Lathe Bowl
Posted in Arts and Crafts on 01/26/2010 02:46 pm by adminLathe Bowl
Wood turners like to work with green wood. No, it is not colored green, it is wood that is freshly cut so uncured or “green.” In fact, for some turners the ultimate in wood turning fun is cut a tree down and immediately mount a piece on the lathe. It is like turning in a rain storm. Some wood turning shops will have a streak of stain from the sap running up the wall, across the ceiling, down the wall and across the floor to the lathe.
Why is this so enjoyable to so many turners? For one thing it opens the door to a great many woods that are simply not available at the local lumber merchants, especially not in the sizes needed by most turners. However, most cities and large towns have arborists or tree specialists who cut down trees for home owners when the tree is unhealthy or has roots that are getting into foundations and so on. These trees are often ornamentals and species that are not usually available. For the arborist, the tree leavings are a landfill cost. For the wood turner they are turning stock. Many times the arborist will drop the logs off at the turners, while other times the turner will pick them up. Both parties win and the landfill has more space.
Still, a wood turner could simply let the logs dry before working with them. This however takes a lot of time and often leads to cracks that make the logs unworkable. Instead they can be rough turned to about ten percent thickness of the beginning log and then let dry after sealing the ends so as to prevent cracking. For instance a ten inch bowl would be roughed to one inch thick, treated and left to dry. Instead of taking four or five years to dry, it will be ready for final turning in about three months and will likely have no cracks at all. Many green wood turners will have fifty or more bowls waiting to be finish turned.
You see, the real reason for turning green wood is simply that it is fun. Shavings come off much more cleanly than in dry wood and they tend to be longer and wider. Many times one can aim them straight into the garbage can. Other times they pile up into a satisfying mound on the workshop floor.
The moisture in the wood serves to keep tool edges cool and thus sharper longer so turning is not interrupted as often. As wood dries out the moisture leaves the cells of the tree and those cells collapse a little. Hence green wood fibers are a little more tight and it is easier to get a smooth and shimmering surface in the wet wood as opposed to the dry.
There can be an element of mystery in green wood turning. If a piece is turned to finished dimension and left alone it will warp and twist. While some of this can be previously determined by knowledge of the way wood moves, there is still surprise in the results as every tree has individual stresses that influence the movement as it dries.
Then there is of course the beauty of the finished object, central to all wood turning endeavors. If it is turned green there is no waiting period for drying and the finished product may be enjoyed right away.
Darrell Feltmate is a juried wood turner whose web site, http://aroundthewoods.com , contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner as well as a collection of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You too can learn to turn wood, here is the place to start. Wondering what it looks like? Follow the page links for a free video. http://aroundthewoods.com You can easily ask your questions about wood turning at his blog at http://roundopinions.blogspot.com as well as comment on any thing related to the web site, this article or other aspects of wood turning, art and craft.
Are there any women out there that know how to use a wood lathe?
I’m going to take a wood turning class to learn how to make wooden bowls, pens and various things. I don’t have any friends that are into that kind of stuff and was wondering if it’s easy to learn?
Thanks for sharing your experiences about wood lathes with me. I’m excited to get in there and do it now!
My Dad has a lathe and I quite enjoy playing with it. It’s not difficult to learn, take the tool, place it on the wood and watch the wood shavings fly everywhere. I’ve never been able to make two turnings the same, so that table in the sun-porch has four different legs, and that set of salad bowls is a little funky, but I had fun making them. Wood turning isn’t difficult and it can be fun. It’s easier to use than a router and far less scary than a band saw. My kids picked up on it right away and they had no trouble making bowls and spindles and other projects.
JET Tools – Lathe Projects – Turn A Bowl – Part 2 of 3
|
|
CHERRY WOOD LATHE TURNING OLD DRY ACTUAL BOWL BLOCKS LOT OF 2 $18.85 |
|
|
Sapele 10″ x 2″ Turning Bowl Plate Platter Blank Resaw Wood Lathe Pen Knife #125 $8.85 |
|
|
10 X 3 FIGURED SILVER MAPLE WOOD TURNING BOWL BLANK LATHE LUMBER BLOCK $7.99 |
|
|
Aromatic Red Cedar Wood Turning Lathe Bowl Blank-12″ x 12″ x 4″ $32.95 |
|
|
2 Persimmon Turning Bowl Blank Wood Block Lathe-6″ x 6 1/4″ x 3″ $13.95 |
|
|
2 Aromatic Red Cedar Wood Turning Lathe Bowl Blank 6″ x 6″ x 3″ $12.95 |
|
|
3 Aromatic Red Cedar Wood Turning Lathe Bowl Blank-6″ x 6″ x 2 1/4″ $14.95 |
|
|
2 Aromatic Red Cedar Wood Turning Lathe Bowl Blank 7 7/8″ x 8 1/8″ x 2 1/4″ $16.95 |
|
|
Pecan Wood Turning Blank Lathe Bowl Block-10″ x 10″ x 4 1/4″ $30.95 |
|
|
2 Claro Walnut Turning Wood Bowl Blank Lathe-6″ x 6″ x 2 3/4″ $17.95 |
|
|
Cedar of Lebanon Wood Turning Blank Lathe Bowl-11 3/4″ x 11 3/4″ x 3″ $35.95 |
|
|
Cedar of Lebanon Wood Turning Blank Lathe Bowl-9 3/4″ x 10″ x 2 3/4″ $23.95 |
|
|
Ambrosia Maple Wood Turning Bowl Blank Lathe Block-8″ x 8″ x 3″ $11.95 |
|
|
2 Rare Chinaberry Wood Turning Blank Lathe Bowl Block 6″ x 6″ x 3″ $18.95 |
|
|
Black Walnut Turning Wood Bowl Blank Lathe-8 7/8″ x 9 3/8″” x 4″ $24.95 |
|
|
A Basic Bowl on the Lathe By Woodshop Videos $8.50 20 minutes. A Taunton Product # 014002… |
|
|
PSI Woodworking CSC3000C Barracuda Wood Lathe Key Chuck System $168.00 Get a powerful grip on your work with the PSI Woodworking CSC3000C Barracuda Wood Lathe Key Chuck System. The “T” handle chuck key enables you to use one hand to tighten the jaws. Suitable for Mini, Midi & Full sized lathes Comes in a 9-pc molded carrying case. Body: 4 lbs. 3.5″ dia…. |
|
|
PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Set, 8-Piece $73.48 … |
|
|
PSI Woodworking CJAWFJ2 Jumbo Flat Jaws $30.40 These Jumbo Flat Jaws are compatible for all PSI ‘C’ Style Chucks. The scroll lathe chuck is designed for finishing bowl bottoms. The Jaws open to accommodate an 8-inch bowl. It is easy to adjust sizes with the 4-position peg system. The Jaws are compatible with all the PSI Woodworking ‘C’ style chucks. Weighs 4 pounds shippedScroll lathe chuck designed for finishing bowl bottomsJaws open to accom… |
|
|
I Have a Lathe. Now What? DVD & Project Sampler DVD Combo Pack $24.99 As a full time professional demonstrator on one of the largest woodworking circuits in America and Canada, I hear this question over 100 times in an average weekend! I have prepared an easy to understand How-To DVD 1 hour and 12 minutes long, just for you. Everything you need to know to get started off right is covered including actual practice exercises. . . . Chapter Titles include: Tool ID … |
|
|
Learn to Turn: A Beginner’s Guide to Woodturning from Start to Finish $10.45 Written for true beginners, this approachable and enjoyable instructional guide teaches the art of turning. Readers receive advice on every step of the turning process, including selecting the right lathe, basic safety and woodshop setup, an overview of the proper tools and how to use them, and the basics on sharpening, sanding, and finishing. Step-by-step instructions for eight projects such as a… |
|
|
Turning Boxes with Friction-Fitted Lids (Schiffer Book for Woodturners) $9.41 An informative book designed for beginning and intermediate turners. Bill Bowers leads this step-by-step workshop for constructing the classic cylinder box, cylinder box variants with embellishments, the classic capsule box, and capsule box variants with chatter tool work. With over 300 color photos, each step is clearly described and illustrated, from mounting the blank on the lathe to finishing…. |
|
|
Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw: 28 Useful & Surprisingly Easy-To-Make Projects (Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Book) $12.25 While wood bowls are commonly made on a lathe, this guided resource offers 28 projects for crafting beautiful bowls with the more accessible scroll saw. Each project is organized in a progressive learning format; beginning crafters can start with the most basic starter bowl and gradually work their way toward more elaborate bowls—such as laminated swag bowls; a flared lobed bowl made with var… |