Harvesting Turned Autumn Pumpkin Box
This project is a great multi-axis box in the form of a pumpkin.
The twist is that the lines on the pumpkin continue into the lid, thus integrating the lid and base portions.
This wood is honey locust which has a great color and grain. However, it is so hard and brittle that I would recommend a more friendly wood such as cherry.
The box is spherical and based on the octagon method for turning spheres.
The box is about 4 inches round plus a stem carved from sapele. All finished with shellac.
Enjoy.
Not So Artificial Intelligence For Turning Design
I wanted to design a classic vase but needed inspiration and did not want to draw a design from scratch. Then I thought “Why not use the internet”. But instead of looking and a picture, use the computer to take it further.
So, browse the web for a likely candidate. It will not be perfect – I only need the general shape. Then copy and paste the image into another design software.
If turning solid, some measurements and go to the lathe.
If segmenting, take the software approach further to lay out segment rings of a target height. Then let the software tell me diameters that can be plugged into a spreadsheet for final calculations.
What a boost.
The Ornament Challenge began accepting entries November 1st.
Enjoy.
Turning Honey Dipper For Sweet, Quick Gift
This project is a quick and easy project. If you can turn a spindle and use a parting tool, you are good to go.
Prepare wood spindle of close grain, non-toxic wood with a tenon to mount to a chuck.
shape the dipper end with grooves – depth is optional – number is optional.
Finish the dipper with a handle and any other accents that may be desired.
Maple 1″ plus diameter by almost 5″ long finished with beeswax and mineral oil mix.
(1 pint mineral oil and .25 pound beeswax.
The Ornament Challenge will begin accepting entries November 1st.
Enjoy.
Turning Quick and Easy Tool For Quilting Friends
This project is another quick and easy project. One that my sister who is greatly affected by the quilting virus has requested several times. If you can turn a spindle, you are good to go.
Prepare wood spindle of close grain, with a tenon to mount to a chuck. I like maple but since as a spindle, it is fairly plain, I like to add burned in grooves for accents. I like to keep the spindle finger friendly. This is not the time to show off big beads and coves.
Maple 1″ diameter by almost 7″ long finished with shellac.
The Ornament Challenge will begin accepting entries November 1st.
Enjoy.
Turning Curly Flame Finial As An Ornament
This project is a fun one. Essentially, a finial can be used either upright – flame up – or flame down. For this ornament, this walnut is hollowed and carved.
Could it be longer. Probably. However, I would not recommend more rotations since that would result is much more fragile short grain. I would stretch it to preserve long grain.
Either way. a fun ornament.
Walnut 1″ diameter by 3″ long finished with shellac with 22 gauge twisted wire hanger.
The Ornament Challenge will begin accepting entries November 1st.
Enjoy.
2024 Ornament Challenge Kickoff Announcement
The holiday season is rapidly approaching and with it – The annual Ornament Challenge – this is number 14.
The challenge welcomes ornaments of all sorts, any craft, any media, any tradition. At least, these are the predominate ones. By the way, collaboration is also great.
However, there is a deadline. All ornament must be submitted during the month of November at www.OrnamentChallenge.com. The entry process will open November 1st and close after November 30th.
Enjoy.
Turning A Trivet With A Touch Of Technology
This piece combines technologies: old and new – turning and laser.
The turning is a 6 inch flat tray from maple whose inside is designed for a puzzle.
The puzzle is laser cut on a 40 watt LED laser.
I love integrating methods, materials, and technology in creative ways.
Enjoy.
Turning Multi-Axis Plumbing Fittings??
I love these octahedrons. They are one of the most simple multi-axis turnings.
They start with a sphere which I have been demonstrating for many years. I skipped quickly through the sphere portion in this video to focus more on the multi-axis turning.
The sphere is oriented on three axes. If you think of a cube, these are the perpendicular through the faces of the cube.
After boring out the holes along the axes, these are transformed into tubes. Finally, at the center, a smaller cube forms. This can be carved away into pleasing curves.
For a truncated octahedron, pick one or more axes before boring. Bore out only enough to form a solid tube instead of a hollow tube. Part off or carve away the solid tube.
BTW – I saw an original non-truncated octahedron demonstrated by Max Brosi at AAW – Raleigh. He deserves credit for confirming my octagon measures using drafting techniques instead of my use of algebra. Then showing an octahedron. A confirming demonstration.
Enjoy.
Improved Double Dip Turning – Twin Eccentric Scoops
I know I turned eccentric scoops last week. However, I simply had to turn them again with some improvements.
This scoop is turned using three skew axes, 3/16″ apart and the handle end. The axes must be in a straight line to allow the turned blank to be sawn in half. Skew axes are not parallel. However, in this case, they must be shifted in the same plane. Otherwise, the two halves could not be sawn apart.
Instead of shifting points on the bowl end, this time I used a cup center on the live center.
As an additional benefit, this allowed turning the bowl portion as more of a sphere for more accuracy.
The axis shift was also slightly larger. This with the fixed bowl end, enabled more of an arc in the handle.
The cleanup was still tedious, using a round rotary burr to hollow out the bowl. Then hand sanded the bowl smooth.
The scoops are 1 inch by 6 inches long, finished with a utility mix of mineral oil and beeswax.
Enjoy.
Double Dip Turning – Twin Eccentric Scoops
This video is best viewed here on this page. However, if gremlins strike the technical area, it is also available on YouTube and FaceBook.
I saw these scoops by Eli Avisera at the Portland AAW symposium. I did not attend his demonstration – Actually, I’m not sure he demonstrated these. However, I was intrigued and felt that I had to make a set. I’m not sure how he turned his but here is how I turn them.
The scoop is turned using three parallel axes, 1/8″ apart. The axes must be parallel to have enought straight space for the turned blank to be sawn in half.
The cleanup, however, is tedious. I used a round rotary burr to hollow out the bowl. Then hand sanded the bowl smooth.
The scoops are 1.5 inches by 5 inches long, finished with a utility mix of mineral oil and beeswax.
Enjoy.