Design, Print, Then Turn Mixed Media Ornament
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After checking in an ornament for the challenge by Dan Owens, I wanted to make one similar. His was 3D printed. So, I fired up my computer with OpenSCAD, 3D design software. Then why not show you how it is done. I did not want to make a training video – only an overview.
The design is simple to implement if one already knows the software. It is a process of adding and subtracting elements on the screen. Then slice (a technical term) and print.
Finally, turn a tree from mesquite and finials from birch. The 3D material is natural color PLA. The 3D printed globe is 2 by 3. Finials add another 3 inches to the length.
Meanwhile, voting for favorites in the challenge ends 11 December. Pick yours at www.OrnamentChallenge.com Hurry
Enjoy.
2022 Christmas Ornament Challenge – Call For Vote
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It is time you to vote for your favorite ornaments in the 2022 Annual Christmas Ornament Challenge.
With 286 ornaments, there are a lot to review. But also a lot of great ideas to view and possibly incorporate into your own ornaments.
Thanks to everyone who submitted their ornament.
Thanks to all the clubs who spread the word.
Thanks to our sponsors for providing something for everyone.
Please vote for your top five (5) ornaments. Rank your ornaments from Highest to Lowest. Enter your picks in a comment below the video. For Example: 5,4,3,2,1.
If the vidoe goes too fast, there are alternatives:
1). The pause and rewind buttons.
2). At www.OrnamentChallenge.com -This is web page with all ornaments to browse at your leisure. Enter your picks at the very bottom.
Voting ends 11 December 2022. We’ll announce the winners as soon as possible after vote closes.
Enjoy!
Four Options To Enhance Woodturning Design
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I greatly appreciated a club presentation recently by Kip Christiansen. Kip has been teaching furniture design at Brigham Young University until retiring recently. His topic was design for woodturning. One main point is that form trumps all else: grain, color, decoration, construction. He went through a lot of design tips.
One thing stood out above everything else. He was prepared to turn a selection from three different blocks of wood. He passed out pieces of paper whose size matched his blocks of wood. Then he had us fold them in half and cut a design with scissors. We could trim it until we liked it. He also recommended we cut several alternatives and ask our friends which they like best. Form was paramount.
He then turned a couple of the pieces to match.
I have taken his presentation to heart and looked at options to apply it to my projects. This post is some of my ideas leveraging this excellent presentation.
Enjoy.
Turning A Hobbit Hole Ornament For Bilbo
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I was looking at ornaments from the Christmas Ornament Challenge, seeking inspiration. There are many very nice birdhouses. But, what about a hobbit house or hobbit hole. Bilbo needs a home too!
Hobbit hole seem to be built into hilsides or mounds. Why not?
The roof is part of a cylinder of walnut, hollowed from both ends. The home is similar to a birdhouse except that hobbit’s are short and ceilings are low. Maple paneling would be nice. But, bilbo also needs to keep warm by a nice fire. Whereas a bird is self insulating. How about a walnut chimney? All pieces are finished with shellac.
Still time to get your ornament into the challenge. Prizes for everyone at the challenge.
Enjoy.
Experimenting With Wave Slices In Segmented Vase
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After designing an effective process for Celtic knots on large vessels, I am no experimenting with different application and variations of the process. In this case, three walnut slices at different angles and intervals provide additional visual interest.
The base wood is sold as hickory pecan since the two woods cannot be visually distinguished. The accent wood is walnut. All rings are constructed with 12 segments each with the exception of the three oval rings which have two additional segments to transform the circle to an oval. There are nine hickory rings, two walnut rings, and three walnut oval rings. The base consists of a three ply sandwich of hickory which is then set into the base hickory ring. Three plies prevent wood expansion/contraction which could destroy the vase. Segments total 174.
Walnut oil provides a nice matt finish.
This vase is 4 inches diameter and 6 inches in height.
Enjoy.
Turning And Carving Acorn Candy Box Ornament
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This project is an ornament for the Christmas Ornament Challenge which is now open. The shell is maple; the cap is walnut. They are joined together with a bayonet style bushing which makes it very easy to open and close to get at the candy inside.
The acorn is about 2.5 inches diameter and 5.5 inches long, finished with shellac.
The bayonet style bushing is available at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AsWoodTurnsTools
Get inspired by the ornaments already entered to this year’s challenge at www.OrnamentChallenge.com
Enjoy.
Transforming Ugly Duckling Cracked Wood To ???? Ornament
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I received this wood in our club wood exchange raffle. It was so nasty, I almost threw it away. Then, well, I have turned spheres from worse. So, why not a sphere. Once I had a sphere, it was still a cracked mess. I dug out the carving gear and ground out the cracks. It you cannot hide something, highlight it. Then added a finial and a loop.
In the end, my ugly duckling is still a duck – not a swan. But, it is an okay duck. It can serve well as a Christmas ornament for the challenge. The challenge for me, was dealing with the nasty wood.
The ornament is 2 inches diameter and 6 inches long.
Don’t forget – the Ornament Challenge is opens shortly. Details at www.OrnamentChallenge.com
Enjoy.
Repairing Cracked Olive Bowl With Ultra Violet Light
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I obtained this olive wood on a trip to Phoenix just before the pandemic. I love olive wood but this block had issues. As I roughed it out, it exposed large nasty drying checks and a split area.
Since the wood is so pretty, I contemplated how to repair it. The checks I could live with, but I had to do something with the split area. I considered many ways to fix the crack. All would detract from the pretty wood and call attention to the repair.
At SWAT, I attended a presentation involving ultra violet cured resin. I had heared of this resin previously at a Utah Woodturning Symposium. The SWAT presentation context was exotic pen turning but my mind went to my olive bowls needing repair.
The resin came from Amazon. It cures with ultra violet light. I purchased a UV flashlight from Harbor Freight. With its limited power, it could only partially cure a fresh bead at a time. This was enough to keep it from running. When finished, I left it outside in direct sun, flipping it over to expose both sides.
This bowl is 8 inches diameter, finished with walnut oil.
Don’t forget the Ornament Challenge is just a short time away. Details at www.OrnamentChallenge.com
Enjoy.
Woodturning Scoop Series – Double Scoop
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I am exploring turning various scoops of styles or types. While a double bowl scoop is not that different than a single bowl scoop, it is fun and there are some complications with the handle. This scoop is a fun conversation turning.
The scoop is about 8 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, finished with shellac.
Other scoops:
- Woodturning Easiest Scoop Yet In This Series
- Woodturning Multi-Axis Single Piece Wood Scoop
- Another Scoop Of Wood Please – With Bonus Chuck
- Woodturning Third Scoop Style Two Piece Eccentric Ladle
Links:
In this year’s Christmas Ornament Challenge, our sponsors will be providing discounts and coupons for everyone who enters their ornament. This is in addition to a larger number of grand prizes. I’m still working to line up additional vendor sponsors.
Prepare now for the November submission time. Check www.OrnamentChallenge.com for more details and to submit your ornament (in November)
Enjoy.
Woodturning Vessel With Lid – Wood From Puerto Rico
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The Puerto Rican woodturning club sent me the wood for this project after I gave them a zoom (IRD) demonstration earlier this year. They had won the demonstration due to their club members’ participation in last year’s Christmas Ornament Challenge.
This wood is Teca (probably Teak in English) starting at 6x6x5. The lid was cut from the top of the vessel with a 45 degree cut to the center. Then the lid was inset to the base container. The vessel is 5.5 inches diameter and 4 inches tall, finished with walnut oil.
I had planned to finish the bottom using an expansion grip with metal jaws. They did not fit. Instead, I used my DIY wood soft jaws in yet another context.
Links:
Three Options For DIY Soft Jaws
Enjoy.