Archive for the ‘Tools and Jigs’ Category


Woodturning A Multi-Tip 4-In-1 Screwdriver

I’ve been on location for remodeling a house in Mesa Arizona. One of the tools I found very useful was an ordinary 4 in 1 screwdriver. In this project, I dress up that screwdriver. It is a very quick, simple project using only a cheap screwdriver from Home Depot. The handle is Padauk finished with […]

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Sharpening On The Road – Portability Revisited

This is a followup to my previous video concerning sharpening tools while away from home base. With that video, I was not happy with that solution due to significant runout of my home built mandrel. I ask for suggestions and received a lot. This video covers the two main categories of suggestions and my current […]

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Sharpening On The Road – Portable Tool Sharpening Station

When I use my portable mini lathe “On Location” I sharpen my lathe tools before I leave. The problem is that all these tools get dull as I use them. My grinder is nice but not portable. So what can I do? Keep using dull tools? Use my diamond hone more? Try some way to […]

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Giant Sanding Disc Offers Options For Woodturning

After seeing a large sanding disc at Dale Larson’s shop here in the Portland area, I decided to get one for myself. They’re not available commercially except as a very expensive stationary tool. So, I decided to make my own. I ordered a piece of 1/4″ thick aluminum 20.25″ square allowing a little bit for […]

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My Leather Burnisher Doubles As A Vampire Stake

A viewer suggesting making a leather burnisher. I was excited at the suggestion as it is another idea to exercise the eccentric faceplate system. Many would leave the blade as a cone or flatten it on a sander. To me, however, it was an opportunity to take the eccentric faceplate system for a spin. This […]

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My DIY Lathe Steady Rest

After using my new steady rest turning the travel mug, many viewer requested more information about the steady rest. So here we go. It’s make from baltic birch plywood with layers glued together as necessary for thickness. The wheels came from a pair of roller blades I purchased at a local thrift store. It works […]

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Easy DIY System For Eccentric Spindle Turning

In this video, I’m going into greater detail on the faceplates and system used in making the doubly eccentric magic wand. The system consists of 2 faceplates, 4 brass pins, and some plastic countertop laminate. With the system, I can exactly index most eccentric spindle turnings that use a tail stock. Although I made these […]

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How To Turn A Double Eccentric Magic Wand

In this video, I’m going another step beyond in eccentric turning. Building on a viewer suggestion to use masking tape to enable power transmission while backing off the pressure between tailstock and headstock. I made a pair of threaded faceplates in which I drilled holes to provide regular offsets. Corresponding holes would then be drilled […]

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How To Turn An Eccentric (Crooked) Magic Wand

After the last video, I decided to go one step further and make an eccentric blade for another wand. By using multiple axes, the blade will be crooked, a special twist to please any wizard. This full sized 17″ long wand is made from walnut and red oak. It is finished with mineral oil and […]

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Turn A Large Hollow Wood Sphere Or Ball With No Fear

To dispel my ball turning phobia forever, I decided to do a large, hollow ball. What’s different? Well, on a large ball, any irregular surface is more apparent. Even more is that I’m having to turn blind. I cannot check wall thickness as I work the wood — I have to rely on measurement taken […]

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