Bought a Lathe, First Turning - April 2010

This is a continuation in a series of posts of my recent projects.  I bought a lathe in April of 2010 and this is the first item I turned.


I set the lathe up on the table in my basement; I'm probably going to build a cabinet-like base for it with storage space rather than use the stand that came with it. I only had a half hour or so, but I went out in the backyard and got one of the pieces of apple branches a friend gave me 2+ years ago (for smoking fish) and put it on the lathe. They're really dry and the ends split several inches in, but it's wood. Wasn't really sure what I was going to make and I ended up with pretty much what I was planning on.

This is the result - my very first turned... thing. Some of the cuts are a bit rough and I'm not quite sure just what one would call it, but it was fun to play.  I was originally going to put a finer point on it, but the skew caught on one of the deeper splits and broke off the end of whatever this is.


This is the leftover end of the branch I started with:

Small Oak Table with Black Top - April 2010

This is the first in a series of posts about previous projects.  This was done in April of 2010.

This is going to be used as a stand for a black torch style lamp that is currently leaning against the bookcase in my office. This stand will be between the Sauder oak-pattern bookcase and the black filing cabinet, which is why I used this combination.  <I've since been moved to a different office and while this table is still in use, it's very difficult to see.  It's still 100% functional, but a cardboard box would be about the same.>

I originally wanted the legs to be recessed behind the front of the frame, but could not figure out a way to do it on my table saw. (I do not own a router - my shop consists of a drill press, contractor's table saw, scroll saw, belt sander, grinders, and various hand tools.) Since I was unable to hide the tops of the legs, I made them extend up a short distance, both for strength and for appearance.

I used 1x2 oak to construct the legs, resawing and gluing half a strip to make an L-shape for each leg. This makes it appear much lighter than using 2x2 material. I also put a slight taper on each leg for the same reason. I mitered each corner of the rails so that end grain wouldn't show on either the front or sides, even though you'll rarely see the sides where it's going to be. The top is a piece of regular 1/2" plywood (which wasn't really 1/2", even though the label said it was) set flush with the top of the side rails and is not held in by anything but pressure.

The finish really doesn't show up well on the pictures. The top is sprayed with flat black paint and then covered with several coats of polyurethane. The oak got the same polyurethane treatment. I sanded lightly with 400 grit between each coat, then wet-sanded with the same 400 grit at the end before rubbing trewax into the surface with steel wool - turned out VERY smooth. This was the first time I've used poly over paint and must admit that I'm very pleased with the results.

It may not look like it, but there's blood in this table. While sanding, I put a sliver of oak all the way through the pad of my middle finger. Applying the wax, I embedded a thread of steel about 1/4" into my thumb. The former was much more painful, especially since it broke off below the surface and was non-magnetic requiring me to cut it out with a razor blade. The steel wool fragment came right out with a rare earth magnet.

Pine.... Vase? - May 2010

This is another in a series of posts about my previous projects.  The neighbor across the street took down a pine tree and I went over to grab a chunk of wood.  Good things did not ensue...

Well, I mounted the foot-long pine log into my lathe between centers and went at it. After turning it round, I decided to make a kind of vase. (Originally, I wanted a bowl, but it would have been about a 5" diameter bowl.)



Now the more observant of you reading this may notice that it's not all that hollowed out. It turns out that I didn't make anything except a big mess, but I did learn some things in the process:

1. There's quite a bit of sap in freshly cut pine.

2. Somehow, it's possible that a log that weighs about 8 pounds whole can produce approximately 37 pounds of shavings even with a rather large percentage of the log left.

3. I cannot get a nice cut on green pine, no matter how many times I sharpen the gouge or how slow/light of a cut I make.

4. There's an awful lot of sap in freshly cut pine.

5. Hollowing out something is a hell of a lot harder than they show on TV.

6. Pine is quite a soft wood.

7. When a piece of pine is mounted on a face plate because one does not have a chuck, 1 5/8 inch screws are NOT long enough. Further, it's possible for all 4 screws to simultaneously pull out of a piece of green pine.

8. If the rotational speed of a chunk of wood turning is extended into a straight line, it has an awful lot of momentum, even after pulling out 4, 1-5/8" screws.

9. Wow - there's a hell of a lot sap in freshly cut pine!

10. Quite a bit of adrenaline is released into your system when a large chunk of wood unexpectedly flies off the lathe.

11. When one is done turning a piece of green wood and puts it on the table to take pictures, it does not stop leaking sap.

12. A chunk of semi-turned green pine thrown out the back door at night is enough to put a decent dent in the lawn.

13. Holy hell there's a lot of sap in freshly cut pine!

14. Sap does not wash out of your hair with a single shampooing.

15. Freshly cut pine is rather aromatic, even after you're done and have all 42 pounds of shavings in the waste bin.

Welcome!

This is a simple blog intended to simply showcase some of the woodworking and other shop projects, both good and bad, I've done and am doing.  My intention is to post details of what I used, how it worked, challenges, etc.  If you frequent WoodNet, you might recognize some of these posts/pictures, especially the past ones.  I'm by no means a professional, and in fact work out of a crowded room in my basement.  I hope you enjoy reading and looking at the posts.  Comments and ideas for improvement welcome.