A very common question is where do I find wood for turning. The next challenge is, once you have collected some wood, boards, or branches, how do you get the rough wood onto your lathe? The key to successful woodturning is preparing the wood to turn, then securing that wood on the lathe so that …
A Woodturning Project: a Spile – How to Tap into Sap
When winter is almost over, and the sap begins to run, it is the time to tap the trees and make syrup. I always thought that you needed a lot of equipment and stuff. True the boiling down of the syrup needs fire, a big pot, and a shed to keep out the wind. But …
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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 …
Wooden Grommet – Turning for the home office
Here’s a way to add a touch of class to your home office. Turn a wooden grommet for those computer cords that are always getting in the way. Some of my computer desks used to look like I was growing tentacles. There are so many cords going everywhere. Drilling a hole in the desk gives …
Roughing Gouge – Turning Technique
The roughing gouge is used to turn your rough wood down to round. The profile and shape on the gouge are suited to taking wood off of a spindle. This is usually the first tool you use on a project. It is long and heavy so that you can handle the torque generated by taking …
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 …
A Woodturning Project: Mini Decorations
I’ve noticed a trend in gift-giving. The gift tag on the present has become personalized and a gift all in itself. A potter makes little clay name tags that serve as gift tags. Knitters and other fiber artists make sweaters, bookmarks, and Christmas decorations to be gift tags as well. Sometimes a candy cane or …
Woodturning Workshop II – Tips and Tricks
This is my second woodturning workshop. My first woodturning workshop is described here: Woodturning Workshops I – A great way to learn. 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 …
