Texturing and a Herb Planter

First lesson of a new term at wood turning last night. I had mentioned to Chris (my tutor) that I wanted to do a textured finish on a little bowl I had made, so he brought in the tools to allow me to do this. After a quick demo I decided I was best to try it out on a scrap piece of wood first(some horrible Sapele).

The texturing was quite light and you couldn't really see it, that was until we got the blow torch out! Burning the area I had run the tool over really changed it, with a quick tidy up around the chard zone it really stood out. I'll have to try this on a proper project sometime soon I've seen some peoples work done like this and I always think its stunning.

Today I decided that as the rest of the country were having the day off I would as to (well I spent it working in the workshop!). One project I've been putting off is a herb planter I promised to make my sisters boyfriend who made some excellent logos for me last year. I'd put it off because I wasn't sure how to joint it for the hexagonal planter he wanted, but last weekend I brought the solution at a car boot sale - a biscuit jointer (another tool to the collection)!

I used an Iroko decking board, cutting all the side peices to 30 degrees before plunging the biscuit jointer in and then clamping it up with a couple of ratchet straps. The base was made from marine ply with holes drilled for drainage.

Planted up with Oregano, Sage and Mint it looks quite nice (I hope he likes it as I'd like a logo for my carpentry business!).

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.

Purple Heart

My little sister turned 21 the other week and I wanted to make her something as well as buying her a present.
I decided that something turned on the lathe might be best as she hasn't got huge amounts of space at uni and this way I could make something small that might be useful.
In the end I decided to make an earring tree, but I wanted to make it a little bit different so I made a trip to the timber merchants and brought some purple heart. A timber that turns to a beautiful dark purple when exposed to light and air.
What I didn't realise is how difficult this stuff is to turn! I must have sharpened my chisels twenty times during the process, and it took ages to sand up.

I made the piece in four separate parts and sanded each piece individually, I also had to take it in to the guild house (where I have wood turning lessons) and use their indexer to accurately drill the holes for the earrings to slot into.
Unfortunately when I was applying the oil finish I must have put one coat on too thick and I had to cut it back with meths and start the finish all over again (the oil sat on top and wouldn't shine up).
In the end I was please with the finished piece but I wont be using purple heart again for some time! My sister seemed pleased with it as well (only trouble was that it wasn't as big as the bench my brother made for her - I think we're too competitive!)

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.