Yet another good use / just playing around
Mike Schwing from Maryland
>Another good use for that clear plastic stretch wrap that you can buy in rolls for packing, boxing, etc...
I picked up this piece of manzanita root at a local store recently, without giving it any real thought as to how I'd mount it for turning. Got out the cole jaws - no way. So, I simply placed it on the jaws, centered where I wanted it and wrapped it up good and tight, really really good and tight with the plastic stretch wrap. It wasn't moving at all. Didn't worry about not wrapping up the part I was going to cut into, instead simply cut out a circle with an xacto knife. The plastic wrap still had a remarkably good grip on the workpiece, and I cranked open the cole jaws just a tad to make it even more firm. Stayed up perfectly for the entire operation. Whats really nice is that if you turn it over in search of a hint on the mounting method, there's not even a scratch, just natural surface.
Just one coat of Behlen Rock Hard Varnish on the hollowed part - only type of gloss finish I had on hand.
On a personal note, I seem to be tending towards turning unusual things much more than traditional types of turnings. What does that say? I have no idea.
Fun!
