Barley-Twist Candlestick

[Ben Gastfriend]

This was quite a project. Took a long while. I saw a video on making one of these at Fine Woodworking's website, with Ernie Conover. Pete Jordan was nice enough to email me the article, and I had to try. I used some 2x2" oak stock.

The process envolves drilling a 10mm hole through the center, using a Jacob's chuck in the headstock, then mounting between centers and carving. I used a combination of a backsaw, dremel power carver, and a couple HT carving gouges, a #9 7mm, and a #4 10mm.

Then, sanding. I got a roll of 150 grit , 1" wide pen sanding, cloth backed sand paper, cut the strips in half, so they were one half inch wide, and started to sand. Took me about an hour to get the 150 grit done, it's all hand sanding, getting in between the spirals.

All in all, it took me about 4 hours from start to finish. But when I get around to the next one, it'll probably only take me 3 hours.

Comments and critiques allways appreciated.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Ben that is a real beauty. You should be proud. Well done. What finish did you use on it Ben?

[Bill Bolen]

Way to go Ben! Very nice piece especially for a new form in your arsenal!...Bill...

[Tim Brooks]

That is a very cool project and the product you produced looks great! Thanks for sharing.

[Bob Hallowell]

Ben great Job that was well worth the effort.

Bob

[steven carter]

Nice job Ben! I would have thought it would take longer than 4 hours to complete, you must have worked hard!

[Jess Wetherhold]

Fantastic job Ben. You are very ambitious but it must be rewarding.

[Ben Gastfriend]

Thanks everybody. I put about 3 coats of Minwax Wipe-on Poly, then buffed with carnuba. Gave it a real nice warm feel.

[Joe Chritz]

It would take me 4 hours just figuring out how to start.

Very nice indeed.

Joe

[Jim Underwood]

Good job Ben.

It will make you sick to see Stuart Mortimer pop out a barley twist stem for a tall goblet in less than 5 minutes. I think he fusses with the rest of the goblet for most of the hour on purpose...

[Jim Becker]

Excellent work on that, Ben!!!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Ben - that is absolutely outstanding! I would think that like anything else in turning - the more you do - the faster and easier they become. Seriously - very nice work!

[curtis rosche]

thats sick looking! amazing. you should enter that in a crafts show

[Ben Gastfriend]

Good job Ben.

It will make you sick to see Stuart Mortimer pop out a barley twist stem for a tall goblet in less than 5 minutes. I think he fusses with the rest of the goblet for most of the hour on purpose...

You know, someone pointed me over to his website, and I was utterly amazed. You should really check it out... http://stuartmortimer.s411.sureserver.com/index.html . I'm trying to come up with a way to do something like this to upper pen barrels.

[Skip Spaulding]

Wonderful piece Ben!

[Greg Just]

very nice job - I don't think I would have the patience for that project

[Brian Weick]

Nice Job! ~ I give you a lot of credit using the method for the hallow helical spire~ nice work and it is not easy to do. Do you happen to own an indexing plate?
very nice work and keep it coming! :)
Brian

[Fred Conte]

Very nice peice Ben, you folks just keep amazing me with your craftsmanship!!!

[Jon Lanier]

That is sooooooo cool looking! :cool:

[Curt Fuller]

Looks like you put a lot of time and effort into that Ben. And well worth it too. I like that and might have to give it a try soon.

[Steve Mawson]

Really nice Ben. The projects just keep stacking up.

[David Newson]

Ben that's a real excellent bit of work, must have been real time consuming labour of love.

__________________________________________________ ___________
David

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

[Ben Gastfriend]

Nice Job! ~ I give you a lot of credit using the method for the hallow helical spire~ nice work and it is not easy to do. Do you happen to own an indexing plate?
very nice work and keep it coming! :)
Brian
No, I actually made my own out of a piece of hard maple and attached my faceplate to it to screw it on the spindle. I only put 4 holes on it though.

[robert hainstock]

Saw somebody make one on the tube a few months ago. made my hair hurt. It would be nice to be young and on top of the world again.
It will start a lot of conversations. :D:D
Bob

[Tom Sherman]

Awesome job Ben

[Paul Douglass]

That is a beauty.

I made something similar a few years ago that involved laying out a grid on your turned piece than drilling on the drill press to make the spirals. It turned out nice and impressive, but way to much sanding to be fun!

Coarse it is one of the few things I've made that everyone wanted on. The aren't going to get it from me!

Very nice job you did.