Alex Cam
12-02-2006, 9:15 PM
Here we go (sorry for the picture quality -- I'll get a photo tent soon).
I picked up a cigar pen kit on Friday, hacked off a piece of birds-eye maple that I had sitting around, and took my first step into pen turning. Not perfect, but I have to admit that I'm grudgingly satisfied with my first pen! Sanded to 600 grit, then with a brown paper bag, and finished with Shellawax.
51422
Next, I rounded off a big piece of maple and rough-turned it into a sort of wide-bottomed "bowl" -- 4.5" x 8.5". I'll let it dry and finish it off in a few months.
5142451423
Some notes:
I'm working in a 'borrowed' shop -- I have nothing of my own yet. He only has a 6" faceplate, so anything I turn right now has a 6" base or foot by default. I'm still playing around with what type of setup I want to buy (lathe, chucks, tools, and so on..)
What I learned:
1. The 10" and 12" swings I've been obsessing over in mini's are ridiculously large for a new turner, and should be about the last thing on my mind. That 9+" hunk spinning around in an old Jet lathe was enough to make my knees knock. A 10" or 12" Rikon or Jet Mini should keep me happily turning bowls, HFs, and pens for at least a year.
2. Also, I learned to watch my outside hand when hollowing bowls out. I got a little 'friction polish' of my own when I pushed the side of my hand into the side of the bowl! Ouch!
3. Squaring off the ends of the pen blanks is tough on a belt sander, and critical to having a nice, clean fit at final assembly. Any suggestions? Are those "squaring off" kits that WoodCraft sells any good? Seems like it's be worth the $30 if they were accurate and fast.
4. Even though I'm using old, old, abused tools, it made a huuuge difference when I would give them a quick run on the grinder (even if it was free-hand). I think that getting gouges without getting a grinder and a sharpening system at the same time would be worthless.
5. Finally, the only thing I've worked from so far is Bill Grumbine's video. My hat is off to Bill for putting out a high quality product.
I picked up a cigar pen kit on Friday, hacked off a piece of birds-eye maple that I had sitting around, and took my first step into pen turning. Not perfect, but I have to admit that I'm grudgingly satisfied with my first pen! Sanded to 600 grit, then with a brown paper bag, and finished with Shellawax.
51422
Next, I rounded off a big piece of maple and rough-turned it into a sort of wide-bottomed "bowl" -- 4.5" x 8.5". I'll let it dry and finish it off in a few months.
5142451423
Some notes:
I'm working in a 'borrowed' shop -- I have nothing of my own yet. He only has a 6" faceplate, so anything I turn right now has a 6" base or foot by default. I'm still playing around with what type of setup I want to buy (lathe, chucks, tools, and so on..)
What I learned:
1. The 10" and 12" swings I've been obsessing over in mini's are ridiculously large for a new turner, and should be about the last thing on my mind. That 9+" hunk spinning around in an old Jet lathe was enough to make my knees knock. A 10" or 12" Rikon or Jet Mini should keep me happily turning bowls, HFs, and pens for at least a year.
2. Also, I learned to watch my outside hand when hollowing bowls out. I got a little 'friction polish' of my own when I pushed the side of my hand into the side of the bowl! Ouch!
3. Squaring off the ends of the pen blanks is tough on a belt sander, and critical to having a nice, clean fit at final assembly. Any suggestions? Are those "squaring off" kits that WoodCraft sells any good? Seems like it's be worth the $30 if they were accurate and fast.
4. Even though I'm using old, old, abused tools, it made a huuuge difference when I would give them a quick run on the grinder (even if it was free-hand). I think that getting gouges without getting a grinder and a sharpening system at the same time would be worthless.
5. Finally, the only thing I've worked from so far is Bill Grumbine's video. My hat is off to Bill for putting out a high quality product.