Category Archives: Techniques

Here I describe the ways I work at the lathe. I make no pretense that my way is the only way – or that my ways are best. They are what they are.

If you attempt these techniques, you do so at your own risk. So remember: Safety First! There is no job so urgent that you cannot take the time required to do it safely. Always wear proper safety gear and lung protection. (Information about woodturning safety can be found on the American Association of Woodturners website at http://www.woodturner.org/.

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Wooden Bowl Care

You love that beautiful wooden bowl you see online. You think to yourself, “Wow, it’s expensive… but it’s perfect for my niece’s wedding…. it’s so pretty…but that beautiful finish would disappear the first time she used it….” All of that … Continue reading

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Pedestal Candy Dish

Trying something a little different this afternoon, I decided to make a wooden version of a crystal candy dish my mother used to have. Made from two pieces of white oak crotch with a lignum vitae base – finished in … Continue reading

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The Misunderstood Skew, Part 2

The previous post on the “Misunderstood Skew” drew some positive Facebook feedback, so I thought it might be good to follow-up with a little bit of technique.  This post won’t go into a lot of detail, but will hopefully whet … Continue reading

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The Misunderstood Skew

The skew chisel is probably the single most versatile spindle turning tool at the woodturner’s disposal. In fact, nowadays, I find myself relying on skew chisels for the vast majority of my spindle turning work from roughing cuts – reducing … Continue reading

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Photo Catchup

I’m sure this blog is feeling a bit neglected of late.  So I wanted to post a few photos to illustrate the transformation from log/bowl blank through rough-turned bowl to finished product we talked about in earlier posts. First, some … Continue reading

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From Tree to Table, Part 4: Turning a “Green Wood” Bowl

In the preceding parts of this series, we talked about bowl turning techniques that result in the perfectly round  wooden bowls most favored by woodturners today and, perhaps more importantly, by those who purchase their wares(!).  We talked about identifying … Continue reading

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Sometimes you Win, Sometimes….

Planned to come home with a truckload of bowl blanks today.  At least that was the plan.  As it turned-out, most of the wood was either too small  to make salable bowls (i.e., less than 12 – 14″ diameter) or … Continue reading

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The Culture of “Cheap”

Every so often I run across a piece so timely and  brilliantly written that I’m just blown away.  Megan of CraftMBA.com writes a blog that carries not one, but several such pieces.  I would urge you to check out her … Continue reading

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From Tree to Table Part 3, Finish turning

Having spent the last week building and publishing my new website, which I hope you’ve had a chance to look at, I’m running a bit late on this series.  With that said: let’s fast-forward 6 – 12 months from where … Continue reading

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