis Jr gave us a look at his segmented ring, coin holder progress and details about how it is coming along. Fred posted images of his progress and details of how he accomplished the turning As his turning is nearing completion, Fred wondered if there is a way to burn an embellishing ring on the surface circumference of the turning. Our members offered suggestions as to what worked for them. If you have a technique that works for you, please give Fred a shout. From The Patriot's CNC Forum, @4DThinker posted his work on creating a turning tool handle. It turned out really nice! More images and the completed handle are shown in his post- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration. If you missed the live Spring Vendors Showcase, you can watch the replay. Cindy Drozda's Live Tool Talk- For The Newbies- Not every piece of wood is safe to turn. In this video, Tim Yoder describes a defect called "wind shake" and why you should be aware of the dangers. Sharpening your HSS tools takes practice. In this video, Mike Waldt demonstrates methods of making repeatable sharpening grinds. Richard Raffan explains the importance of knowing the difference between a bowl gouge and a spindle gouge. Personal safety could be compromised and tool damage can occur if used improperly. Expand Your Horizons- Neat idea, from Sam Angelo, on chucking a turned box without the use of a tenon. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- The Easy Wood Tools "finisher" is an all around turning tool. It can be used to remove material during spindle turning, create coves/beads and even smooth out the tool marks left by other tools. The finisher is available in every category of the Easy Wood line. Depending on the size of the finisher, the carbide cutter may be different. As with all Easy Wood Tools, the cutter identification is etched into the shaft of the tool so you will always know the correct cutter for that tool. Using the finisher is straight forward. The tool is held horizontal and the cutter contacts the turning at the horizontal center line of the work. The depth of the cut should not exceed 1/3 the diameter of the cutter to avoid vibration thus creating rough surfaces. The finisher demonstrated by Craft Supplies USA- Free demonstrations from The EWT calendar https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/ok-oklahoma-city-store https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/ga-sandy-springs-store?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=sandy-springs @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- A new face shield/respirator reviewed by Mike Peace. The link to the manufacturer- https://microclimate.com/ Sorta reminds me of the helmets used by the NASA crews. Everything Else- Safe turning
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Our Patriot Turners- From OFF The Lathe, @User74 posted a lovely two species, pedestal bowl. Check out his post for mor images and the great comments by our members- What’s Coming Up- If you missed last Friday's Tool Talk from Cindy Drozda, It is available on YouTube- Todd Raines, from All Things Woodturning, will be hosting a free online demonstration where he will turn small pieces of oak burl. Click on the image for the link to registration- For The Newbies- Learning to sharpen your traditional HSS tools can be daunting. Mike Waldt demonstrates how to get the profile correct and throws in some other great tips. Tomislav Tomasic turns a small bowl in this video. His method of reverse chucking is similar to that used by Richard Raffan. Expand Your Horizons- If we have a theme this week, it's all about sharpening. Mike Waldt's emphasis was on creating a symmetrical grind. This video, from Richard Raffan, demonstrates creating an asymmetrical grind and why it could be beneficial. Richard demonstrated how this specialty grind is used- Mike Peace reviews the Camvac dust collector from Record Power- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- This week the spotlight is on Easy Wood Tools' Rougher. The Rougher is excellent for creating tenons, turning blanks from square to round and removing material quickly. It is available in a wide range of sizes. The Pro version, the largest, is 28.5" long, Full Size at 24.5", Mid-size at 21", Mini at 16", Easy Start at 12.5" and the Micro at 9.25". The Roughers can use both regular and negative rake cutters as well as the square and radiused cutters. The Mid, Mini and Easy Start tools accommodate the new Beading Cutters. It didn't take long for bowl turners to realize that the radiused cutter produces an almost flawless surface on the outside of a bowl. Practically eliminating the need for sanding! The original EWT Rougher in action- For those of you in Canada. Click on the image for the link And finally- New Turning Items- I never have much success with rattle can lacquer. This new stuff from Craft Supplies USA may be the answer- Turning accessories and project items for sale. Click on the image for the link- Bandsaw blade for woodturners- Highland Woodworking 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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I swear one of these days I'm going to use my lathe and turn something. Our Patriot Turners- Thanks to @User74 for posting his cool lidded bowl, on our "Off the Lathe" topic! More images and a description of how he did the dark ring embellishment starts here- @Fred W. Hargis Jr asked our turners their thoughts on a vacuum chuck vs. a jam chuck. Fred received some great input. Please check out his post and see if you can add to the discussion- @RustyFN posted his "basket weave" vase. This amazing piece certainly take a whole lot of patience, a steady hand and perfect eye sight! See Rusty's post for more description and process images- What’s Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last week, she uploaded the event to her YouTube page for viewing. This Saturday- April 5- is the free, online Vendors Showcase. Registration can be done at - https://streamyard.com/watch/UwJbzWJMHmsV?receiptful=67eadc4126171910e58cc7c7&utm_source=CM Commerce&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-445&utm_term=newsletter&utm_content=other&receiptfultype=newsletter Or- https://streamyard.com/watch/UwJbzWJMHmsV For The Newbies- Mike Peace posted a 5 year review the Record Power Coronet Herald lathe. It is a mid size variable speed wood lathe with a 14” swing and a 1HP motor. If you are thinking of upgrading, check out what he has to say. Expand Your Horizons- The first of the month brings another turning collaboration between Richard Raffan, Sam Angelo, Tomislav Tomasic and Mike Peace. As you saw in Cindy's tool talk, Easter is approaching and turning eggs is as much fun as coloring real ones- except they are not as edible. Tim Yoder goes one step farther and turns an "Easter ??? Bunny". Some of you may be aware of my love of Monty Python- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tool Demonstrations for the month of April for locations around the country- Why does Easy Wood Tools have the best carbide in the industry? Check out this article- Not All Carbide is Created Equal Final.pdf Tim Yoder turns Easter Eggs using Easy Wood Tools- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Hoping the Spring Vendors Showcase will be introducing some new stuff. Check out the link above. Everything Else- Many turners are familiar with the name Rebecca DeGroot. Well known as a talented turner with a weird imagination, a tattoo artist, former high school art instructor and a contestant on the Food Network's Outrageous Pumpkins. Ms. DeGroot is featured in the February American Woodturner magazine. Link to the article- https://www.woodturner.org/Woodturner/Resources/AmericanWoodturner/2025/40-1/Rebecca-DeGroots-Creepy-Crawlers.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawJap6RleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYoPblEISEOS8K8BmeTWgGCyC-EDP0Vs5r4eq28xnALVQzulxIePbROvyA_aem_sfboYCYcwKY5SwZV6VzkVg Safe turning
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Last Wednesday in March already!! Our Patriot Turners- Been quiet on our forum this week so I thought I'd bring back some pieces from out of the past. Pulled these from the Gallery. From @Jari From @Steve Krumanaker From @Gerald What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- For The Newbies- Mike Peace posted a video on Jam Chucks. Mike explains how to make and use them. Expand Your Horizons- This is an interesting video from Tomislav Tomasic on cutting and drying bowl blanks. He claims a 99% success rate with no cracks! If you are in the New Hampshire area, this might be a nice place to visit- Their website and more information- https://www.artofturning.com/?mc_cid=3a14389f83&mc_eid=480d9e65bf Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools recently acquired the Yorkshire Grit, LLC. They have both the original and the microfine pastes available. Carl Jacobson demonstrates using the Original grit in this video- Some turners apply a lacquer sanding sealer prior to using the paste as explained in this video. I have used the paste with and without the sanding sealer. It produces and amazing surface! If you are in the Sacramento, CA area, the owners of Easy Wood Tools will be there demonstrating their products at the Woodcraft store March 29, 2025. Stop in and see Christi and Chris use the tools they make! https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store-events/sacramento @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Teknatool has the Nova Neptune lathe back in stock. https://www.teknatool.com/neptune/ Starbond has ventured into the epoxy area and they are offering a nice array of products. Click on the image below for the link to more information. Not sure if there is anyone from across the pond who reads this, but Mike Waldt recently reviewed a new drive system in this video. This link, from the video, is where North American customers can purchase the system- https://blackforestwood.com/ Everything Else- Safe turning
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House cleaning continuesssss... Our Patriot Turners- Member @Gordon asked our turners how they would prep a crotch log for turning. Lots of input from our gang on what he could do. Check out Gordon's post and read what has been suggested. Provide your idea, too! @RustyFN added a couple of beautiful pieces to our "What's Off" post. Rusty has friends who own a saw mill. They were kind enough to gift Rusty some gorgeous chunks of wood! Rusty provides more information in his post. @Fred W. Hargis Jr sent a question to Tim Yoder's "Your Turn". That's where Tim answers turning questions. Well, Tim answered Fred' question with a great video! Here's Fred's post and the Video from Tim Yoder- What’s Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's "Tool Talk" last Friday, She made it available on YouTube- For The Newbies- A week or so ago, @Fred W. Hargis Jr mentioned that he was still having difficulty when presenting the edge of a gouge to the work piece. I found this newly published video from Richard Raffan. This video has really clear, up close images showing the tool contact to the spinning workpiece along with explanations what is happening. Expand Your Horizons- Mike Peace added a second video to his "Tower Tops". In this video he answers questions and demonstrates some of the details for turning the top and the tower. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Beading is a great way to add interest to a turning, whether it's a single bead or the entire surface. The process typically requires a dedicated tool for each bead size. Easy Wood Tools developed specialized carbide cutter that will fit on their Easy Start Easy Rougher; Mini Size Easy Rougher and Mid-Size Easy Rougher. The cutter radius are 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 3/8 inches. With this development, one handled tool can take the place of 4 different beading tools available from other manufacturers. These two videos show the cutters in action and explain how to use them. You can take advantage of this sale to pick up Easy Wood Tools products- @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- The Woodturners Tool Showcase might just have some new items available. Registration is free at- https://streamyard.com/watch/UwJbzWJMHmsV Everything Else- Safe turning
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Beautiful couple of days here in south central PA, especially for mid March! Our Patriot Turners- I think our turners are taking advantage of the nice weather and are catching up on their yard work! What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- For The Newbies- One question often asked by new turners is- "What chuck should I buy?" Here are some compare/contrast videos to help answer that question. Also, Check out the video in our new Easy Wood Tools section below. Expand Your Horizons- Last week's posts by the "4 Ways" collaborators discussed cutting threads in a project. Three of the turners used hand chased threads. This week we are adding some additional information on thread cutting for those who might want to dive in a little deeper. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Welcome to the latest addition to our weekly post for woodturners. As many of you know, Easy Wood Tools has been a sponsor of our site for a very long time. As a small family owned business, I felt we should provide a little more exposure for them. They have always been kind enough to support our fundraising efforts. What you will see, in this sub-heading, are turning ideas, tips, projects, and tool reviews focused on Easy Wood Tools products. Let's start this journey with the Easy Chuck, reviewed by Craft Supplies USA- Easy Wood Tools current sale- New Turning Items- New product from Niles Bottle Stoppers. An Ice Breaker Available at- https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/ice-pick/ Everything Else- What is your opinion on the addition of then new EWT section.
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Lots of stuff this week! Our Patriot Turners- @calabrese55 posted a concept for modifying a set of calipers- See his post for what he proposes and additional information. @Gerald posted information concerning Teknatool USA Bankruptcy filings. Lots of folks use their products. Guess we will have to wait to see how this shakes out. @Fred W. Hargis Jr added a comment to the end of last weeks "Wednesday". Fred said that even though he has watched a lot of turning videos, he is still having trouble with tool presentation to the work. I did some searches on the topic and found several videos that might help him, and others having the same difficulties. For bowl gouges, this one has really great closeups- These are from noted turners, however, they are from live demonstrations. There are not a lot of closeup images- This link is to free Stuart Batty videos and other information that may be helpful- https://stuartbattytools.com/free-videos-and-articles What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- For The Newbies- If you are new to carbide tools, Easy Wood Tools has posted a nice videos demonstrating the making of a little LED candle holder. There are lots of opinions about whether the tenon or mortice is the best option when holding work on the lathe. Stuart Batty explains pros and cons in these 2 videos- Expand Your Horizons- It is just after the first of the month and the "4 Ways" collaboration continues. Threads are this month's challenge. Thanks to Tomislav Tomasic, Mike Peace, Richard Raffan and Sam Angelo for posting their turnings. Mimi puts decorations in our front window for every season/holiday. If your Mrs. does the same, she might appreciate this for March 17- New Turning Items- Many of our turners use casting resins for different applications. This information came in an email from Alumilite The email linked 3 turners who pretty much specialize in each one of the 3 types of resin. If you have access to Instagram, you should be able to see example of their work. Click on the images for links to their Instagram accounts Jake Thompson- Clear Slow. Michael W Kusmierz – Amazing Deep Pour Troy Shipley – Alumilite Clear Not new but Woodcraft is having a sale on turning kits. Specials and closeouts! Click the image for the link to the sale age. Everything Else- Picture of the Easy Wood Tools demo in Harrisburg, PA last Saturday- Had a great time! They set us up right inside the front door. Lots of interest! The one for March had to be cancelled due to scheduling conflicts @Jordan Martindale. Safe turning
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Looks like southern PA was once again spared the "big one" as far as snow is concerned. Still mighty cold out, however. Our Patriot Turners- Member @Gordon posted a question about using dyes on a turning. Specifically. he was asking about bleed through. Several of our turners posted their thoughts and advice. Maybe you could help Gordon with your input. Please check his post at- @Headhunter added a post in our Ringmaster Subforum. He made a jig to aid in measuring angles when cutting the rings. Check out his post at- We have had several entries to our "ON/OFF" the lathe this past week! From ON- Thanks to @Gordon and @calabrese55 for their gorgeous turnings! You can see all of the comments and more images at- And from OFF- @calabrese55 and Lew posted vessels, both lidded and open. Love the knob on this lid! Lots more images and comments at- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- For The Newbies- From Craft Supplies USA, a video on fundamental woodturning safety tips- Turning tops is a great way to practice tour spindle turning skills and create some neat toys for the kids, grandkids or neighborhood kids. Mike Peace adds a new twist to the mix! Expand Your Horizons- Basket illusion turnings always seemed very daunting to me. I think this one from Carl Jacobson is one I might consider tackling. How do you measure the wall thickness of your bowls? This is how Richard Raffan does it! New Turning Items- Not new but on sale. For the coffee connoisseur in your life. The Niles coffee tamper kit for their espresso machine. https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/coffee-tamper/ Everything Else- From Ron Brown's newsletter: You Will Never Fail If You Never Try Failure is a part of trying and is needed for success. If you’re going to be successful, you need to try more than once and usually fail more than once. If you never try, you will never fail. You will also never accomplish anything. Fear Of Failure Can Paralyze You Go ahead and try that new project or method. You will probably fail the first time or two. That is how we learn. Persistence is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. As someone who has been given a certain responsibility and a pretty broad platform to shout from, I have come to realize that no matter what I do or say, someone is going to be offended. I could avoid negative comments by never saying or trying anything, but although I have the right to remain silent, I do not have the ability. For every 100 encouraging and uplifting comments I receive on this weekly column, I will receive one that is less encouraging. These comments provide opportunities to practice what I preach. Some comments are very harsh simply because they disagree with something I’ve said or implied or because I believe differently from them. “Don’t throw them away” was the advice recently given to me by a good friend. When people say something nonsensical, you can only control how you respond. I’ve heard it said the greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Nobody will agree 100 percent of the time, and in the wood-turning world, there are almost always many ways to accomplish the same thing. I choose to practice what I preach, especially when responding to someone who disagrees with me. As you evaluate someone else, realize they might see things from a perspective different than your own. That doesn’t make them wrong; it makes them different from you. Safe turning
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