AAW frequently sends me links to articles and videos that may be of interest to members. I am including links on this page for articles from the 2nd Quarter, 2021
06/30/2021
Article: “It’s a Small World”-Multiple Contributors
Article: “The Cutting Edge of OT: Primer on OT cutting Tools”-Jon Magill
Article: ““Rose-Engine Turning: Journey into Ornamental Turning”-Jon Magill
Article: “Build your own Rose-Engine Lathe”-Jon Magill
Article: “Build your own Rose-Engine Lathe”–step by step plans, construction drawings, parts
Video: “Pen Turning Technique”-Scott Barrett
06/24/2021
Article: “Firewood Table Lamp”-Rick Rich
Article: “Shady Doings”-Larry Jensen
Article: “Peter Bloch: Explorer in Woodturning”-Peg Lopata
Video: “Open Segmented LED Lamp”-Paul Lockwood
Video: “How to make an LED Accent Lamp”-Carl Jacobson
06/17/2021
Article: “Out of a Limb: Natural-Edge Bowls”-Emmett Manley
Article: “Natural Edge Bowl: My Favorite Bowl Turning Project”-J. P. Neff
Article: “Natural Edges: Locating Forms in Burl and Root Blanks”-Bill Johnston
Video: “Design Considerations for a Natural Edge Turned Bowl”-Lyle Jamieson
Video: “Maple Burl Bowl Left Partly Natural”-Gord Rock
Tip of the Week: Mount Natural Edge Bowl Blanks–Steve Schwartz
06/10/2021
Article: “Turn a Birdcage Awl”-Mike Peace
Article: “Turning Offset Handles Simplified”-John I. Giem
Article: “A Kit is a Kit is a Kit, Right?”-Jon Magill
Video: “Woodturning Handles: An Alternative Approach”-Scott Seganti
Video: “Ice Cream Scoop”-Shawn Gano
06/03/2021
Article: “Turning Fishing Lures”-Mark Palma
Article: “Turning a Fishing Reel”-Jim Meizelis
Article: “Trumpet Yelper Turkey Call”-Danny Wells
Video: “Turning an Old School Fishing Lure on the Lathe”-The Handmade Fissherman, Paul Adams
Template and Materials List for “Turning an Old School Fishing Lure on the Lathe”-The Handmade Fissherman, Paul Adams.
05/27/2021
Article: “Turned Doorstops”-Michael Hosaluk
Article: “Turned Relief”-Andrew Brown
Article: “Shave, Two Bits”-Anthony Turchetta
Video: “Small Triangle Coin Dish”-Steve Twydell
Video: “Light Bulb Box”-Paul Lockwood
05/21/2021
Article: “Ashes to Ashes”-10 contributors
Article: “Burial Urns: A Worthy Club Project,”-Ken Evans
Article: “Elegant Two-Piece Urn”-Kurt Hertzog
Video: “Cremation Urn”-Mike Peace
05/14/2021
Article: “Biomechanics and Body Movement at the Lathe”-Eric Lofstrom
Article: “Low Back Pain”-Eric Lofstrom
Article: “Carpel Tunnel Syndrome”-Rich Foa & Eric Lofstrom
Video: “Biomechanics and Body Movement at the Lathe”-Eric Lofstrom
Tip of the Week: “Thoughts on Lathe height”
In my experience as a demonstrator/teacher, the question of lathe height comes up frequently. The common answer is that the lathe spindle should be at elbow height, and this is a good start. But I believe most turners would be better served with a slightly higher spindle height, combined with more engagement of the lower torso and legs to “make up the difference.”
The downside to relying only on raising the lathe to create a higher spindle height is the tendency to move only the arms and upper body, while neglecting to incorporate your lower body. Using mainly upper body parts to accomplish tool movement exacerbates many of the common muscle and joint problems woodturners face.
So, from a functional movement perspective, the most effective approach is a bit more complicated than just raising the spindle to a height of X. A more comprehensive solution that accounts for the way a turner moves his/her body, in combination with tool presentation and spindle height, is best.
Eric Lofstrom
05/06/2021
Article: “Family Circle”-George Hatfield
Article: “Finishing with Real Gold”-Barrie Lynn Bryant (see pages 26-31 of the article)
Article: “Turn a Tondo Frame”-Barrie Lynn Bryant (see pages 32-33 of the article)
Video: “Turning a Hand Mirror”-John Lucas
Video: “Turning Inlay for a Compact Mirror”-Shannon Rogers
Video: “Turned Mirrors”-Jennifer Shirley
04/30/2021
Article: “Turn a Yarn Bowl”-Jim Meizelis and Terry Quiram
Article: “Creating Crochet Hooks”-Katherine Kowalski
Article: “Seam Rippers and Thimbles”-Bob Rosand
Video: “Yarn Bowl”-Mike Peace
Video: “Knitting Needles”-Erik Anderson
04/23/2021
Article: “Think Inside the Box”-Pat Peckham
Article: “The Cat Box”-Stephen Hatcher
Article: “Turning a Five-Sided Box”-Ted Rasmussen
Video: “Crossgrain Bowl with Matching Lid”-Alan Stratton
Video: “Making an Original Box”-Pascal Oudet
04/15/2021
Article: “Mixing Spoons”-Bob Rosand
Article: “Top it Off in Style: Olive Oil Dispenser”-Jerry Hubschman
Article: “Turn a Beautiful & Functional Funnel”-Tim Heil
Video: “Rustic Napkin Rings”-Alan Stratton
Video: “Salt and Pepper Mills”-Daniel Vilarino
Tip of the week: A New Twist on Bottle Stoppers–Brian Ziff
I recently started turning bottle stoppers. I began with the accepted method of drilling a 3/8″-diameter hole about 3/4″ deep in my blank, and gluing in a short length of dowel. After the glue dried, I chucked the dowel in my drill chuck mounted in the headstock and began turning. Unfortunately, the dowel soon squished, twisted, and splintered.
Figuring there had to be a better way, I came across a short length of threaded electrical tubing called lamp rod. I threaded the tubing into a 3/8″ hole in another blank, and then chucked this into my drill chuck. The tubing threaded on easily enough to go in straight and true, yet held firmly enough to not slip out—even with the tailstock pulled back.
Going one step further, I filled the tubing with solder, creating a solid threaded mandrel that chucks up easily and holds my blanks firmly. (I’m convinced you could substitute epoxy for the solder.) When the stopper is complete, gluing in the dowel and the cork can be done in one easy step!
04/08/2021
Article: “The Art of Sanding”-Jack Morse
Article: “Sanding Savvy”-Russ Fairfield
Article: “Sandpaper: The Nitty Gritty”-Art Scott
Article: “Sanding Shortcuts from the Pros”-Steve Sinner
Video: “Sanding Basics”-Mike Peace
Video: “Sanding on the Wood Lathe”-Sam Angelo
Tip of the week: Preparing Sandpaper Packets- Janice Levy
f you turn a lot of small items like pens, ornaments, small boxes, or jewelry pieces, and the item is really too small to power sand, yet fumbling through stacks of little pieces of sandpaper is driving you crazy, then try this. Select the sheets of grits that you would normally use—120, 180, 220, 320, 400, 600—and cut the sheets in half length-wise. Then divide those halves into 1 1/2″-wide sections. (The last section will be a bit wider.) Now set up an assembly line with the 600 grit paper laid out face up on a table. Then add the 400 grit paper and so on until the 120 grit paper is on top. Finally, staple each packet together.
You now have about twelve sandpaper packets ready to use. The task of sanding is so much easier when all you have to do is flip through each grit. No more fumbling for individual sheets, no more confusing one grit with another. Do remember to use a paper towel to wipe away the sanding dust before going on to the next grit.
04/01/2021
Article: “How to Save Turning Blanks”-John Lucas
Article: “Got Wood. Now What?”-Joseph M. Herrman
Article: “Cutting Bowl Blanks from a Tree”-Dale Larson
Video: “Bandsaws and Bowl Blank Preparation”-Reed Gray
Video: “Milling Logs into Bowl Blanks Using a Chainsaw”-Sam Angelo