Woodturning Segmented Vase From Face Out OSB
In case of gremlins, this video is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.
When reviewing the agenda for the upcoming Segmented Woodturners Symposium, I noted a presentation using OSB to turn a bowl. I was very skeptical since OSB is a very difficult wood to turn.
CORRECTION: The demonstration is at SWAT. I registered for both SWAT and Segmented at the same time and crisscrossed the presentations.
However, I decided to try it my way. I would segmented the OSB but turn it 90 degrees so that the original face is face out in the vase. I have used this technique with other veneer wood with very nice results.
The OSB was as difficult to turn as I expected. The flakes tend to chip off with the slightest provocation. Yet, I persisted.
This vase consists of four rings of OSB with twelve segments each. Five more thin rings of cherry at twelve segments serve to stabilize the OSB and highlight the layers. This totals 108 segments. The vase is finished with rattle-can lacquer. The vase is 4.5″ diameter and 5.5″ tall.
Another small disk of OSB is set into the base.
Enjoy.
Safety Second – My Close Encounter With Tablesaw
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Despite using a SawStop table saw, I recently accidentially let my thumb contact the saw blade. I had already turned the saw off but it was still coasting and had not stopped. The SawStop cartridge fired and stopped the blade with only a slight nick on my thumb instead of cutting half my thumb off.
I was using my segmented woodturning wedgie sled which is difficult to use with any guard.
No. I am not willing to test this with my thumb.
I decided to double down for my protection by making a flexible, adjustable guard. My guard uses MagJig60, 3D printed parts, some hardware, and a clear acrylic sheet.
Model files for the 3D printable parts will be available at www.printables.com. https://www.printables.com/model/244749-magnetic-table-saw-guard
Enjoy.
Woodturning Hollow Form Vase From Wet Russian Olive
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I thank my daughter for the wood for this video. She cut down a Russian olive tree from her yard. It was smelly and poorly located. It was not bowl size-I decided to try for a hollow form from the entire log section. That is. I did not rip it in half as is typical. This, however, risks cracks radiating from the pith as it dries.
To offset this significant risk, I decided to drill out the entire pith to at least 1.5 inches. Usually some wood is left in the bottom of the hollow form. This area in this blank contains the pith but now would be a hole.
After shaping, hollowing, and weighing, I wrapped the wood with plastic wrap and put it away to dry.
Now to remount and finish turning the wood. Well, it was mostly normal. The exception is the need to plug the hole in the bottom. Fortunately, I had saved some Russian olive that was also now dry.
This vase is 4 inches diameter, 6 inches tall, and finished with walnut oil and buffed to a nice sheen. In life the tree was stinky. In rough turning, the wood was stinky. As a dry vase, it is pretty, not stinky.
Enjoy.
Woodturning From Tree To Finished Bowl
This video is best viewed right here on this page. However, in case of difficulty, it is also available on YouTube and FaceBook.
When I turn solid wood for a bowl, it most often is from urban forestry, wood that comes from private yards and orchards. The best wood is fresh, green or wet, wood.
When I want a perfectly round bowl, I turn it twice with a long period of time in between to dry. To minimize or prevent cracks, I usually seal the bowl with PVA based sealer. This moderates the rate of moisture loss. The differential in rates of moisture loss in the wood is a major cause of cracks. However, this does not prevent warping. The wood will move where and when it wants to as it dries.
I either plan to accept warping or allow enough wall thickness to enable a second turning.
This bowl is 8 inches diameter and 2.5 inches high, finished with walnut oil. This is zelcova, not a usual wood.
Enjoy.
Woodturning Multi-Axis Single Piece Wood Scoop
This post is best viewed here on this page. In case of difficulty, it is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.
After a friend called me with a question about turning a scoop, that prompted me to review my past videos where I turned scoops. It has been a while. So it is time to turn some again to ensure my skills are still current.
This is from pear, 2 inches diameter and 4 inches long finished with beeswax(25%) and mineral oil(75%) mix. Handle offset from primary axis.
Steps:
- Cut a tenon;
- Hollow the scoop portion;
- Turn a plug to fit;
- Turn the exterior;
- Using plug, offset the turning axis about 1/4″
- Turn the handle;
- Saw the scoop portion;
- Sand and finish remaining rough edges.
Enjoy!
Woodturning Drunken Segmented Vase
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For this project, I am inspired by a weird segmented vase I turned several years ago. In that case, I sawed completed segmented rings at an angle. Then glued the rings into a vase. A great idea except that gluing sloping rings together was an exercise in frustration as they slid around on each other. Needless to say, I was not anxious to repeat that experience.
However, for this project, I borrow from the remote demonstration course I teach clubs for perfect Celtic knots. No. This is not a Celtic knot but it uses many of the same processes.
I built the vase ring by ring. However, not all at once. As I had enough height, I cut in a walnut ring. Then after adding more maple rings, cut in another walnut ring. Then again.
By building the vase gradually, I was able to turn the inside while each portion was still shallow (to the tool rest).
Also, the base is segmented and reinforced with a fiberglass layer.
The vase has 9 rings of maple and 3 rings of walnut. Each ring has 8 segments. This totals 96 segments, not counting those sliced in two portions with walnut passing between.
The vase is finished with walnut oil. It is a little over 3 inches diameter and 6 inches tall.
For more details on creating segmented rings, please see Simpler, Easier, Self-Correcting Process To Create Segment Rings last week.
Enjoy!
Simpler, Easier, Self-Correcting Process To Create Segment Rings
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In this video, I show my current process to create segmented rings. I used to glue rings all at onece or as half rings using band clamps. However, I have now adopted a gluing technique I learned from a pattern maker in Oregon. In this simple technique, segments have glue spread on one surface. Then, rubbing two segments together spreads the glue, squeezes out the excess glue, and starts to grab or set. The segments are then set aside while other pairs are glued together. Usually, pairs can then be glued together into half rings as soon as the last pair is rubbed together. I usually give the half rings at least 20-30 minutes (depending on temperature) before sanding the mating surface and again using the rub technique to glue the two halves together.
For me, using this technique means:
- no cutting wood crumbs to disrupt a all at once ring glue;
- no need to precisely mill wood before cutting segments;
- no risk from dust in my sled;
- no risk from slight slips in segment length.
- no risk from many more sources.
This process is self correcting.
Other required gear:
My updated segment sled is 12″x16″ and uses 2 universal t-tracks for more versatility in alternate uses.
Saw throat insert with a slant board to enable cut segments to fall away from the saw blade when cut.
Segment Length stop.
Digital angle protractor(!) or various fixed angle templates.
Link to 3D printable angle templates.
https://www.printables.com/model/227714-wedgie-angle-templates-for-segmented-woodturning
Parchment paper or waxed paper is a great gluing surface.
Enjoy!
Cherry Surprise – Woodturning Reject Wood
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In this video, I turn a near reject half log of cherry. The problem was that this wood was urban cherry with large branches all over. In this case, there were two old branches protruding in bad directions. This generally results in bad cracks.
So, I turned it to finished thickness all at once. there would not be a period to dry and then remount.
The wood is a crooked apple branch. Turning the branch is a wild ride since the wood is so off balance. Turning is slow and steady.
Bowl is 8″ diameter and 2″ tall finished with walnut oil. The bowl wall is 1/8″ thick.
A lot of fun.
Crooked Branch – A Wild Ride Woodturning
This video is best viewed here on this page. In case of difficulty, it is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.
In this video, I turn a project following the example of a fellow club member, Paul Russell. Paul will be presenting at the AAW symposium in Chattanoogo.
The wood is a crooked apple branch. Turning the branch is a wild ride since the wood is so off balance. Turning is slow and steady.
The finished vase?? is 16 inches tall, finished with walnut oil. It is kind of a natural edge – on seroids.
It was wild fun.
Enjoy!
More Fun With Goblets – WoodTurn Segmented Goblet
This video is best viewed right here on this page. However, in case of difficulty it is also posted on YouTube and FaceBook.
In this video, I discard the process recently used on other wood goblets for a segmented goblet. Since I can build and turn a segmented goblet in sections, I did not have a long skinny spindle. Therefore, I did not need my steady rest. Instead, I could build a base and a bowl and then connect them with a stem turned separately.
My goblet has 19 rings with 12 segments per ring totaling 228 segments of walnut, cherry, and maple. The rim is made from colored FrogWood(birch) turned on its side before gluing into a ring. Finish is shellac.
It was fun.
Enjoy!