Recent content by Richard Findley

The first looks like a drilling jig which fits in the banjo and guides a drill. The second looks like a long hole boring jig, useful when your tailstock is solid. Also fits in your banjo and is a hollow ring centre and drill guide. Richard

Hi Smithy Oak spindles, labour only, depending on thickness and level of detail, I charge £10-£12 each, plus postage/carriage. HTH Richard

Hi Simon Almost any wood will tap as long as you do it cross grain and not end grain. Don't know if you saw my article in Woodturnng this month on turning spheres, where I tap a piece of Tulip (Poplar) with a 3/4 x 16tpi thread to suit the Oneway live centre. If you can tap Tulip you can tap...

I was chatting to a friend about this a while ago. His friend is some sort of science type person (it's always a friend of a friend, isn't it?!) and when asked if Yew is poisonous, his reply was yes, but it depends how many kilos you eat as to how poisonous!!! I agree with Jacob that most...

Hi Bob It's quite natural that one direction feels easier and more natural than the other. Only practice will make it feel more natural. That said there are a few things that you might be able to adjust to make it easier. I haven't seen you turn so this is purely based on common issues ive...

I did an article on the skew a while back so had to measure the angle I use. Mine has 25 degree faces, so inclusive of 50 degrees. Works fine, but then my preference is for a beading and parting tool, so it works harder than a standard skew, so needs to be a bit tougher. Richard

Stockists were all notified, but it was only a small batch as far as I'm aware, but an obvious issue, so you'd know if you had a duff one! Any problems just contact your supplier for a replacement can. The problem has now been sorted and new stock is available. Cheers Richard

Depends who made it. I saw a guy called John Beaver when I was in the US, he has a jig that allows you to mount a chuck at 90 degrees to a bandsaw blade, then he cuts the bowl in two, then glues them back together again. Surprisingly simple when you watch it done! Link to John's site...

Hi Merlin I would definitely turn the bottom of the leg the a wedge shape, using the curve of the original flare as a template, then remove the unwanted material with, first a bandsaw by cutting the back/inside off, then masking taping it back on, then one side and tpe it back on, then the...

Hi all After a number of chats recently with several differnet people, it seems I really need to get on social media. After looking at a few options I decided I would have a dabble with Instagram. For those who don't know, Instagram is an easy way to share photos with followers. In my case I...

If I remember correctly Ashley Iles do a kit for a grinder to covert it to work with carving tools. This includes the wheels and I think something about reversing the direction of the wheels which is easier to operate. It would be worth giving them a ring and asking. HTH Richard

Hi Waka Not a silly question at all, but not an easy one to answer in words, much easier to show. My best advice is to think of it like anything else you tighten- screws, nuts.... (Over reached myself now, can't think of anything else that does up!) If you under tighten then stuff comes off...

Thanks for your comments guys. Tudor, I posted on the AAW site first because it's an easy site to post pictures on. You can upload direct from your file and the forum automatically resizes it. On here I upload to my website and have to resize myself - all a bit of a faff, so you guys had to...

Hi all A while back, one of the forum members was looking for some twist work doing. My name was suggested and I got the job. Thank you all who recommended me! It turned out to be a stretcher for a footstool. The original was full of woodworm - I'm assured long gone! The twist itself was the...

Hi Adam At the moment (for the last 3 1/3 years...) the Wadkin has just sat on those laminated plywood pads, which in turn just sit on the floor. The lathe has moved a little but I managed to get it back in place. Bolting it to the pads is on my 'To do..' list. The old jet was fixed to wooden...