Idle Time Project(s)

[Gary]

Finished a couple of Wood Turnings recently and thought I'd show ya'll what I occupy my time with while waiting for the "better weather".

First is a small "Zuni" inspired vessel of Walnut, Maple, and a top ring of Bocote. 4.5" H x 5" in Dia. It was actually a bit harder to make than the next one; a open vessel of Spalted Pin Oak with a Walnut top ring and base.


I do occassionally make loading blocks for my buds and myself, they are functional and look good on the bench.

 

[Brad]

Nice work.
A guy needs a way to keep busy during times of less than acceptable shooting weather.

Am I the only one who thinks that a need to work with ones hands is part of why we are bullet casters?

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Gary beautiful work!

 

[Gary]

Thanks Kevin; I've got a couple more in the process of becoming something other than a flat board.
Brad; I think you're absolutely right, plus the satisfaction of producing a need filling item without reliance on some third party.

 

[Hawk]

Nice work.
A guy needs a way to keep busy during times of less than acceptable shooting weather.

Am I the only one who thinks that a need to work with ones hands is part of why we are bullet casters?

Nope. My sister-in-law calls me a Bubba. (Except I don't usually wear bib overalls)
When something breaks at their house, they just by a new one of whatever broke. They can't fix, repair or tinker with anything.
When something breaks at our house, I repair and upgrade it better than new.
Like everyone else on this forum, I must have 20 projects in the works or in the back of my mind.
Dread the day when I can't use my hands anymore.

 

[fiver]

I can guarantee that if I tried something like this it would look just like a 3rd grade pottery project, only without the paint.
nobody really wants a wooden ashtray.

 

[Brian Palmer]

beautiful!

 

[smokeywolf]

Gary, next Winter you should try your hand at a end grain butcher block. But, be sure and make a prototype first and since your won't need two blocks, I'll take that prototype off your hands.

 

[Gary]

Actually Smokey, I made one last year, if I can find a pic I'll put it up.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Gary I tinker more with cabinet small nickey nacky stuff. On your bowles I look at the seams. No voids a sure sign of master grade woodworker. Even with all the STUFF I made I never could perfect my joints. I am still in the hack level of woodworker.

 

[Gary]

That's a nice compliment, but I consider myself in the intermediate level of accomplished woodworkers. One thing that helped me a great deal is a little gadget called a Wixey Angle Gauge. I was able to exactly set my table saw blade to 90 degrees (or any angle for that matter) and it worked accurately on my cutoff saw.

 

[JonB]

One time, I build an artsy coffee table, out of a 6' banana shaped hunk of black Walnut slab-wood, and four chunks of black Walnut turned on the lathe for legs. I did that at a community Ed class in the High School wood Shop...and it turned our real nice.
BUT,
every other wooden thing I've made, included 2x4s and some scrap...and looked like it.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I knew a guy that worked at a business that got 12' pallats they got siding on. The pallats were made of any kind of wood that they could scrounge. I could get all of the pallats I wanted for just hauling them away. I was very picky all I took was pallets made from Red/White Oak , Walnut, And another wood no one could tell me what it was. But it had some beautiful grain and color. All of it was 12' x 6 to 10" wide and full 4 quarter thick.
To say I got a lot of it was an understatement.

 

[Intheshop]

Very nice pcs Gary.Lots of satisfaction with creative wood projects.What kind of lathe do you use?Got any old equipment?

I'm dead center isle man here meaning,lots of beautiful resto'd old US iron on one side and new,highly engineered on the other.Thanks for posting,BW

 

[Gary]

Thanks for the kind words, I need the adulation to spur me on. I originally started with a Craftsman "Tube" Woodlathe that worked fine, still does, but the ever progressive drive got me into a Powermatic 3240 and she is a dream. Still have the Craftsman Lathe, if you're interested.
AND, you're exactly right, making a beautiful object from scrap wood(s) is almost a miracle, at least where I'm concerned.
Tooling is, well, expensive just like tooling for a metal lathe. I just purchased a finishing tool (one tool) and parted with $159. I've often thought of turning "stuff" and joining the summer Fair and Arts/Crafts circuit, but I just haven't put things in full swing, so to speak. What would worry me most is turning an enjoyable hobby into a job. When I get to a level of proficiency that I feel is worthy of commercial display, I might give it a Whirl.

 

[Intheshop]

Good on lathes here,thanks though,very considerate.

Google...Thomas Blanchard.Then,Blanchard Lathe Turning Rifle Stock...click on images.

You've got two lathes,parking one parallel to the other is the basis for above.Not to be confused with more "typical",current stock duplicators.The latter,not being "better"...they're more "achievable" because,most stock makers don't have lathe technologies.

Your C-man lathe can also be the beginning of a hillbilly Sunnen hone,BTW.With or without the tube/tailstock.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[Gary]

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it.
Gary