Recent content by Peter Jennings

I have a chunk of old yew, cut down 20 - 25 years ago, and I wonder how you clever bowl guys would approach it? It is about 30 by 30 by 10 cm, and very asymmetrical. My lathe is pretty heavy and will be quite OK turning out of balance stuff. All suggestions other than the woodburner will be...

Hi Don't know that lathe so can't comment. On learning, try to get to see as many turners as you can, join a club, go to demos, ideally find some kind guy nearby with a lathe. If funds allow, you could even go on a course. Every time you see someone turn, you learn a new trick. There are lots of...

For the difficult sanding jobs I use a soft foam rubber mandrel topped with velcro, and cut out a square of fluffy backed sandpaper (technical term) to stick on to the velcro. Doesn't need to be a circle. Suggest you use a cheapo drill to drive the mandrel, not a fancy rechargeable....I...

I have 'fumed' oak by putting it in a sealed cabinet with a saucer of strong ammonia. Same effect..the heartwood goes a lovely rich brown, longer the exposure, darker the wood. Will not raise the grain. Won't affect any wood with polish, glue etc. on it. Used to be commonly used to artificially...

Hi Jon I'm a turner here in sunny Cumbria. Can you tell me about the Cumbria Woodturners? Thanks Peter