Thread: Weissflog Ball Box Video

I don't think you'll find much - I'm told Hans isn't one of the sharing types - unless you're paying to watch him demonstrate

I had a shot at it MY way on this thread a long time ago

TTIT has confirmed my understanding. Ken Wraight is about the person I know who has been shown how to do it by HW but that was in return for accommodating him on an Aussie visit. Ken probably had it worked out before hand

Thanks for the link - I like the technique. I'm wondering if you could first turn a ball and then apply your technique externally to create the rings. Rotate 180 degrees, cut in half and then apply your approach to the inside (to create the lattice). No idea how you would go about securing the half round to the lathe though - any ideas ??

If you were turning one like Vern's (as shown in his link) then you could possibly leave tenons on the opposite edges of the square board to remount, and trim them away later.

Otherwise, I don't think it can be done. Not with the ball shown in this thread, anyway.

It also removes a saw kerf of thickness from the circumference sphere, so it's no longer truly round. It's enough that if you join the two hemispheres back together and remount them for sanding, etc, you will have problems. eg. The areas around the joint will sand before the 'poles.'

Unless one uses paper shims or an accurately turned joining sleeve (again, like the ring in Vern's thread) to 'pack out' the joint back to spherical?

Having said all that, watch someone come along and prove me wrong. (Won't be the first time. Nor, likely, the last!)

Phew, that sounds pretty technical to me......... have you thought about giving it a go and taking snap shots at each step - a great way of determining what works (and what doesn't) ?

Originally Posted by Phily

I've seen many examples of off center turning but haven't researched how it is done until seeing Hans Weissflog's work in the latest Australian Woodworker. Amazing stuff. The photo's prompted several hours of searching the net without success. Can anyone suggest a link to a video on how this type of work (see image) is done?

Brendan is spot on, not much available on Han's techniques. He protects his IP. I sat in on Han's and his son Jackob's demos at Turnfests very amazing and meticuluous work to acheive that quality. All I can say is pay attention to accuracy – not our definition of turning accuracy, but less than tenths of a millimetre accuracy and learn to make very precise jamb chucks. Ken Wraight certainly has picked up a lot of finesse from HW but Ken's amazing skill and his analyitical mind was well into a solution before HW stayed with him.

It is quite incredible and a huge testiment to HW that with such interest in turning and so many people with long experience that his work stands out to such an extent; leaving everyone puzzled on how he does it. Brilliant and inspirational.