Journal

Ornamental Turning

Tonight was a new experience for many of us. For the first part of the evening Colin treated us to a Powerpoint presentation in which he outlined the surprisingly long history of Ornamental Turning interspersed with descriptions of the various machines used to achieve his results.

In the second half he mounted a previously turned mopane box into his chuck and proceeded to show us how to fashion a basket weave pattern. As a bonus he used different rosettes to create different patterns on the inside and outside of the box lid.

Thanks to Colin for a very informative demo and for making the long trip from Lincolnshire.

Internal Demo by Alan Pattison

For his second demo to the club Alan choose jewellery making as his subject. He began with a chunky bangle made out of beech with purpleheart insets. After rounding the blank with his bowl gouge he made an indent in the centre of the blank leaving a tenon he could use when reversing the piece. Lastly he rounded off the outside edge of the bangle.

The next step was to reverse the work, finish the outside curve before carefully parting off the centre section. The resultant ridge was then sanded away before finishing with sanding sealer and finish of your choice.

In the second part of his demo Alan attempted two different types of earring. The first, using Zebrano, was a disc – type earring. After rounding the piece of Zebrano to the required size and drilling a 1mm hole for the fitting he fashioned the front and top beads with a bowl gouge before parting off with a thin parting tool.

The disc was then placed in the do – nut chuck to complete the other side.

With the remaining wood Alan intended to turn a drop earring but unfortunately the spigot broke away before he was able to complete it. We’ve all been there! Nevertheless a very enjoyable evening. Well done Alan!

After what seems like an age we finally got together as a club for a Show and Tell – one of the best evenings in the calendar where members get the chance to show their recent (and not so recent) turnings. Contributions from Alan Quinlan and Steve Martin commenced proceedings before Roy again explained his segmented work.

Russell then introduced Brian who had many amusing tales to tell about his turnings before Alan Jones took the floor. He showed us how to make a jeweller’s clamp and a couple of whistles. Russell himself finished this section of the evening with an eclectic mix of items.

After the break Geoff, as usual, entertained everyone by describing his items and ended by producing a surprise package for Russell to open – carefully!

Graham, Phil Morris and Roger with his carved walking stick and other items moved the evening on at a pace.

Ivor then warned us about the perils of turning wet wood before Steve, Ian and a newly – shorn Dexter showed their items. A hugely enjoyable evening as always!

Internal Demo of Off Centre Turning by Alan Edwards

Following on from Ian Ethell’s demo about eccentric turning Alan choose a different subject within the same discipline – pendants turned off centre. Firstly he showed a large audience how to make the jig to hold the blank to be turned. After rounding his blank to the required size and thickness he mounted this off centre to a backboard with hot melt glue before making a hole to the correct size for the blanks he’d prepared.

He then rounded the edges of the blank between centres before mounting it into the jig. Once mounted in the chuck Alan turned a bevel and hole in his yew blank before turning the jig round and repeating the turning to the reverse side.

For his next pendant Alan again rounded the corners of a a paduak blank in the same way before turning a series of centred rings with his thin parting tool. To reverse turn the blank he mounted it onto a block of wood with hot melt glue and off centred it repeating the same rings.

The reverse turning then broke through to the original producing a lacy ‘cobweb’ effect. Thanks to Alan for a thoroughly absorbing evening.

As a new departure for our club we decided, for our internal demo to have not one but four different projects on view so that members could move around the room during the evening. Alan Edwards showed his breadth of skill and knowledge in making bowls and boxes which, I know, many members are interested in.

Moving around the room groups of interested spectators watched Alan P making a variety of needle cases.

The other two demonstrations were given by Russell and Steve – both demonstrating for the first time! Russell showed a number of fruits that he had made and shared how to turn apples with his audience. And Steve demonstrated spindle work in making whistles – standard and sliding!

From the feedback everyone enjoyed the new format.