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Thread: Quickie Ornament Instructions

  1. #1
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    Quickie Ornament Instructions

    I've had a few people ask me how I turn ornaments so tonight I took some pictures along the process to try to explain.

    I glue the globe or ball from 8 pieces cut at 22.5 degrees, like pieces of a pie with 8 thin 1/8" strips in between as spacers. The first picture shows a group of them glued together using rubber bands as clamps and a shameless plug for titebond glue. Then in the second pic it shows how I hold them in the talon #2 jaws to round them, drill the center hole, and hollow them. The 3rd pic shows drilling it with a jacobs chuck and a 5/8" forstner bit.
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    • File Type: jpg 1.jpg (85.1 KB, 423 views)
    • File Type: jpg 2.jpg (37.3 KB, 369 views)
    • File Type: jpg 4.jpg (63.8 KB, 319 views)
    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 11:17 PM.

  2. #2
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    In the chuck I cut a tenon on one end, face them off smooth and drill a 5/8" hole about half way through. (1st pic) Then I turn it around, hold it with the tenon I turned, round that side off, drill it the rest of the way through. (2nd pic) I also hollow them somewhat to lighten them up using a home made hollower made from a 1/4" allen wrench.
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  3. #3
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    It's a little hard to see in the 1st pic here but it's hollowed and ready to mound on a pen mandrel to shape the outside. I use a pen mandrel (2nd pic) with two home made cone shaped bushings to hold it centered on the mandrel, similar to how you would turn a pen.
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    • File Type: jpg 7.jpg (87.8 KB, 237 views)
    • File Type: jpg 8.jpg (61.7 KB, 306 views)
    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 11:04 PM.

  4. #4
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    On the mandrel you have room to work all the way around the ball to get it to the shape you want. Don't apply too much pressure with the nut on the mandrel or it can split the ball. Just use light cuts and sharp tools. I didn't finish this one because the glue hasn't had time to dry but I hope you get the idea.
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    • File Type: jpg 9.jpg (49.3 KB, 239 views)
    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 10:43 PM.

  5. #5
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    Then for the finial and icicle I use a piece 1x1x5 for the icicle and 1x1x1.5 for the finial. For the icicle I hold it in the small step jaws and use the revolving center to support the other end (1st pic). I turn a 5/8" tenon, 3/4" long on one end (to the right) and start the shape of the top of the icicle (2nd pic)
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    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 11:06 PM.

  6. #6
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    Then I turn it around in the chuck and hold it with the tenon and remove most of the wood so that it's shaped like a long tapered carrot (1st pic).

    At this point you have to start being really careful with how you use your tools. I remove the tailstock so there is no support on that end. That's the reason for the 3/4" long tenon so it has a good tight hold in the jaws of the chuck. I then start shaping the icicle, working from right to left. (2nd pic) For me I have to use a skew left handed and just shave it to the shape with very light cuts.
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    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-12-2008 at 7:50 AM.

  7. #7
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    The next two pics just show how the icicle progresses from the tip end towards the base end. The wood is very thin, about 1/8" so there's not much hope of going back to change anything with out breaking it off.
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  8. #8
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    Once you get it to the finished shape you can sand it and even apply some finish if you like to use a friction polish or something else on the lathe. (1st pic) Then I slide the tenon about half way out of the jaws and part it off (2nd pic)
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  9. #9
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    For the finial, the process is about the same but with shorter wood it's not quite as delicate. The 1st pic shows how I size my tenons using a 5/8" wrench, the second pic shows drilling the hole in the top of the finial for the hook.
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    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 11:08 PM.

  10. #10
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    These last two pics just show parting off the finial in the same way, sliding it half way out of the jaws, and the finial and icicle fitted in the unfinshed ornament ball. I'll post a picture of the finished ornament after the ball dries and I can finish turn it.

    Hope that helps, I'm not much at writing directions but hopefully the pictures help.
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    Last edited by Curt Fuller; 12-11-2008 at 11:09 PM.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Curt Fuller View Post
    I'm not much at writing directions but hopefully the pictures help
    You got to be kidding me. That is a great tutorial, everything explained perfectly and the pictures show it all. Thanks. Now if I can just find the time to give it a try.
    If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem

  12. #12
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    Great tutorial. Thanks Curt.
    Bernie

    Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

    To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.



  13. #13
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    Curt,
    Great explanation of how to do your ornaments and pictures showing the steps.

  14. #14
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    Nice work on the tutorial.
    Very interesting.
    Dewey

    "Everything is better with Inlay or Marquetry!"


  15. #15
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    Curt - great job on the tutorial! The sequence of events you laid out makes it understandable and should be very easy to follow! I will have to give it a try one of these days! Thanks for taking the time to put this together for everyone!
    Steve

    “You never know what you got til it's gone!”
    Please don’t let that happen!
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