Woodturning Christmas Ornament Using Infinite Axis Chuck
by Alan Stratton on Saturday, November 25th, 2017 | 2 Comments
This video is also available on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook. Best Place? Right Here!
The Christmas Ornament Challenge is accepting entries through November. Enter yours at www.AsWoodTurns.com/Challenges/.
For this project, I decided to do something different. Instead of a hollow globe with finials, I decided to substitute a disk for the globe and place decorative elements on the sides. The Infinite Axis Chuck is perfect for turning the decorative elements.
My ornament is about 7 inches tall and 3 inches across the disk and finished with brushing lacquer.
My process (as modified for next time):
- Saw parallel cuts on the top and bottom of the wood for the disk.
- Mark line through centers of top, front, and bottom.
- Drill mortise hole in top and bottom. Depth is not important since the center will be covered.
- Mount flat on the top surface of chuck jaws with live center holding the wood. Turn a shallow tenon so that the tenon will be removed when the disk is rounded.
- Mount onto the tenon and drill a mortise to fit long neck chuck jaws. Depth is not critical.
- Reverse mount and drill a mortise from the other side.
- Finish the profile of the disc, sand and finish.
- Turn and finish top and bottom finials.
- Turn and finish two discs from contrasting wood with the Infinite Axis Chuck, incorporating a tenon to fit the mortise in the disc portion. Information on building the infinite axis chuck can be found in this video and web page.
Videos:
Another very interesting video. I like how you handled the challenge of mounting the donut, for drilling the holes for the finials. Solving those “how do I mount this thing” problem is one of the many fun challenges of this hobby.
I should go and look at your video on the infinite axis chuck, but I was wondering —- I guess you need to really secure the workpiece and take _very_ light cut, to avoid it getting moved while cutting those decorative swirls?
You have it right. A sharp tool and very light cuts.
Alan