Green Woodwork Stool

Every night I chuck my work clothes on a stool next to the chest-of-drawers, giving it little thought.

Humble little stool with some great memories

But I remember I had a great weekend making that stool.

For part of my 21st birthday present my mum and dad paid for me to go on a green woodworking course (in fact it's only a couple of miles from where I live now!), many of my friends were only interested in drinking at this age, but my obsession lied somewhere else completely!

Well used pole lathe

 I couldn't get enough of woodwork at the time (and still can't), I'd do it all day, read about it in my breaks and think about it on the drive home, so it was a great present to give me but mum was worried as it was "an introduction to grren woodwork".

But the course itself was brilliant as it was completely different to what I was doing in the week and taught me so much about the material I use. I got to use a pole lathe for the first time and a shave horse, as well as tools I'd never even picked up before.

Shave horse

 The stool I made was a fairly simple design, Ash legs split from a log then turned green on the pole lathe, which were then kiln dried overnight to fit into an air dried elm top that I cut using a large frame saw with an old bit of band saw blade in. I remember them saying they couldn't believe how fast I cut out the 2" thick elm, but I was used to spending most days sawing wood!

A happy group at the end of the weekend, some 8 years ago!

That weekend taught me a lot about a different aspect of woodwork from how I earn my living.

It's things like this that make me realise I'll never get bored of woodwork!

First Try At A Hollow Form

At wood turning on Thursday night Chris brought in some different tools for me to try, all to do with hollowing as I've not tried this yet.

I tried them out on some green Alder (wet wood is always good fun to turn) and after a few test pieces to get the feel of the tools I made this little wooden vase/pot. It only took about 30 minutes to make but I'm sure it will crack as it dries, although the walls are all about the same thickness. I might leave it in oil and then sand it up in a few weeks if it survives!

I always enjoy trying out new tools but its made so much better with instruction! I think I'll probably sign on for my 7th term of wood turning classes but I could do with a good (difficult) project to keep me asking questions and learning, any ideas?

More green wood turning

My green wood turning went quite well the other night but the only way to get better is to practice.
This Thursday night I turned another goblet (and without being too boastful I got top of the class) and on Saturday I turned another in my quite cold shed (even with the heating on full).

I'm managing to get them quite thin and even but I'm not completely happy with the finish. it's a shame I can't sand them but its good practice to get a good finish straight from the tool. I think I need to experiment more to get a better shape

[A fresh Beech log to turn with, nice and wet]

[The log mounted on my chuck I turned at quite a fast speed]

[The first goblet]

[The second goblet]

I have applied linseed oil to both as a finish instead of drying them in the microwave. I've been told that the oil drives out the moisture and should prevent them cracking as they dry as well as giving them a nice colour.

Green Woodturning

Thursday nights are turning nights.

I'm in my third term of wood turning lessons with an excellent tutor Chris Eagles. I started properly at the beginning of this year and now, with the help of these lessons, I can turn to a reasonable standard and quite quickly. Nothing too complicated yet though but its good for present making and hopefully I will pick up some restoration work from it.

The Thursday just gone we were given a lump of "green" timber (unseasoned and fell that week due to the heavy winds we've been having) to turn with. We were then shown how to turn a goblet and told to make our own. I tired to keep the natural bark edge on mine but unfortunately a snatch of the chisel took most of it off!

For the piece to dry without splitting it has to be turned to the same thickness so it dries at the same speed. To gauge how thick it is we used a light aimed in the middle of the piece, when the light shines through evenly then it is all the same thickness. (I'll get some more pictures next time I make one).

Then all we had to do was put it in the microwave to dry it out, but more about that another time.