Thread: Options for Mounting the Recess to Finish the Bottom

Being new to wood-turning, I am exploring all my options, including what works best for finishing both ends. And as The Brushmakers Alcove sees very little activity these days, maybe those of us getting into turning can inspire others to add some helpful content here-just a thought.

So having finished that redheart handle I posted about in the Workshop thread here https://sharprazorpalace.com/worksho...questions.html, I didn't really have a good way to flip the ends around to finish off the still-rough bottom. I took the brush with a 25mm recess to Woodcraft to figure out my best options for jaws to go on my Nova G3 chuck with the 50mm jaws standard in the box:

The 25mm Jaws I posted in the other thread were just too big (at least for this brush), so I got the 20mm jaws instead:

Fully closed, they measured right at 20mm (if I could keep my hand still!).

Expanded all the way, they were at almost 40mm on the outside (I forgot to measure the inside). I feel certain that, unless I'm wrong, this range will cover just about any brush knot size one needs.

So I mounted up the chuck with the new jaws good and tight, and finished the bottom easy-peasy to blend with the rest of the brush. From the websites and videos I'm studying on the subject, there are a number of ways to do this. It would be great if experienced turners posted different methods, or offered critiques on mine.

You have the same chuck I do. I mainly do some spindle turning, handles, etc. but mostly turn bowls, vases and the like.

Most turners will turn the bottom first, create a tenon to mount in the chuck jaws so they can bore out the inside. Then they have to turn the piece back around, figure a way to mount it to remove the tenon. Instead I form the bottom, create a recess to mount in the chuck to bore the inside and I'm done...the recess is my foot for the bowl to set on. Same operation can be used to do brush handles.

I cut the hole for the knot first and finish the lip, then turn her around and use the chuck for piece holding. Takes a second or two to get it running true, then I turn and finish the rest of the form.