2016- The Year to reduce the woodpile.

[CHJ]

The last of the Burrs done today, tried yet another method of mounting and aligning based on the niggles encountered during the last few days efforts, think I will make myself a set of steel balance weights that can be easily bolted to the mounting chuck, using wood offcuts results in a lot of unwelcome bulk to trim the knuckles on if not very deliberate in actions.
Once again more time spent in handling the piece than actually turning form.

Acacia Burr. (275 x 210mm.) (Walnut foot)

 

[Duncan A]

Another oddment of local hedgerow Elm that has come to light, quite strange to turn in as much that it is relatively soft and prone to torn grain if tools are not very sharp and wood soaked in sealer, must be something to do with it being young but dead (Dutch Elm disease).
The Elm I remember that came from the local village coffin maker as scrap for mending the odd gate or pig pen was as hard as nails as far as using hand tools on a farm that had no electricity, remember having to drill holes for nails.
And it's certainly softer than good well seasoned slab turning wood that I've been fortunate to be presented with in the past.

Elm 170mm dia.

At http://www.elmhardwoods.co.uk/facts.htm it says:
There are three recognised species of elm in the UK
- Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)
- Smooth-leaved Elm (Ulmus minor)
- English Elm (Ulmus procera)
The Wych Elm is the only species that occurs naturally in northern England and Scotland.

Duncan

 

[CHJ]

A thousand plagues on that fellow Dalboy :twisted: a fine afternoon that has been since someone saw his post and decided they would be a good idea.

Finding said person re-grading the scrap boxes selecting an ominous amount into "These bits should be big enough" does not bode well for freedom to do ones own thing.

 

[Dalboy]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Where are the perch's Chas :wink: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[CHJ]

Where are the perch's Chas :wink: :twisted: :twisted:

On order, awaiting supply from local wood yard. :roll:

 

[CHJ]

Delivery arrived, installed ready for despatch. :wink:

 

[Dalboy]

Delivery arrived, installed ready for despatch. :wink:

Is it Perch's courtesy of cocktail sticks :lol:

Look great by the way

 

[Phil Pascoe]

 

[CHJ]

Is it Perch's courtesy of cocktail sticks :lol:

Of course, only the best White Olive Wood.

 

[CHJ]

I found this, if anyone is nerd enough (I am )
file:///C:/..................../Elm%20ID-guide.pdf

Thanks for the link to your hard drive phil
Unfortunately as that document says exact species is hard to determine even with Mature trees, (other than wych elm) most of what we see is young sucker growth which can vary, although I'm pretty certain from the rounded leaf form the stuff I had from local hedge row was English Elm.

 

[CHJ]

.....Look great by the way

Thanks Derek, a little on the bigger side of the range than most I suspect but went with existing jaw sizes on chuck and convenient Forstner bits to hollow out to speed things up on the batch production.
These had to be 'Au Natural' (no colouring) for the particular recipient these are intended for.

Surprising how quickly you can turn something like this up if not constrained by 'matching' and make some simple sizing guides.

Mind you the instructions from on high that some will be needed with far fancier well proportioned finials and quality finishing before an October delivery sounds a bit ominous on the time taken front.

 

[Dalboy]

I also use a forstner bit mine is 1" which I find an ideal size then once all the main bodies are turned and hollowed I remount them on my 1" pin jaws which fit nice and snug. So in 2 operations the bottoms are completed in batches.

 

[CHJ]

I also use a forstner bit mine is 1" which I find an ideal size then once all the main bodies are turned and hollowed I remount them on my 1" pin jaws which fit nice and snug. So in 2 operations the bottoms are completed in batches.

OK similar size then.

I drill body blanks off the lathe (bore and entry hole) (square blanks) and mount on 1" pin jaws to turn outer and size top collar. (to sizing ring)
Tops likewise shallow drilled off lathe and mounted on pin jaws to shape and drill hanging hole.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I found this, if anyone is nerd enough (I am )
file:///C:/.................../Elm%20ID-guide.pdf

Thanks for the link to your hard drive phil

As you've shown a link, I'll take it down if that's the case - computers are not my strong point.

 

[CHJ]

I found this, if anyone is nerd enough (I am )
file:///C:/.................../Elm%20ID-guide.pdf

Thanks for the link to your hard drive phil

As you've shown a link, I'll take it down if that's the case - computers are not my strong point.

No risk to your machine Phil, it did not give access to your machine, just showed your file structure.
That document was not easy to acquire from source and more or less impossible to link to.

 

[Stiggy]

I found this, if anyone is nerd enough (I am )
file:///C:/..................../Elm%20ID-guide.pdf

Personally, I managed to get all your holiday photos, and I must say - SHAME ON YOU! That mankini was never going to fit!

 

[No skills]

Please excuse my ignorance, what do you do with all this wonderful stuff you turn? Are any of your bowls for sale?

 

[CHJ]

Finally managed some shed time, bit of a hassle as Eye still not completely healed so some weeks off getting any new spectacles to suit.

Best laid plans and all that:- loads of no brainer bits prepared for simple uncritical turning awaiting the shop return and what happens...

You get a request for some of those little cocktail stick dispensers if you have a moment.

Ash & Walnut.

 

[Dalboy]

I like those Chas. do you insert the bottom piece in through the bottom of the tube and then fit the top

 

[CHJ]

Currently that's a Yes Derek, mainly because I made a mandrel to aid the turning when I first did them and any change needs new mandrels.

Current design does have a couple of little steps that would be better dropped though and I've been mulling over changing assembly method to reduce time but suspect the alternate may not be all that different time wise, as always with this type of thing no way will folks pay the man hour component.

As soon as I can get a spare minute I'll knock up a couple of different holding mandrels for an alternate method and see if it works out easier if not exactly quicker.