Sometimes it is the right time of year for certain turning projects. September and October seem to fit for Christmas Ornaments. Its that time of year. Early fall, the children are back in school, and you’re still working at harvesting the garden. It might be a bit early to think about your personal Christmas, but …
Teaching woodturning to children – 3 preliminary questions
One of my greatest joys as a woodturner is to watch children who are fascinated with wood turning. Goblets, or other projects, that have a captive ring always create conversation about woodturning. Children are fascinated with wood and can be allowed to touch most turnings without damaging the piece. Spinning tops and other turned toys …
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Finding Birch for Woodturning Projects For the Local Market
Birch is an excellent wood for turning because it’s close grained and finishes well. I like to use local wood whenever possible in my woodturning and since our ranch is 140 acres of forest, it seems natural to harvest our own wood for turning. Mostly I look for wind-downed trees for turning. While I’ve seen …
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5 Lessons I Learned from Mark Twain about Woodturning
I’m reading my Dad’s copy of “The Family Mark Twain” published in 1935, 25 years after the passing of Mark Twain. “Life on the Mississippi” is the story of Mark Twain being a riverboat pilot on the river. “Mark Twain” comes from the measurement of depth on the river. It means two fathoms or twelve …
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5 Wood Turning Projects for the Garden
Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies usually ranking either 1st or 2nd in surveys. This makes gardeners a perfect group for you to turn for. What can you turn for your gardening friends? Here are five projects that will get you started. I’m sure you will come up with more ideas for woodturning …
5 Tips to Prepare Your Shop for Action
As I write this we are on the cusp of 2017. A New Year and a new season for turning. To help you get things together for the New Year, and anytime you need inspiration, here are 5 steps or tips you can take to prepare your shop for action. Preparation Get yourself lots of …
A Woodturner: Reflections on the year
This has been a great year for me as a woodturner. I have enjoyed getting to know you better. With 50 projects, business ideas, and turning tips that were new this year, which ones have you enjoyed? From setting goals in January to preparing for craft fairs in the fall it has been a busy …
Gifts for Woodturners – 24 Inspiring Ideas
Do you have a woodturner in your life? Someone who loves to make beautiful objects from wood that spins on his lathe? They’ve got tools and equipment and you are not really sure what all of them are good for. But you’d like to pick out a gift that would complement their passion. The last …
Credit Cards – Are They Right for You?
Credit cards are a fact of life. It used to be that only big chain stores offered credit. Now it is available to businesses of all sizes. Have you thought of offering credit card sales? It actually is quite easy and straight forward. Let’s take a look at credit cards and the small business. Credit …
A Wood Turning Project: Cremation Urn
A cremation urn is a special wood turning project. It has a unique purpose and will be treasured by those who have to use it. It gives you the opportunity to create a turned object that reflects your skills as a turner and your values as a person. I will include several considerations for the …
Woodturning Workshops I – A great way to learn
Things I learned by attending woodturning workshops. I spent three days at Lee Valley Tools in Kelowna in October of 2016, taking woodturning workshops. I have been turning for around 20 years. The school of hard knocks was my first teacher. Then I went and read books and watched some online videos. A DVD on …
Olive Wood for Your Turning Projects
Olive Wood is a fruit wood with lovely grain patterns. It is a hard wood which requires sharp tools and it will take a great finish as well. There is a fruity odor as you are turning it. Normally you turn smaller projects with olive wood rather than large bowls. It is fun to try …
