learn how to use my wood lathe

I am going to close out this goal but will always keep learning and posting pieces in my “create more art” goal.

The challenge for October was to make an item and then color it. I was using my leather dies on this. The yellow was very light but looked good. Then I decided to add some “light blue” and the piece went DARK blue – navy almost. I had to sand the center back and kept working with solvents to try fading the center. In the end I and ok with this.

BTW this is an Ikebana vase and about 8” diameter and 3” tall.

I just added a new lathe to the shop. It took all weekend getting it set-up and ready to use (have not used it yet:( ). This is a big one. I had to put it one wheels as my shop is WAY too small for all my toys. It also raises the lathe so I should not have to bend at all. My other lathe always hurt my back bending over slightly.

This was the challenge for this month (woodturning club monthly challenge). I found a beautiful piece of maple burl (wish I had taken a “before” pix) and decided to try this box. With the finial it stands a little taller than a writing pen. I was turning this for over 4 hours tonight. I am not happy with the finial and will remake another before the next club meeting. I am thinking of contrasting the wood with an acrylic finial (not too many others in the club work with acrylics).

This was made from a piece of scrap from the pepper mill. It was a gift for my boss (along with a bottle of wine).

I like making these. They are quick and inexpensive. Where could I leave some of these for others to discover?

sshhhhhh!!!! this is for my parents for Christmas, so no one tell them ok? ;)

The block on the left was supposed to be the salt shaker but I decided not to include that. The block of wood is about 7.5” tall and 3” square. That is what the pepper mill looked like when it started. The pictures do not do the tiger stripe of the maple justice. This was my first pepper mill. Not terribly difficult but it did take considerable planning (and a few new drill bits!).

these were the 2nd and 3rd acrylic pens. the green is much nicer than the picture.

the small one is of unknown wood (brazilian cherry is the best guess). The larger one came from a large block of mahogany. I have not perfected the sanding yet. I kept getting tearout on opposite side of the bowl. I think that my chuck (it is intended for VERY small turnings like pocket watches) may be giving me a bit of wobble.

I plan to use the small one for paperclips and use the larger one for a center piece on the table.

Well, this weekend I turned my first 2 bowls (can it really be called a bowl if it fits in the palm of your hand?) and 2 more acrylic pens (for coworkers).

technically this is my SECOND since the first one blew apart on the lathe. But this is the first COMPLETED one (and my first pencil). I really like this style and it does require a bit more work to get the tendon for the center piece and the ends do get VERY thin but I think it will be worthwhile for Christmas gifts.