Thread: A busy day and a half.

Hi AB, sounds like the perfect day to me .......
good idea to put a recess on the inside too ! will take note

That's a good days work, I like the double mounting idea Did you cut them with a bowl saver?

Originally Posted by artful bodger

Just had a busy day and a half roughing out some stringybark bowl blanks.
Also the woodheater was going in the bottom right of the picture. It was freezing cold rainy and windy here today.

Well you should be up here then, 39°C and 80% humidity in the shed today. I was doing metalwork and welding, so it felt worse.
Rgds,
Crocy.

[good idea to put a recess on the inside too ! will take note [/QUOTE]

Although sometimes, due to the height of the bowl, it can be impossible to use the Allen key to tighten then up.
I leave a long spigot to ensure the spigot is not recessed to far into the bowl.
Nice work.
Does crack me up, WA is 35-40 deg, the East coast is burning, Tassie gets snow
Willy
Jarrahland

Originally Posted by Ian Artlett

That's a good days work, I like the double mounting idea Did you cut them with a bowl saver?

I had just started hollowing out the biggest one first when I remembered that I had bought one of the large bowl savers about 6 months ago. I gave it a go and had a startling catch which nearly reefed the bowl out of the chuck. I thought maybe figured hardwood was too much of an ask for the tool, until I watched a youtube video on how to use it later that night. It became clear that I had used the special tool holder back to front on the first effort. Tried it again the next day and was able to use the saver properly. I can see that you'd probably be better off with at least 2 sets of the bowl saver blades.

i have a complete Woodcut set, never used it yet, but I should, Stringy is an underrated timber ,i,ve seen some beautiful bits

Originally Posted by artful bodger

I can see that you'd probably be better off with at least 2 sets of the bowl saver blades.

Having both sets does give you more coring options, but that comes at an extra cost that has to be balanced against how much value you get from the extra saved blanks that you get from having a full set of blades. I found that I quickly paid for the extra blades, as I expect you will given the number of blanks you are turning out.

I thought I would get more use out of the smallest diameter blade but find the blanks from that sit for longer waiting to be re-turned unless the wood is particularly attractive.

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

Although sometimes, due to the height of the bowl, it can be impossible to use the Allen key to tighten then up. I leave a long spigot to ensure the spigot is not recessed to far into the bowl.

Rather than leaving a long spigot that can distort the blank further off centre when re-chucking later, I use a chuck extension adaptor (looks like this, Vermec will make to your spec) to set the blank further away from the headstock. The short end of a hex key can then be maneuvered to fit into the chuck's hex mechanism. But, not the G3 chucks.

Originally Posted by Ian Artlett

Stringy is an underrated timber, i've seen some beautiful bits

Yes, but keep any eye on those gum veins that can be a weakness that can let go at full revs. Not a problem with flatware, but definitely with cross grain turning.

Went down and had another crack at the remaining stumps paying attention to where the figuring was after my last post, then went home and rough turned the blanks. So it ended up being a busy several days. Painted a bit of pva glue on the end grain of each rough turned blank just in case we get a summer down here.

DSCF7799.jpg

Quoting Neil here.
Having both sets does give you more coring options, but that comes at an extra cost that has to be balanced against how much value you get from the extra saved blanks that you get from having a full set of blades. I found that I quickly paid for the extra blades, as I expect you will given the number of blanks you are turning out.

I thought I would get more use out of the smallest diameter blade but find the blanks from that sit for longer waiting to be re-turned unless the wood is particularly attractive. end quote.

I agree, that is why I opted for the largest set to start with. In past I have found larger bowls seem to sell better.

Quoting Willy now.
Although sometimes, due to the height of the bowl, it can be impossible to use the Allen key to tighten then up. I leave a long spigot to ensure the spigot is not recessed to far into the bowl. end quote.

That is true, luckily I have a fair bit of room on my lathe as there are 2 thread adapters to get it down to my smaller Vicmarc chuck which seems to work well with the internal recess. I use a stubby section of allen key that can be tightened/loosened with a spanner if things get unworkable with the standard blue handled Vicmarc key. It can be a bit fiddly but it works.

DSCF7802.jpg

I have decided to dislike you because a) you live in a nice place, b) appear to have 3p power, c) have a beast of a lathe, and d) a lot of wood (oo-er missus)

What do you do with these? Sell them or create 7000 gifts? Is there still a decent market for wood trinkets?

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed keeps asking when I'm going to make 'something useful' (as if fitting out the Shop isn't useful I ask you with tears in my baby blue eyes), and I keep wondering what I'll do with things I (eventually) make...

Originally Posted by artful bodger

I use a stubby section of allen key that can be tightened/loosened with a spanner if things get unworkable with the standard blue handled Vicmarc key.

DSCF7802.jpg

A flexible ratchet spanner also works well with this. There isn't much pressure involved so an el cheapo one will do the job. They can be purchased individually on eBay for less than $10. Or at Bunnings as a set for less than $20.

Craftright Flexible Ratchet Spanner Set - 5 Piece | Bunnings Warehouse

Originally Posted by Bernmc

I have decided to dislike you because a) you live in a nice place, b) appear to have 3p power, c) have a beast of a lathe, and d) a lot of wood (oo-er missus)

What do you do with these? Sell them or create 7000 gifts? Is there still a decent market for wood trinkets?

She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed keeps asking when I'm going to make 'something useful' (as if fitting out the Shop isn't useful I ask you with tears in my baby blue eyes), and I keep wondering what I'll do with things I (eventually) make...

I am hoping to sell them. 25 to 30 years ago big bowls sold very well. Having said that I turned a stack of blackwood bowls about 6 months ago (after a lengthy break from bowls) and sold some to various galleries around town. I notice they do not seem to be selling very well/quickly these days. I have heard another turner down here also say that bowls just don't sell like they used to.
Until recently I was getting paid great money doing piecework making a certain range of architectural products. However the repetition of the work eventually made me detest wood turning altogether...so I put my rate of pay up by a fair bit and the work has gone from a stream to an occasional trickle.
The last bunch of stringy bark bowls were done mainly because the timber was there free for the taking and also in the hope that they will be sold down the track. My workshop has been my income for a long time so most things I make are usually made to sell.

NeilS
A flexible ratchet spanner also works well with this. There isn't much pressure involved so an el cheapo one will do the job. They can be purchased individually on eBay for less than $10. Or at Bunnings as a set for less than $20.


Good idea, I will get a set of those.