Thread: Makin' Shavings / Turner's Projects.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Super thin wood shade for your lamp. Come-on Aaron. You can do it!
BTW, if you remember, I blew up my first bowl and had to cut it down. It still came to be in the end. Just shorter.

Yep, I believe experienced turners call that a "re-design."

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Yep, I believe experienced turners call that a "re-design."

Yup, the local wood carvers too!

Re-design. OK, I will remember that one.

Originally Posted by Gasman

block of walnut. Well, 2 2X8X8 pieces glued together. Now I'm just waiting for some weather above freezing. Maybe tomorrow.

Attachment 327675

I'm thinking a more dished out bowl shape. Guess we will see.

When turning a mixed piece like this how much of a difference does the grain direction of the different pieces make?

I'm guessing it can cause a little tear-out of areas but with a sharp tool I hope to be able to keep it to a minimum. Its all a learning process right now.

6" round and 3" high. Thickness is very even from top to bottom at 5/16". I made a few mistakes but in the end, the wife claimed it and already has stuff in it.


I need to buy a Bowl Gouge as I did this one very carefully with a Spindle Gouge. Also one of those curved Tool rests to reach inside of bowls would be a big bonus. Damn Christmas, wife, and kids burned thru all my spending green so these things will have to wait.
I did feel much more comfortable turning this bowl compared to the first one I did. And I have to remember that these tools are not razors, but they will slice a finger open. Dammit!

As you can see I didn't do as much sanding as I should have. But I plan on making a few disc sandpaper holders for my drill to help in this in the future.

Looks good, Jerry-I still don't have the sanding pads on the drill situation set up, so on that 1st one I did I just used heavy-duty 80 grit strips from a roll for that crucial 1st sand, dipping the strips in mineral spirits to cut down on the dust. I'm hoping that as I get better with my final smoothing cuts I won't need as much sanding.

Oh, and as long as you're getting a bowl gouge, are you getting one from Doug Thompson? I'm strongly considering one of his, weighted handle and all, and would be interested in your take if you get one before me. I need to call him like you suggested.

If I do get one from him I will make a handle for it like I did the last 3 I got. I just can't pay that much for a damn handle. I understand it's weighted and all but...

Originally Posted by Gasman

If I do get one from him I will make a handle for it like I did the last 3 I got. I just can't pay that much for a damn handle. I understand it's weighted and all but...

I hear ya-it's pricey. I might wait to see how deep I go down the rabbit hole of bowl turning before committing, but my theory is that weighted handle will be good for stability (and thus, fewer of the dreaded lines and run backs that need so much sanding). One thing that is helping me in that area is really anchoring the tool to my body and using body movements more than hand movements as I've seen demonstrated in various YouTube videos. The more I do this the smoother and more predictable my cuts are getting, especially with my nemesis the detail or spindle gouge. To me those are trickier to use than a skew.

Lately I'm turning pizza cutters for Christmas gifts. I might post some pics tomorrow.