Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'woodturning'.
-
Only a couple weeks remaining in our annual Christmas project. We need to make this the best Christmas yet for our military family. Please consider donating. You will be entered into the raffle for some awesome prizes. Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker created another Dragon Fly turning. This one is a special gift. Steve tells us about the story behind the present. @Gerald shared an image of some of the "4-in-1" screwdrivers he makes from Harbor Freight parts. They look really comfortable to use. @Rusty S Shared pictures of his Christmas ornaments. You know I love these!!! I'm fascinated as to how Rusty added the contrasting species within the knot itself! What's Coming Up- This Friday, December 19, Cindy Drozda will have her live addition of "Tool Talk" Here's the link for registration and more information-https://streamyard.com/watch/a7JJ8NcsaqXJ For The Newbies- This week, Stuart Batty released a bunch of new instructional videos. Normally we embed them here but with so many it seems prudent to provide the link to his main YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@StuartBattyTools/videos Craft Supplies USA published a very comprehensive video on skew chisels. This is one of the better presentation on the skew. Tim Yoder shares a lathe sanding tip- Mike Peace turns and decorates some snowman ornaments Thinking about getting a lathe? Richard Raffan just upgraded and leads us through the process of setting one up- Expand Your Horizons- Tomislav explains how to get the best finish, on the inside of a bowl, using a standard scraper. You've made pepper grinders and salt shakers but have you tried to put them together? Sam Angelo makes a fancy holder to display that special ornament- Alan Stratton turns some small square "bottles" and decorates them with laser embellished medallions. Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- The Easy Wood Tools demonstrators are taking a well deserved rest over Christmas but they will be fired up and ready to go after the first of the year!! A couple of videos by McCollim Woodworking demonstrating the ease at which various materials can be turned. Burl- 3ab8c37b-1951-4f42-b4fa-6d51fa1e0b35.mp4 Deer Antler- Project 3.mp4 New Turning Items- We previously mentioned the Stuart Batty instructional videos. Included were sharpening videos for their new replaceable blade negative rake scrapers. https://stuartbattytools.com/buy-woodturning-tools/ols/categories/negative-rake-scrapers-nrs The sharpening videos are at the same YouTube channel as mentioned above- https://www.youtube.com/@StuartBattyTools/videos. You'll need to scroll down a little to find them. Axminster previews their new smaller lathe Perform PD205WL woodturning Lathe in this video short- Everything Else- Getting back to the vessel of illusion project for attempt number 3. This is first attempt. There was a collar at the top with a small opening. Unfortunately the idiot doing the turning did one more cut and the collar separated. Now it's a vase. The second attempt in somewhere at the bottom of the trash can- The third one is on the lathe awaiting the finish. I have no artistic talent. The opening is very plain. I hope at least to be able to finish the vessel with the inner filler. Safe turning
-
Here is another dragonfly setting. Once again, there is actually very little turning involved in creating this. with that, I have learned some tricks to doing what turning there is. This is all sycamore and I did it as an appreciation gift for a very special niece. Several months or about a year ago, we started noticing my older sister was failing, both mentally and physically. At 89 I suppose that can be expected. Still, it's my sister and it seemed her deterioration was progressing rapidly and plans for caring for her had to be discussed. My niece, her grand daughter stepped up and said she would do everything she could so Sis could be at home as long as possible. She did, Nicki was there for her, often all day and all night, doing what ever was necessary. She cared for Sis, took training, etc. etc. Sis loved to ride and visit a local buffalo ranch. Nicki took her every day. She did this freely, with love and at sacrifice to her own well being and family. I would add, her family was on board with it 100%. My sister passed about a month ago and thanks to Nicki she was able to be home until she entered hospice. I just felt compelled to do something to let my niece and her husband know how much they were appreciated for what they'd done for her, for all of us, really. This is what I ended up with, basically from limbs dropped in our yard from our sycamore trees. Nicki asked me, "how did I know sycamores were her favorite tree?" I did know she is a fan of Tolkien but the sycamore thing was pure luck I guess.
- 6 replies
-
- 8
-
-
-
- lathe
- wood turning
- (and 5 more)
-
Pretty happy with this one. I have always liked the way walnut and white oak compliment each other. This is also one of the ideas I've had in the back of my mind for quite a long time. A little bigger at about 1.5" diameter. It's not "hollowed" in the traditional sense but I did cross drill a through hole under the medallion with a 1" forstner bit to remove some material and weight. The ornament has a star on two sides and a manger motif on two sides.
-
To get a catch that is. Our wood turning club will seat about 30 members at any given meeting. Mostly bowl turners and only 3 or 4 of us will even pick up a skew. The others will tell you it's just too easy to get a catch, or "every time I try I get a catch", etc. etc. Well, I'm here to say I'm not afraid to use a skew because I can get a catch just fine with a gouge. While turning another inlay ornament I had pretty much shaped the globe, all skew work, and was going to start on the finials. Grabbed a 1/4" detail gouge to make a V cut. One instant of carelessness and the ornament was basically destroyed. And that is why I'm not afraid to use a skew!!
-
Got a new toy, the vision pro from WeCreate, it's a 45watt diode laser. According to the manufacturer it will cut up to 1" thick soft wood. Haven't tried that but I can tell you it cuts 1/4 maple and walnut like butter. I've wanted to do something like this since I saw a similar ornament from Gwinnet wood workers on youtube several years ago. Anyway, this is the first one I've done taking advantage of my new capabilities. It's a walnut shaft with maple medallions that have a walnut inlay. Possibilities are promising with this I think.
- 11 replies
-
- 8
-
-
-
-
- lathe
- woodturning
- (and 5 more)
-
Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker showed us his rendition of a turned Dragon Fly! Steve's turning are always on the cutting edge of imagination! In his post, Steve explains where the inspiration came from and some of the construction details- We've had a couple of additions to our "What's Off" post. @Fred W. Hargis Jr added another coin holder plaque to his collection. Awesome segmented turning and species selection- Check out our members comments here- The Turners Warehouse and Easy Wood Tools are working together and hosting a Christmas ornament contest/auction to benefit the Saint Jude Children's Hospital. Ornament will be auctioned off and all of the proceeds will go the hospital. We will have more information about where and when you can bid for the donated turnings very soon. I mailed my donation today- What's Coming Up- Click on the image for link to registration- For The Newbies- Tomislav posted a video where he discusses turning speed, as in RPMs. Lots of great information- Here's a really cute seasonal idea from Carl Jacobson. Expand Your Horizons- Just past the first of the month and the collaborators have posted their "4Ways" project. Some hollowing and some spindle work. What happens when that bowl becomes a funnel? Alan Stratton has a solution- Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools- Easy Wood Tools products in action this week! AQPO3Hj67uJvmtXV37O9OT1s1Z5heHCyW5GulW3tuyaXjq2Hxjs7RuyyDBxs9POEw4vpberawNlxYTgeRr137CLzreJLpPCsleFP0To.mp4 Check out the Easy Wood Tools demonstrators for next week! https://woodshows.com/ https://www.woodcraft.com/pages/store/oklahoma-city @Jordan Martindale New Turning Items- Mentioned this last week and now here it is in action. The new Easy Wood Tools chuck mounted mandrel Not new but on sale from Niles Bottle Stoppers- https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/threaded-rings-for-urns/ Everything Else- Safe turning
-
Most here know these have a been a staple for me for several years. Here is the latest batch of mason jar honey dipper lids. These will go to a local bee keeper who sells her honey in pint mason jars. Assorted Indiana hard woods. Graphics are done with a small hobby laser.
-
Had my first bowl class at Woodcraft yesterday. Five new turners that have never turned a bowl before will wear you out. On the plus side everybody left with a bowl. The guy behind the counter said everybody looked happy as they were leaving.
- 8 replies
-
- 13
-
-
- woodturning
- classes
- (and 2 more)
-
So maybe my load of bargain wood wasn't such a bargain after all. Here's what happened, I mounted a small block to turn a bowl. Nothing fancy, this was my attempt to rough one out and let it dry a little. Anyway, after shaping the outside I turned it around to work on the inside...then it sat on the lathe for a few days (3) while I took care of life's necessities. So I come back to do some more work on it and these cracks appeared on the outside. There is another set much like this 180 degrees on the other side. So, is this something that just happens sometimes? I was able to stick a feeler gauge blade into one and it's about 3/8" deep. Now, this is just a practice piece so I haven't lost anything but I'm curious if I'll face this with a lot of the chucks I bought.
- 6 replies
-
- 3
-
-
-
- question
- woodturning
- (and 2 more)
-
- 1 reply
-
- 2
-
-
- scholarship
- dale nish
- (and 2 more)
-
First time Cutting up and Splitting a wood from a Freshly Fallen Oak.
AndrewB posted a topic in Wood Turners
So a couple of weeks ago my parents decided to have an oak tree that was leaning way too far out cut down and removed. Ran over there asked the tree cutters to save me a 4 foot chunk that was 10 to 12 inches in diameter. They had it dropped and cut the same day and by 5 pm that night wound up comin back home with a 400 to 500 pound chunk of oak tree. Weighed the back end of the subaru down quite a bit fortunately there not that far away. So I got it home dragged it out cut a chunk off normal way youd cut fire wood to see how it would look turned a bit turned it down into a bowl shape the grain is quite nice. But today I said nope I'm splittin the hole thing down the middle and savin half the time so one piece went to waste as a test piece but I still got 4 foot or so. I do not have a decent splitting maul just a little electric wen chain saw sharpened up that does pretty decent work as long as the chain is sharp and oil in the saw. But this morning I got that thing split finally. Now I can start makin bowls out of it. Did someone say make like a tree and split?
- 4 replies
-
- 6
-
-
- logs
- preparation
- (and 1 more)
-
Please don't forget our summer fund raiser is in progress! Check here for more information and the raffle tickets- Our Patriot Turners- Again, THANKS to everyone who takes the time to show us all what you have been working on. We've had several additions to our "What's On Your Lathe" post. @User74, @Gerald and @kreisdorph posted this week! The new items start here- What’s Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's tool talk last Friday, she has it loaded up on her YouTube channel. This discussion was on Box Hollowing Tools- Todd Raines, from the Woodturning Tool Store will be demonstrating the Robust Tru-Arc tool- Registration and more information can be found here- https://woodturningtoolstore.com/live-stream-woodturning-with-tod-raines/?receiptful=668c77471ee11bbc67cec8e6&utm_source=CM Commerce&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-363&utm_term=newsletter&utm_content=other&receiptfultype=newsletter Cindy and Todd will be doing a Zoom Sharing event on August 2, 2024- Registration for the sharing event- https://community.woodturner.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=22337b94-ff08-4811-a511-019074232f14&Home=%2fevents%2fird-demonstrations&_zs=ceDib&_zl=5jU94 For The Newbies- Lyle Jamieson's Tuesday Tip is about removing that little nub from the inside of a bowl- Anxious to turn that first bowl. It doesn't have to be a monster! In fact small bowls are very useful as Kent Weakley demonstrated- Another nice little hollowing project from Mike Peace that doesn't require a large hollowing system. Couple of neat tips included! Expand Your Horizons- Now that you have that laser, how can you use it with your turning projects? Carl Jacobson has some ideas- New Turning Items- Not any new products but Woodturners Wonders has revamped their website. https://woodturnerswonders.com/ Everything Else- I know it seems like I don't do any turning but I have a valid excuse. A month ago, I committed to creating rolling pin blanks for the local woodturning club. They've been a little slow in getting me the remainder of the materials. My shop is a "one man" shop- literally!! Only one person can fit at a time! Now I have everything waiting for more materials as time is critically short. Also, a little over a week ago I did an Easy Wood Tools demo and will be doing another in about a week and a half. All my stuff is packed for transport and not easily accessible. In the middle of all that, I'm trying to work on a new jig (ala Alan Stratton) for the bandsaw. Safe turning
- 3 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- hollow
- mike peace
- (and 20 more)
-
Beautiful day in south central Pennsylvania... Our Patriot Turners- @Fred W. Hargis Jr Started a new turning and a new challenge for him- Fred had several questions about the best way to mount the piece on the lathe and some procedural turning questions. Our gang wasn't shy about offering their ideas and included some images of what they have done. Check out all of the interactions here- There were a couple of new comments on Fred's post about the lidded box he had turned. You can see the comments and images at- @kreisdorph scored some freshly cut oak. He turned this lovely bowl as a gift for the person who gave him the wood. Always a great thing to repay a gift and this lets the tree live on. What’s Coming Up- Click on the image for the link to registration and more information- For The Newbies- Sometime turners will uses different terms to describe the same thing or vice-versa. Here's Mike Peace's take on the Natural Edge Bowl and the Live Edge Bowl- And here he shows us his techniques for turning a live edge, or is a natural edge, bowl??? And from Lyle Jamieson, a tip on creating a strong glue block connection for bowl turning. Expand Your Horizons- Richard Raffan shows his method of sanding the inside of his turned boxes. Nice tip! Tired of turning bowls? Looking for another form that will be well received as a gift? Try turning a platter- New Turning Items- New style bronze threaded rings from Niles Bottle Stoppers Everything Else- Ron Brown's newsletter included a free sharing of his published list of woodturning "Pearls of Wisdom" and a free download of the Turners Reference Guide. Ron Brown’s Pearls: Turners Reference Guide© brought to you by Ron Brown’s Best, LLC 1. There are exceptions to every rule except this one. 2. Six types of chisels are needed to make up a basic turning set (Spindle Gouges, Roughing Gouges, Bowl Gouges, Skews, Scrapers & Parting Tools). 3. Sharp Lathe Tools are more fun. 4. Speed formula: diameter in inches X speed in RPM should equal 6,000 to 9,000 (10” X 800 RPM= 8,000). 5. Rub the bevel on all cutting tools; not on scraping tools. ABC= Anchor the tool, Rub the Bevel, Pick up the Cut. 6. Have safety gear on hand and use it; full face shield, dust mask. 7. Always rotate the workpiece by hand before turning the lathe on to check for interference. 8. Start at slow RPM to check for balance, and then speed up. 9. Speed can be our friend. 10. If you are afraid, slow down and take a breath. 11. “Life’s too short to turn ugly wood.” John Jordan. 12. Carpe Lignum, Torne Lignum – Seize the wood. Turn the wood. 13. Variable-speed lathes are better. 14. Learn to hone. 15. Have a plan before you start. 16. Be Flexible. 17. Turn green wood often. 18. Greenwood is like lettuce, cut what you can use or it will spoil. 19. Learn to use your tools well and keep them sharp. 20. Sharp tools are safer. 21. Sharp tools produce better results. 22. Invest in a good sharpening system and learn to use it well. 23. Then teach others. 24. Don’t skip grits. Never jump more than 50%, i.e. 100 grit to 150 grit to 220 grit to 320 grit. 25. Your family will love whatever you make. 26. Listen to your spouse; they usually have a better eye for design. 27. Never point out your mistakes to others. 28. Spindle turning often requires more skill and imagination than bowl turning. 29. “Never scrape when you can cut.” Mike Mahoney. 30. If you must scrape, raise a fresh burr. 31. Get and learn to use a ¼” wide parting tool. 32. Learn to make lots of “Fun Stuff” like tops, pens, stoppers, light pulls and small lidded boxes. It will make you a better turner and your family will think you are a genius, especially at Christmas time. 33. Make Christmas gifts for your family every year and start in June. 34. Invest in education like classes, seminars and symposiums. 35. Spend the money for personal one-on-one instruction with a professional turner. 36. If you are not failing every now and then, you are not learning. 37. You learn the most when you teach others. 38. Buy good quality M2 High-Speed Steel tools. Avoid high-carbon tools; they are a waste of time. 39. Learn to turn right and left-handed. 40. You can use a bowl gouge on spindle work, but usually not the other way around. 41. Sandpaper is cheap; throw it away often and use fresh stuff. 42. Sign and date your workpieces along with the kind of wood. 43. Buy the best chuck you can afford, and then buy lots of jaws for it. Then buy another chuck. 44. Make your own tool handles. 45. Try someone else’s tools. They might know something you don’t. 46. Join an AAW chapter then go to the meetings. 47. Read turning magazines. 48. Watch turning videos on YouTube, but don’t believe everything they tell you. 49. Buy educational DVD’s. https://longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=10&product_id=219 Turners_Reference_Guide.pdf Safe turning
- 3 replies
-
- 3
-
-
-
- richard rodgers
- sanding stick
- (and 20 more)
-
Whew! Is it ever hot out side. Back porch thermometer, in the shade, reads 98°! Good thing I painted 150 feet of chain link fence yesterday when it was only 95°!! On another topic, keep watching TPW for BIG news!!! Our Patriot Turners- @Gerald posted a root ball turning he completed. Lovely colors and design! Lots of great comments on this one- @User74 added to our "Off Yor Lathe" continuing post with a lovely bowl turning- You can see more images and comments at- There have been a couple more comments added to @Fred W. Hargis Jr post for a turned box. Also, Fred's post on turning a crotch log has generated more interest. Questions and answers abound! What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for more information and registration- For The Newbies- Mike Peace recently did a club IRD on box turning. This is the complete demo so it is a little long but has lots of good information. Thinking about purchasing that first scroll chuck. I copied this from Woodturners Wonders email. It offers some good advice about choosing a chuck. No I do not have any affiliation with them! Choosing the Right Woodturning Chuck: A Guide for Enthusiasts When diving into the world of woodturning, selecting the right chuck for your lathe is crucial for both the quality of your projects and your overall experience. At WoodTurners Wonders, we understand that every turner has unique needs and preferences, which is why we proudly offer Vicmarc, Axminster and Easy Wood Tools woodturning chucks. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a chuck, along with the advantages of these renowned brands. Key Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Chuck Compatibility with Your Lathe: Ensure the chuck fits your lathe’s spindle size and thread. Different lathes have varying spindle sizes, so double-check your lathe specifications before purchasing. Size and Weight: The size and weight of the chuck should match your lathe’s capacity. A heavy chuck on a small lathe can strain the motor and affect performance, while a lightweight chuck on a large lathe might not provide sufficient grip for larger projects. Grip and Holding Power: The chuck must securely hold your workpiece. Consider the types of projects you undertake—bowls, spindles, or intricate designs—and choose a chuck with jaws that suit those needs. Ease of Use: Look for chucks that are user-friendly. Quick and easy jaw changes, smooth operation, and robust construction can significantly enhance your turning experience. Jaw Compatibility: Some chucks offer interchangeable jaws, allowing you to adapt the chuck for different projects. Check if the chuck you’re considering has a range of compatible jaws. Vicmarc Woodturning Chucks Vicmarc chucks are known for their precision engineering and durability, making them a favorite among professional turners and hobbyists alike. Here are some standout features: Superior Build Quality: Vicmarc chucks are crafted from high-grade materials, ensuring longevity and reliable performance. Precision Engineering: The precision of Vicmarc chucks means less vibration and better stability, leading to smoother and more accurate turning. Wide Range of Jaws: Vicmarc offers a variety of jaws, making their chucks versatile and adaptable for different projects. User-Friendly Design: Many Vicmarc chucks feature a quick-change jaw system, simplifying the process of switching jaws for different tasks. Axminster Woodturning Chucks Axminster chucks are celebrated for their innovative designs and exceptional value, making them a great choice for both beginners and seasoned turners. Key benefits include: Innovative Features: Axminster chucks often incorporate unique features like woodworm screws and dovetail jaws, enhancing their functionality and versatility. Excellent Value: Despite their high quality, Axminster chucks are competitively priced, offering great value for money. Robust Construction: Built to last, Axminster chucks can withstand heavy use and demanding projects. Stainless Steel Construction: The Axminster chucks we offer are made of stainless steel, which resists rust and corrosion. This is particularly beneficial when turning wet wood, ensuring your chuck remains in top condition over time. Comprehensive Support: Axminster provides excellent customer support and a wealth of resources for turners, from instructional videos to detailed manuals. Easy Wood Tools Chucks Easy Wood Tools chucks are designed with ease of use and innovation in mind, making them a popular choice for turners of all skill levels. Here are some key advantages: Innovative Design: Easy Wood Tools chucks feature a unique quick-change jaw system that allows you to switch jaws in seconds without any tools, streamlining your workflow and saving time. User-Friendly Operation: These chucks are designed to be intuitive and easy to use, making them ideal for both beginners and experienced turners. Durable Construction: Made from high-quality materials, Easy Wood Tools chucks are built to withstand regular use and provide consistent performance. Versatility: With a range of compatible jaws and accessories, Easy Wood Tools chucks offer flexibility for a variety of turning projects. Making the Right Choice Ultimately, the best chuck for your lathe depends on your specific needs and preferences. Vicmarc, Axminster and Easy Wood Tools offer exceptional products, each with their own unique advantages. Consider the types of projects you’ll be working on, your lathe’s specifications, and your budget to make an informed decision. At WoodTurners Wonders, we are committed to helping you find the perfect tools for your craft. Whether you choose a Vicmarc, Axminster or Easy Wood chuck, you can be confident in the quality and performance of your purchase. Visit our store or website to explore our full range of woodturning chucks and accessories. Happy turning! Expand Your Horizons- Last week's post included a tip from Lyle Jamieson about making a secure glue block connection. In this video Jim Rodgers demonstrates another method of connecting to a glue block- Another scoop from Alan Stratton. This one uses offset turning and a couple of neat jigs. Also, check out Alan's method for turning spheres- WITHOUT a jig! New Turning Items- Posted the video about these last week but here's the official Niles Bottle Stopper announcement- **NEW PRODUCT ALERT** We’re excited to introduce our new Low Profile Lightweight Threaded Rings, available as a set of all three or individually in three sizes: 1.5”, 2.5”, and 3.5”. Made in the USA from bronze, these rings feature: - 1.5″ ring: Inside measurement 1″, overall height 3/8″ - 2.5″ ring: Inside measurement 2″, overall height 3/8″ - 3.5″ ring: Inside measurement 3″, overall height 1/4″ This hardware creates a secure closure for lidded boxes, urns, canisters, and other similar projects. They consist of a male and female thread, which helps create a tight seal. These rings are lighter weight and lower in profile than our original Threaded Rings. The original rings are also still available and might be better suited for urns. Installing the new rings is a little different than the original style. The new rings require a tenon on one half. Pricing and more information is here- https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/low-profile-lightweight-threaded-rings/ Everything Else- Just for fun Safe turning
- 4 replies
-
- 3
-
-
-
- tim yoder
- niles bottle stoppers
- (and 23 more)
-
From Popular Woodworking an online video course from Jimmy Clewes. https://popular-woodworking.mykajabi.com/offers/oy2VUxij/checkout?utm_source=email&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=pwwpromotionaloffers&utm_campaign=PWWWoodTurningBasics
- 1 reply
-
- 3
-
-
-
- jimmy clewes
- online
- (and 3 more)
-
Lots happened this past week! Our Patriot Turners- @Gerald posted more images of his "Frig Magnets". His Jaho jig really creates some spectacular designs! Here's where the new entry starts- @John Hechel made a couple of posts in our sub-forum for Ringmaster Turning. He showed us some of his glue ups and some absolutely gorgeous bowl! Check out his posts here- @RustyFN posted an update on his new McNaughton Bowl Coring System. He created some measuring devices to help setup the system for different sized cores. Thanks, Rusty for the update! I love all your posts on our "On/Off Your Lathe". It is so enjoyable to see the development and finishing of the projects. From "ON"- From @kreisdorph and @Gerald Catch up from last week starting here- From OFF- @kreisdorph and @User74 The latest entries start here- What’s Coming Up- If you missed Cindy Drozda's Tool Talk last week, she posted the video on her YouTube channel- Click on the following images for links to registration and more information- For The Newbies- The bowl gouge can be confusing for the new turner, especially when it comes to the type of "grind" on the tip. Professional turners seem to have individual preferences and provide that grind style on the tools they recommend/sell. Lyle Jamieson discusses his preference in this video. Jim Rodgers creates another custom pen. Check out some of the jigs he uses to create the pieces. Expand Your Horizons- Alan Stratton turns a bowl as a keepsake for a tree that needed to be removed. Most of us do this when we are gifted wood. What I found interesting was Alan's use of UV epoxy instead of the typical epoxy/acrylic. Here's the entire video- the UV information is at about 4:30. The "4 Ways Collaboration" continues. This month they turn multi-sided plates Mike- Tomislav- Sam- Richard- New Turning Items- From Ron Brown- Glue Press for Bowl From Board or Segmented Rings https://longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=536 Everything Else- My experiment with the turned blank from last week was a miserable failure. That turning became this- The prototype for a passive amplifier. There was a barely noticeable increase in volume but it looks neat. Biggest mistakes- don't use a spade bit for long holes, cutting an angle and rotating is not produce as nice as cutting 2 angles. As in Alan Stratton's video, I did turn a little bowl from our Crab Apple tree that is dying by inches. Planted it in 1969. Safe turning
- 7 replies
-
- 6
-
-
-
- glue press
- ron brown
- (and 30 more)
-
October is almost in the books! Our Patriot Turners- @Gerald was busy turning out some really neat projects- He posted these in "Friday's Weekend" thread. See his post for some other colorful items- He even managed to score some beautiful cherry over the weekend- There are more pictures at- And he managed to get at least one piece underway- Our resident Christmas ornament professional, @Ron Altier, posted some beautiful maple items. I think he used his patented epoxy finish on them. Check out his post for more about where he got the wood- What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links to more information and registration- For The Newbies- New turners typically have difficulty getting proficient with the skew. I still haven't mastered it! Watch Richard Raffan make it look easy- Mike Peace demonstrated how to do some tool "makeovers" Woodturning Monthly was published by the Woodworker's Journal. Some nice projects and articles- https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/woodturning-monthly/?utm_medium=email Expand Your Horizons- Alan Stratton is always coming up with unusual turning ideas and this one is no exception- Wish you had a Genie? Well Carl Jacobson has turned a Genie Bottle in case you ever find one New Turning Items- Niles Bottle Stoppers has added a couple of new items- https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/artisan-coffee-scoop-kit/ https://nilesbottlestoppers.com/product/artisan-rasp-grater-kit/ Woodturners Wonders is having a sale on their lathe "Track System". Check their website at- https://woodturnerswonders.com/collections/lathe-track?_kx=gV5SF2As_3IwtBi5TrpHVQM0F3UvGVbQKzhWGippDlk%3D.VJvU8R Everything Else- From Ron Brown's newsletter- Side Gig – Sage Advice I had a long visit with a friend who will be retiring in 5-6 years and is thinking about starting a woodworking business to keep busy and generate some extra income. I have been hearing from more folks than usual about generating a little cash from a side hustle in view of the current economic situation with a dollar buying less every day. I’ve made extra income from my side hustle for the last 55 years. Even when I was in the corporate world, I still made and sold wooden items on the side. Sometimes for pocket change, sometimes as a second income when the first one wasn’t enough. I’ve picked up a few things along the way that you might be interested in or passing along to a friend. 1) Demand – don’t just make and try to sell what you love, make and sell what they want to buy (even if you don’t particularly like it). I tell my family that I would sell dried cow patties if that was what the demand called for. a. In general woodworking the good sellers might be cutting boards, stove top covers, 2x4 basic bunk beds, etc. b. For woodturners it could be pens, tops, pepper mills, salad bowls, etc. I’ve learned from experience that just because I’m wild about something, doesn’t mean it will sell. 2) If an item is in high demand and everyone else is doing it, don’t be afraid to make them also. a. A prime example of this is metal tumblers like the Yeti. In the laser engraving world, there are thousands of people making laser engraved tumblers, wrapped tumblers, or personalized tumblers. I know, my kids have given me several every Christmas for the past bunch of years. My church even gave me a pair. b. Hamburgers are another great example. If people were afraid of making something someone else made, there would only be one place to get a hamburger instead of a hamburger joint on every corner. 3) Don’t be the cheapest guy on the block. Find out what the market price is and be somewhere around there. You might have to be creative to make a profit. 4) If no one is doing it, there is probably a good reason. No demand, impossible to make a decent profit due to the material cost or excessive labor. Before you bring something totally new to the market, get half a dozen regular items well established and selling consistently before you attempt to blaze a totally new trail. 5) You might be a perfectionist, but your customers won’t pay for perfection. They will pay for great or even good, but perfect is in the eye of the beholder. You can be perfect if you don’t mind making $2/hr. But that is not how you make a profit in the real world. 6) Listen to your wife. She loves you and wants you to succeed. She will tell you things your friends won’t. There are many more tidbits of advice, based on years of experience, but these are some of the important ones. Safe turning
- 3 replies
-
- 5
-
-
-
-
- kitchen rasp
- coffee scoop
- (and 27 more)
-
Lady at the honey farm just ordered 25 dipper lids, said the last two festivals have wiped her out on them. I've posted pictures of the finished dippers many times but I thought I would do a quick video or two making the lids. I did do video on you tube on making one of these but amazingly that video is 7 years old and my process has changed dramatically. The lids are twice turned so I did a video for each step. The videos aren't real long which is a good thing. dipper1 2023.mp4 dipper2 2023.mp4
- 6 replies
-
- 6
-
-
-
- woodturning
- lathe
- (and 3 more)
-
I posted a couple weeks ago about a shop contacting me to make drop spindles which are used in spinning wool. There are two basic components, the "whorl" which is pretty easy and quick to do. The shaft, which is a little problematic. The shaft needs to be about 12" long and around 5/16" diameter. Kind of difficult and tedious to turn and with a small margin I need to turn them as quickly as possible. Looking for options I bought a dowel jig that uses a drill motor to create a dowel. It works but I got more tearout than I liked, especially on woods like oak or ash. I then did some searching and watched some videos about using a table saw to make dowels. You read that right, you can make a dowel or spindle using your table saw. It works, and it works pretty darn good. Pretty nice finish which will require just a little sanding and it's pretty consistent as far as diameter Produce_5.mp4
- 10 replies
-
- 7
-
-
-
- woodturning
- spindle
- (and 8 more)
-
From the album: Turnings
-
A lady who owns a local spinning shop contacted me and asked about making her some drop spindles to sell in her shop. Now, I've heard of drop spindles and I've even seen pictures of some others have turned but I never really knew what they are for or do. I visited her shop and I was stunned. I had no idea spinning wool is still a thing. VERY nice shop with knitted and woven items every where. She sells equipment, wool, and teaches the craft. It was really an interesting visit. She didn't have any drop spindles like she wanted made and she was sold out and her current mail order supplier wasn't responding or filling orders. She described what she wanted and said she's wanted someone local for a while and one of her customers gave her my name. Don't know what will come of this but here are four of the first ones I've made for her. They are about 11" long and the "whorl"(new word for me) is about 2 1/2" diameter. According to the shop owner drop spindles predate spinning wheels by a few centuries and basically evolved from sticks. The underside is hollowed to provide stability and shift the mass to the rim so they spin longer. The Easy finisher is the bomb for that. Basically no sanding here.
- 6 replies
-
- 7
-
-
-
- woodturning
- wool
- (and 9 more)
-
Just 2 weeks left is our fundraising drive. Please consider donating and taking a chance on wining one of our sponsors' awesome prizes! Our Patriot Turners- @Steve Krumanaker continues to supply his unique turnings for a local "Bee" business- Steve's post has more images of some of the custom things he makes! @RustyFN scored some Bradford pear and showed us his blank preparation. Looks like some awesome bowls in his future Check out Rust's post- @Gerald has been busy replenishing his craft show stock- Check out his post to see what these are! @PostalTom updated us on the chess set he made. Tom included a closeup of the turned chess pieces, in his post Tom also posted some kitchen utensil items in our "What's On Your Workbench" forum- Our "What's On Your Lathe" continues to showcase our turners' projects! @nevinc, @forty_caliber and @Gerald all shared images of what's happening What’s Coming Up- Click on the images for links- For The Newbies- A variety of topics from around the web- From Tim Yoder, a couple of short video tips- From Mike Waldt, help for using my old nemesis- the Skew! This is a live demo so it is really long- Have you ever tried to cut a round blank on the bandsaw? Not a bowl blank, but rather an end off of a cylinder shape. If not secured properly, the blade can grab the piece and even break the blade. Mike Peace cautions about this and shares a video on making it safer. Expand Your Horizons- Craft Supplies USA created a video demonstrating the use of the Easy Core One Way Coring System. This is a rather long video but does demonstrate using the system. In the description, the presentation is broken down so the viewer can select sections to view. We've noticed several discussions about finishing, on other Patriot forums, and the subject of shellac pops up frequently. This link, from Kent Weakley, is to an article on making and using shellac as a bowl finish. https://turnawoodbowl.com/make-shellac-wood-bowl-finish/ I think everyone here knows my love of carbide turning tools. @smitty10101 posted about using Easy Wood Tools ( @Jordan Martindale ) to turn a bowl. The video is from Craft Supplies USA New Turning Items- Ron Brown has been creating and posting videos, on his YouTube channel, discussing his hollowing stabilizer. You can check them out at- https://www.youtube.com/@Ronbrownsbest/videos With SWAT happening this weekend, there will probably be some new products shown. Be sure to check out the Vendor showcase listed above for live feeds of some of the products. Everything Else- From Ron Brown's Newsletter, something I think we all have struggled with from time to time- What Is It Worth? I’ve had lots of questions about pricing one or two special pieces. For the vast majority of woodturners, it is a hobby, they never intend to sell anything they make. Some folks are interested in turning as a side gig but have no idea how to price their work. As someone who has experience in just about every conceivable selling venue, I would like to pass along what I have learned. Any object is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. When I’m considering how to price anything I’ve made or plan on making, there is a formula I use: Cost of material + Time @ desired labor rate = Hard Cost Hard Cost X 4 = Suggested Retail Selling Price Hard Cost X 2 = Wholesale Selling Price Average Market Price For Similar Items; Am I Close? This is only a starting point. Determine the “Market Price” for similar items depending on the selling venue, are you in the ballpark? The Market Price in an Arts & Crafts Gallery is very different from the Market Price at a street craft fair and those prices are different on Etsy, eBay, your own website, or Amazon. Don’t forget about the associated cost for each venue. The last measure is a selling price that I feel good about. In other words, it is a Win-Win; the customer is happy at that price and I was happy to make it for them. An absolute fact of life is that everybody loves a bargain. (See the scripture below). Your “Retail Price” should be some amount above the price you hope to sell it for. Every retail store on the planet understands this and so should you. If you are selling one-on-one, you can comfortably offer a deal if they take it now and still earn what you needed in the first place. If you are selling online, this is the perfect scenario for a sale with either free shipping or a percentage discount. You must also consider why you want to sell at least some of your work. Perhaps you want to fund additional tool purchases. In that case, forget the time you put in and consider the amount of profit dollars such a sale will contribute to your “new widget” fund. If the income is important as a supplement to other household income, it needs to be worth your time. If you are thinking of this as a main income stream, you need to maximize the return on your capital and your time and this will require counsel and careful consideration. Try to pick items that are fast, easy, and cheap to make that you can sell tons of i.e. pens, bottle stoppers, pepper mills, spinning tops, utility bowls, cutting boards, kitchen utensils, etc. The bottom line is complicated depending on your specific situation. Only you can make that determination. I recommend setting your initial asking price higher than you think you should. Often someone else thinks your widget is worth more than you do. You can always lower the asking price, but it is difficult to raise it. As I said before, something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Here is a true quick story. I used to sell fancy laser-cut Christmas ornament kits and made finished samples for display at The Woodworking Shows. I got many inquiries from folks wanting to buy the finished ornaments that I really didn’t want to sell. I finally put a price of $150 on each one figuring that would stop all of the questions because nobody would pay that much for a Christmas Ornament. The first year we sold 12! Don’t sell yourself short Safe turning
-
Posted these on my facebook page a couple days ago but almost didn't post them here as every one has seen them in one form or another before. Decorative mason jar lids for a local bee farm gift shop. 25 honey dipper lids and 25 herb jar lids and she ordered 25 more of a different size when I delivered these.
- 8 replies
-
- 10
-
-
-
- wood turning
- woodturning
- (and 7 more)
-
Our daughter has some auto immune issues and when she's having a flare up she needs a cane. Couldn't find one with a handle she liked so she asked to make her one. This is one of those turnings that isn't real flashy and doesn't look like much but it is one of the most difficult things we do as a wood turner IMO. That long taper is tough to do, at least for me. The wood portion is about 33" over all, 1" at the top and 3/4" at the tip. Our son did the resin cast for the knob. The shaft is white oak and looks good at a glance, hands will find some low spots though.
- 8 replies
-
- 12
-
-
-
- lathe
- woodturning
- (and 4 more)
-
Thought this one looked like something out of a star trek episode so named it the alien due to its organic shape specifically related to the finial. The hollow form is Cedar with turquoise inlay in the cracked and small voids. The headpiece or Finial is made of Bradford Pear and has turquoise inlay as well in a concentric pattern on each side which was all turned and hand carved. Size including the finial is around 14.5"x9.5". Hope you enjoy as much as I did making it.
.png.1de0845cfb3e02f8c32fbd8364b3f223.png)
.png.c49fb75ca353be3cbc972fc4c2917f7c.png)
