HOJ
Established Member
I'd suggest Douglas Fir, I have to say @Stigmorgan you are prolific, I wish you all the success you deserve at your fair.
Post a photo of the last thing you made
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You could well be right.
HOJ
Established Member
The only reason I say that it could be DF, is that I've been machining up some big lumps of the stuff recently:
The hard rings tie up with it's being D.F. I didn't think of D.F. when I said it was pine.
thetyreman
Established Member
if it is douglas fir I've found it has a lovely sherbert smell that is very distinctive when working it with hand tools.
frankendoodle65
Established Member
If it was a fence post and looks somewhat oak like, my money's on sweet chestnut. It's used a lot for fences due to its impressive rot resistance, and certainly looks possible as far as i can tell from the photos.
Not a recent last thing I made did this back in early 90 s when I fancied wood turning , thing was I had a carpy lathe made it out of bits lying around workshop . I started my own joinery buisness soon afterwards so never had time to peruse as a hobby
Thanks Stig not up to your standards but I may have another dabble and pick up a 2nd hand lathe I have got all Robert Sorby tools its a pity to waste them you know the sentiment "I'm going to start wood turning i was bequithed a new tool lathe so went to Millersdale in Derbyshire watched some guys turning and treated myself to full set of Sorbys they are like brand new will post a pic when i unpack them must be worth a few bob now
If I ever finish the train its over 6 ft long Engine,Tender,2 passenger coaches and Caboose
Stigmorgan
Established Member
Thanks @HOJ , the grain definately looks the same as does the colour
Been a busy day, woke in a stubborn frame of mind so when I went out to the maker space I cut off a piece that looked like it would be trouble from a branch of sycamore, to my surprise it turned really well and I love the end result, sanded to 320 and finished with Danish oil, I cut the rest of the branch into 8 pieces about 200mm long and started making figurines, 4 males and 1 female done so far.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
That train is beautiful, beyond anything I have the patience for
Hallelujahal
Established Member
Earring holder and trinket box for youngest daughter. I’m new to Woodturning so it’s not perfect but hopefully it’ll be a nice stocking filler!
The elephant in the pic is a test piece for something I hope to make again but larger and in hard wood!
The elephant in the pic is a test piece for something I hope to make again but larger and in hard wood!
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Jameshow
Established Member
Sa
Says he of 1000 Christmas decs!!!That train is beautiful, beyond anything I have the patience for
kinverkid
Established Member
Seeing all your production pieces you've been 'turning' out lately you might be interested in this chap. His name is Steve Jones and has been a production woodturner for many years. He rarely posts these days although he has put a video on just yesterday. WOODTURNER 21. You won't often see him using much more than a skew and a gouge.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
I follow him already, he is amazing, he posts more regularly on Instagram, I've tried the skew and just can't to grips with it, until I buy the jig for my Robert sorry sharpening kit I struggle to sharpen it too.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
250 tree decorations so far and the boredom set in very quickly 
may do another 50 if I get time but I still want a few more bigger ticket items.Yorkieguy
Established Member
Steve is, I think, the 5th generation of a family of noted woodturners and is a master at his craft. No fancy cryogenically hardened turning tools, no Sorby Pro-edge sharpening kit, no jigs, a home-made marking gauge and 'storyboard', no CBN wheel. Just a skew, a spindle gouge and a parting tool. Low-tech/high skill craftsmanship. All done in nine minutes, no dramas.
Respect!
kinverkid
Established Member
Him and Richard Raffan are my kind of turners although they've both now acquired CBN wheels I see. I do like them but I've gone this long on a 120 grit which I reckon will outlast me anyway.
Stigmorgan
Established Member
OMG did I ache this morning after spending 7 hours out at the lathe yesterday 
my shoulders and forearms felt tight and heavy, so after a good strong coffee to wake up I went back out at lunchtime to finish turning my ladies and to see what else I could come up with, first was a roughly 3x3x12inch lump of spalted silver birch (I absolutely love this stuff) which once rounded off screamed Christmas tree, then I found a piece of ash that had caught the gauge and flew off the lathe last week so rounded that back off and it became another tree then finally just for fun I thought I'd try a quick snowman from a 3x3 piece of very soft pine, may do a few more (No plans to make a nose/eyes etc). Going to also have a go at doing some smaller snowmen that can be used as tree decorations
my shoulders and forearms felt tight and heavy, so after a good strong coffee to wake up I went back out at lunchtime to finish turning my ladies and to see what else I could come up with, first was a roughly 3x3x12inch lump of spalted silver birch (I absolutely love this stuff) which once rounded off screamed Christmas tree, then I found a piece of ash that had caught the gauge and flew off the lathe last week so rounded that back off and it became another tree then finally just for fun I thought I'd try a quick snowman from a 3x3 piece of very soft pine, may do a few more (No plans to make a nose/eyes etc). Going to also have a go at doing some smaller snowmen that can be used as tree decorations
Abrasive paper on a ply or mdf disc on your lathe is all you need to grind a skew. Touch up with a diamond plate until it needs refreshing on the disc.
