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Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Portable Sawmill & Tree Service – Abingdon, VA

Finally turned something

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Finally turned something

#1

Finally turned something

I've been a bit overwhelmed lately with farm/house things, pandemic burnout, some European travel, new dirt-moving equipment, and a few medical things to take care of.  And incubating/hatching/raising several hundred guineas, turkeys, and chickens - what a lot of work!

I think I've turned just twice since March of 2020! - some "magic" wands to prepare for a demo last year and a simple garden tool handle to replace one I lost in the weeds long ago.

But I had scheduled a demo for earlier this month (on turning metals on the wood lathe with woodturning tools) so a few weeks before I HAD to get moving or be greatly embarrassed! I had planned to turn a lidded box to illustrate one use for small brass turnings so I grabbed an old 4x4 chunk of Albizia and made this:

Since I was out of practice I was a little nervous and expected to destroy at least one box (I hadn't turned a lidded box for years) but a miracle occurred and it came out ok. Once I had the sharp tools in hand and the wood spinning everything fell into place, just like I'd been turning all along.

If you haven't turned brass (or aluminum) on the wood lathe, it might be worth a try. I use standard woodturning tools, mostly Thompson (gouges, parting tools, NRS, etc) sharpened as for wood.  I've turned steel too with a scraper I ground from Thompson steel, but it's not nearly as much fun...

BTW, this box was one case where I first carefully designed the piece on paper since getting the curve right on the bottom let me align the feet at the position I wanted and perpendicular to the surface with no unpleasant surprises!

The lid has my easy-to-use taper fit instead of the common suction fit with woodturner's bragging rights.


 

And if anyone is interested, this is my tool handle replacement.  When I found the weeding tool the handle had disintegrated in the dirt. The stainless steel part and ferrule were fine. This simple handle from Osage Orange should last longer!



JKJ


Re: Finally turned something

#2

Re: Finally turned something

The box is lovely and the tool handle will look good hanging on the wall with the rest of the tools you don't use. :))

I made a similar tool some time ago but used a rake handle so that I  didn't have to crawl around on my knees.  They do work well don't they.


 


Re: Finally turned something

#3

Re: Finally turned something

Good looking box and that Osage handle should last you 80-100+ years.


 

Speaking of guineas, my uncle had a number on his farm. They make excellent watchdogs from what I remember, though in my uncle's case, maybe a bit too good. They were getting too noisy one night and my uncle had had enough. Got his shotgun and after a bit went back to sleep...undisturbed. He was that sort of individual.


Re: Finally turned something

#4

It's About Time! 


Re: Finally turned something

#5

Re: Finally turned something

I think guineas are entertaining!  I have 18-20 near the barn.   They do make noise at times but they've never alerted me to anything other then maybe a hawk.   They eat a lot of bugs, ticks, and a friend from Georgia said she's seen hers running around with baby copperhead snakes in their beaks.

They've got to be one of the dumbest birds around, right up there with turkeys.  I've watched guineas run back and forth on one side of a 4' fence desperate to get to the other side.  They must forget they can fly.  I watched one fly from my chicken house, through the woods, and land outside the far side of the field - about 400 ft.

The llamas are good guards and always alert me to strangers, as long as the strangers are dogs.

I hope I can find time to turn something else some day.  For the last three days I've been moving dirt and taking down trees.   I take down small to "medium" sized trees by digging around the tree with the excavator and pushing them over.  Safe, easy, and  I get to stay in the air conditioning.  The biggest I've removed this way was a pine 30" in diameter.  (I only did one that big because it was leaning in the right direction and most pines have shallow roots - still took a hole 4' deep and 6' in diameter before I could budge it.)

JKJ


Re: Finally turned something

#6

Re: Finally turned something

Crawling around on my knees while gardening is not my problem. It's getting up on my feet again when I'm done.


Re: Finally turned something

#7

Re: Finally turned something

Your report is encouraging. I need to give a turning demo next Wednesday, and I'm sorely out of practice. I'm hoping it's like riding a bicycle, something you never forget how to do.


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