Having some fun! Balls!!!!!!!

[Richard Kennedy UK]

Its funny how something can capture your imagination and provide a change of direction. I was browsing through some old woodturning magazines I had when I saw an article about turning spheres. I hadn't tried them before so decided to have a go

205425

Largest one is blow torched sycamore Middle size is Oak (about tennis ball sized) and the two small ones Yew mixture of oil and wax finishes

Thanks for looking all comments welcome!

[Jim Burr]

I'd say you pulled it off well! Those look like a lot of fun!

[Jon Prouty]

Those are really cool! Jon

[Donny Lawson]

What magazine is that in? I need to learn how to turn those. It will help me make snowmen. I still cannot make them to where they look right.

[Richard Kennedy UK]

What magazine is that in? I need to learn how to turn those. It will help me make snowmen. I still cannot make them to where they look right.

Its the AAW journal aug 2010 page 29 30

[David E Keller]

They're very... Round! Neat effect on the torched piece... Is it carved or did it crack like that?

[Bob Rotche]

I tried this once at a class I took though, unfortunately, mine did not turn out quite as round as yours! With a bit of practice, though, I think it is well within the ability of most turners and is kind of fun, good practice for tool control. Can achieve some very interesting, almost "planetoid" type results by using wood that is highly figured with burl, spalting, bark inclusions, etc. Its on my "to do list" but somehow that keeps growing...

[Bernie Weishapl]

I tried those a couple of times and mine sure didn't look like yours. Well done.

[Tim Rinehart]

Richard...nice, errr ... spheres.. you got there. Making spheres is quite the challenge freehand, but can be done...mine end up looking like eggs. There are a couple of tools that help this. Soren Berger has a special caliper designed to help make spheres and the cut lines to rough material efficiently. Here's another approach that I've seen, but haven't tried yet...
http://www.davidreedsmith.com/Articles/ScoopOrnament/SphereTemplate/SphereTemplate.htm

[Randy Gleckler]

I made one of the sphere jigs that David Springett suggests in his Woodturning Wizardry book and it was cool to try and make some sphere's Freehand and some with a Jig. Looks like you did a GREAT job on those, nice work.