tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165192532011-11-27T19:38:24.739-04:00Tips, tricks and techniques for woodturners from the workshop of woodturner Derek Andrews. Ideas to improve your woodturning skills; links to other woodworking sites; news about woodturning; woodturning tools and supplies; inspiration for your next project.Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-50076652894500163612010-10-22T07:24:00.000-03:002010-10-22T07:24:32.089-03:00

Are you often dissatisfied with your work? Does the form please the eye from a distance? Does the surface finish hold up to close scrutiny? Is it nice to the touch? Do any natural features in the wood work well with this piece, in terms of scale and placement? Is there always something you didn't get quite right? If so, there is hope for you yet - Robert Genn says that "without displeasure there

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-12355629628085807412010-03-08T08:16:00.002-04:002010-10-22T08:02:42.675-03:00

This blog is now located at http://toolrest.blogspot.com/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-37425451528757247402010-02-19T07:17:00.001-04:002010-10-22T07:30:28.202-03:00

No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or Profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. Horace  (via terimartin.com)

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-50954934828514600502009-06-14T07:33:00.002-03:002009-06-14T08:12:33.324-03:00

It seems fairly obvious that sharp tools are necessary to be successful at woodturning, and very often a dull tool, or at least one that is not as sharp as it should be, is the reason for bad experiences. But have you ever considered why? I would like to suggest three reasons, though there may be others that I haven't identified yet.The most obvious is that a sharp tool will cut the wood cleaner.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-41700911024480777442009-04-14T15:52:00.003-03:002009-04-14T16:09:40.054-03:00

I recently came close to having what could have been a serious accident with the outrigger on my Nova 3000. As I swung the swivel arm, it came crashing to the floor. Fortunately my feet were clear, and I was wearing safety shoes, but this hefty lump of metal could have caused some serious damage if it had landed on a foot.What had happened is that over the years the threaded rod that holds it all

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-45105703303305777912009-01-09T07:25:00.005-04:002009-01-09T08:55:12.759-04:00

Satoshi Fujinuma is a Japanese lathe artist who took part in the International Turning Exchange 2008. In this video he talks about his work and how he finds inspiration from nature for the form, texture and colour of his works.You can see more of his craft work, art work, exhibition and other works on his website.Meanwhile, Philip Streeting has published a document full of examples of how design

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-23440860208933362512008-03-10T20:28:00.002-03:002008-03-10T21:04:19.847-03:00

You are probably familiar with Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Now there is another wiki, one specifically for woodworkers, called wikiWOOD.It is still very much in it's infancy, and there isn't a lot there yet, so this is a good opportunity for new editors to get involved and maybe set some benchmarks. A good place to start is the Community Portal, but woodturners may also

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-35810715642242848752008-01-24T09:43:00.002-04:002009-06-14T08:23:56.867-03:00

Last updated June 14, 2009Woodturning techniqueRemounting dried bowl blanksMarking dark woodGetting started in woodturningSanding adviceGrain raisingMaterialsWhat's that tree?Some low-tech approaches to drying woodBox lids and wood movementA step back in timeA splash of colorHardening spalted woodTurning ancient woodTight fitting wine corksTreat your Cherry to a sun tanCutting large pieces of

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-9518798538413069462008-01-24T08:44:00.000-04:002008-01-24T09:35:09.439-04:00

Six months ago you started off with a green log and roughed out a bowl blank and left it to dry. It is now a cupped oval shape, and you need some method to secure it on the lathe for final turning. Any spigots or recesses you left are now oval too. If you used a coring system, there are probably no spigots or recesses anyway:-There are many options available, and will depend to some extent on

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-80778323690628692452008-01-03T07:34:00.000-04:002008-01-03T07:46:08.790-04:00

Here is a video showing Finnish turner Antti Sorvamaa turning a honey dipper. This is a nice project for beginners who have already learnt to use the basic spindle tools. Don't forget that Antti has probably made quite a few of these before, so don't expect to be able to work nearly as fast as he does. Choose straight grained wood, free of knots and figure, and something not to hard. I suspect

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-58466771086553073272007-08-02T08:33:00.000-03:002007-08-02T08:40:36.051-03:00

Lesya Popil, a dancer from Group Motion Dance Company, spent time in the workshop with the turners taking part in the International Turning Exchange and choreographed three dances based on their work. Following is a video of Part One, Seasprite Capering To Her Demise, based on an artwork by Sean Ohrenich.What did you make today that made you get up and dance?

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-89301568431503931512007-07-31T16:08:00.000-03:002007-07-31T16:20:34.116-03:00

I have a couple of videos for you today, both a bit of a blast from the past. The first is Robin Wood turning bowls on a pole lathe, the second is Stuart King turning flowers on a treadle lathe.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-82036200149661374662007-07-25T21:08:00.000-03:002007-07-25T21:26:36.645-03:00

Many woodturners are drawn to making vessels. Many make simple bowls, some make more elaborate bowls, often with decoration added by methods other than turning. Some make hollow vessels with tiny necks, others make goblets or boxes. Inspiration has been drawn from many sources including ancient art, nature and contemporary art.The Empty Vessel is a blog by Susan Lomuto Rose about "the container

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-91922543702854896892007-07-17T07:48:00.000-03:002007-07-17T08:53:57.095-03:00

Have you ever been offered some logs or a whole tree for turning, but don't know what it is? The website Discover Life might help. Although it covers all life forms, the tree guide is for woodturners.To get started you do need a leaf, so be sure to get a sample or two, along with fruits and flowers if available. If no live samples are available check for dead ones under the canopy. Click the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-72849693737300292452007-07-12T14:25:00.000-03:002007-07-13T13:34:31.714-03:00

How important are handcrafted items in your life? This is the question that will be addressed on the Maritime Noon phone-in, tomorrow, Friday, July 13th.In a world that's awash in mass-produced products, certain individuals still devote themselves to making things that are unique. Artisans around the Maritimes create everyday items like coffee mugs & breadboards, accessories like earrings &

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-89216350004215213652007-07-12T08:05:00.000-03:002007-07-12T08:46:26.516-03:00

The International Turning Exchange is underway at the Woodturning Center, and resident Lynne Yamaguchi is blogging the activities there. The ITE has been underway for a month now, but I only just found this blog which is a shame. There is a lot to catch upon.I sometime use masking tape in my shop to hold things on the lathe, but the example shown in this post seems a little extreme to me, but

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-17998210296095197682007-07-04T10:21:00.000-03:002007-07-04T10:53:29.508-03:00

Blogger Alan Irwin has been covering the 2007 American Association of Woodturner's Symposium in Portland, OR. So far he has covered day 1 and day 2.The AAW have also published a lot from the symposium, the best in my opinion being the catalog from the invitational exhibition, Japanese Bowls: a western perspective, and Turning Green - An International Juried Exhibition of Woodturning.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-85483907932169206672007-05-25T10:07:00.000-03:002007-05-25T11:30:05.929-03:00

Yeah, I know. It's been a long time since my last post.I recently got an e-mail from Philip Streeting of Woodturning Plus wondering why I hadn't posted anything here in a while. Apart from doing nothing but uninspiring work in the shop like bottle stoppers and coring bowl blanks, I have started a new blog A Somerset Family History and I'm giving SunriseTrail.ca a makeover. To make matters worse,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-52814294851783700562007-03-18T12:13:00.000-03:002007-03-18T13:32:05.637-03:00

One of the reasons I read blogs about other crafts is that they often have ideas and links that I can apply to my woodturning. My friend Cyndi recently posted Online Jewelry Design Tools, which includes some resources that applies to the artistic design of anything.Formal Visual Analysis: The Elements & Principles of Composition by Jeremy Glatstein is a very concise explanation. It is worth

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-22490981570625117142007-02-22T10:10:00.000-04:002007-02-22T10:21:47.810-04:00

Hey folks! My friend Cyndi Lavin, a professional blogger who writes for b5media has just posted an interview we did recently.Thank you Cyndi! You asked some searching questions that made me really think about things I take for granted in my day to day work.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162818823116493252007-02-15T18:43:00.000-04:002007-02-16T18:30:45.745-04:00

I acquire a lot of my wood while it is still green; kiln dried boards are expensive and often not available in thickness' greater than one inch. In the maritime climate in which I live, air drying is slow and only gets wood down to about 15% EMC (equilibrium moisture content). This is not low enough for work that is to be glued, or if it is going to find a home in more arid climates.Anyone

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-29353400290118051112007-02-11T17:41:00.000-04:002007-02-11T17:50:16.884-04:00

Remote controls for dust collectors are a real boon, but the controller is usually pretty small and easy to misplace in a cluttered workshop or worse still, shovelled out with a pile of shavings.My solution is to tie a piece of high visibilty marker tape to it.In six years of use I haven't lost it yet.Now, where did I leave the remote?

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-82681087696295754852007-02-09T09:22:00.000-04:002007-02-10T14:23:57.975-04:00

One of the simplest methods of making our work more visually interesting is to repeat a motif. If we limit ourselves to pure woodturning, this might be as simple as using sets of small beads as I have done here, using a group of three inset beads and a group of two inset beads.We might also get more adventurous by using other techniques such as pyrography, painting or carving to add a repeating

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-4743680547095882192007-02-08T10:00:00.000-04:002007-02-07T11:46:08.130-04:00

There is a new blog on the block. Woodturning Plus is written by UK turner Philip Streeting.This seems to be a blog with a mission. Philip is critical of the British woodturning scene:"...the focussing of attention in British woodturning on matters relating to technique and finish, was inhibiting the growth and development of the craft."So this is what Woodturning Plus is going to be all about:"

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162819276443836552007-02-06T20:25:00.000-04:002007-02-06T20:25:27.137-04:00

Every woodturner knows the importance of keeping their gouges and chisels sharp, but what other tools need occasional maintenance? The two things that I tend to forget are drill bits and the tailstock. I do a lot of drilling on the lathe, typically several thousand operations a year. I use mainly brad-point bits when making bottle stoppers and weedpots. If the flutes of the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162819171851385462007-01-30T20:42:00.000-04:002007-01-30T20:42:24.753-04:00

A pencil line on many exotic woods is nearly invisible. The bark of most trees is equally difficult to mark before cutting. One answer is a white china marking pencil, available from office supply stores. Its is designed to mark on glossy surfaces, and the white line is easily visible.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162818370389639312007-01-26T08:55:00.000-04:002007-01-26T10:10:53.124-04:00

My lathe bench is made from construction grade spruce and plywood. It is 26" wide and 60" long to accomodate both my Nova 3000 and Delta. It is square with no splayed legs but the width makes up for this. The legs and cross members are 4x4's. The frame joints are all mortice and tenon.Plywood has been fitted to the bottom and sides. This will help keep it square and add rigidity. Eventually sand

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-88426348692199881482007-01-24T09:45:00.000-04:002007-01-24T09:55:41.777-04:00

The Stephanie Ann Roper Gallery at Frostburg State University (Maryland, USA) presents “Wood 2007”, on view Feb. 10 through Feb. 28. The exhibition looks at how the craft of woodturning is gaining popularity with local artists. It will feature an interesting mix of expressions in woodworking by craftspeople of all levels. It opens with a free, public reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.“

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-53163384586224236022007-01-23T10:11:00.000-04:002007-01-23T10:41:17.690-04:00

I once took some nicely fitting boxes to a craft show and by lunch time the lids were all stuck. Since then I have have pretty much given up trying to make boxes as a commercially viable product. Never the less, here are a few thoughts that may help boxmakers refine their process.First, it's important to realise that a round box and lid will become oval as their moisture content changes, so they

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162818953690212612007-01-17T21:15:00.000-04:002007-01-18T22:02:08.523-04:00

Do you ever cut tiny slivers off with the bandsaw, only to find that they get stuck between the blade and the throat?When I am cutting small pieces I use a couple of sheets of fridge magnet material on the table, set so there is zero clearance between them and the blade. I used to stick cardboard to the table, but the magnetic sheets are much more

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1164936118099573732006-11-30T20:58:00.000-04:002006-12-01T10:22:43.773-04:00

Every now and then I stumble across a gem of a website. Today I came across Stuart King's website, and in particular the articles he has written, many of which are about woodturning as it was practiced in days gone by.Do take a look. There are stories from England of bodgers, bowl turners and twist cleaners. There are tales from eastern Europe of bow lathe turners, drop spindle makers and

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1164301263137572832006-11-23T12:23:00.000-04:002006-11-23T15:19:04.696-04:00

It's official. I'm a B.A.D. blogger.Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with Liz Strauss from Successful Blog. We talked about my blogs, this one, The ToolRest, which is written for woodturners, and The Chipshop which is for my customers. I mentioned to Liz how hard it is to get comments and trackback from visitors to my blogs, and pointed out some posts she has written in the past. The

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1164292789672209032006-11-23T09:55:00.000-04:002006-11-23T10:39:49.740-04:00

There are many great online forums where woodturning tools and techniques are discussed, and where our latest creations can be displayed. But surprisingly enough there are no forum categories encouraging the discussion of woodturning as an artform. This is a real shame, and is perhaps holding back many people from developing their woodturning beyond being just a craft skill. It certainly is a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1164130851893778972006-11-21T13:16:00.000-04:002006-11-21T13:40:51.943-04:00

CBC Radio featured an interview with Jim Shaver who spearheads Pens for Canadian Peacekeepers. It's good that woodturning, and this project in particular, is getting some coverage from the mainstream media.With help from some thirty ofr so supporters, Jim has sent out 232 pens to Canadian peacekeepers all around the world including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Sudan and Egypt. Some of the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1163685204848597742006-11-16T09:16:00.000-04:002006-11-16T12:03:55.093-04:00

Last month I pointed out some woodturning videos on YouTube. Chris Anderson, the producer of the videos featuring J.T.Dunphy, has written to me asking for your help in planning more woodturning videos. Here is what he says:"I'm in talks with JT about making a follow-up--especially for YouTube, so short segments are likely and I'm looking for suggestions. If your readers would like to help in the

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1163286692182288522006-11-11T18:37:00.000-04:002006-11-12T10:31:15.286-04:00

Have you ever considered adding a splash of color to your work?Woodturner Michael Allison does just that. He uses his experience gained in the guitar refinishing industry to really make his vessels stand out. He describes briefly his methods and materials on his website, but Fine Woodworking has posted a four minute video in which Michael talks in more depth about the techniques behind his

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1163250354867443132006-11-11T07:14:00.000-04:002006-11-11T09:43:26.536-04:00

Reviewme.com is a brand new online service that aims to match up advertisers with bloggers who will write a review for them. This blog post is one such paid review of Reviewme.com.When advertisers go to the site they can find relevant blogs either by a search box or through a list of categories which are presented as a tag cloud. A list of blogs is then presented, along with a brief description

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1163200758288653232006-11-10T18:53:00.000-04:002006-11-10T20:01:07.103-04:00

If your think woodturners get worked up over sharpening their tools, you need to check out this report in Popular Woodworking about Harrelson Stanley's Planing Contest and Sharpening Tour.Apparently, planing contests are taken really seriously in Japan, attracting hundreds of contestants and thousands of spectators. The shavings they make are typically 1-3/4" wide, 7' long and as thin as 3

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1163170822554360162006-11-10T10:15:00.000-04:002006-11-10T11:00:22.713-04:00

River of Destiny opens at Long Beach Museum of Art on December 8, 2006 and runs until March 4, 2007. This ehibition features over 40 works created during the past 15 years by contemporary sculptor Binh Pho, whose works combine wood turning with piercing, texturing, airbrushing and gilding.Technorati tags: Long Beach Museum of Art, Binh Pho, woodturning, airbrushing, gilding, art exhibition,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162680634215791412006-11-04T18:23:00.000-04:002006-11-04T18:50:34.293-04:00

One of the simplest and most useful accessories I have made is this set of templates.They are made from large pieces of corrugated cardboard, and are simple circles of varying diameters. They really make an easy job of marking out bowl diameters on boards and log halves. I have the diameters marked clearly on the edges, so it is really easy to find the right size.Technorati Tags:

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1162168052460120692006-10-29T19:32:00.000-04:002006-10-30T13:11:01.806-04:00

Last June, Fine Woodworking reported on a panel discussion, woodturning’s past, present, and future, at the American Association of Woodturners' 20th Annual Symposium.David Heim, an associate editor at Fine Woodworking, later interviewed panelist David Ellsworth who said that “Turners are not using other art for inspiration, and that’s different from other crafts. Turners don’t have that kind of

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1161559142891337712006-10-22T19:39:00.000-03:002006-10-22T20:19:02.966-03:00

Spalted wood often looks very nice and can become the focal point of a decorative turning. The down side is that the spalting process often goes a little too far and the wood fibers become too soft to cut and finish cleanly.The answer to this problem is to apply some sort of chemical treatment to the punky wood. Penturners might use thing cyano-acrylic glue, but on larger projects this might get

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1160665108925152872006-10-12T09:18:00.000-03:002006-10-19T21:24:21.043-03:00

A number of woodturning videos have been added to YouTube recently, so I thought I would review some of them them here. (I have Basil the Donkey staying with me at the moment and he wanted to see some other woodturners in action.) I hope you all have broadband!Wendy has a great little introduction to woodturning that you can show your friends if they don't know what you do in your workshop all

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1160579604044591962006-10-11T11:50:00.000-03:002006-10-11T12:13:24.146-03:00

I was browsing around Myspace a while ago and found some ceramic work that resonated with me. I'm really drawn to this piece, no doubt because the form is so nearly make-able in wood on a lathe.When I look at it I can't help but think about how I would make something like this, and how the difference in our mediums would alter the outcome. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to woodturning

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1159965705853625322006-10-04T09:40:00.000-03:002006-10-04T09:41:45.866-03:00

ArtDaily.com reports on this exhibition at the Long Beach Museum of Art in California:"Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Hunter led the field as the medium evolved from its foundations in traditional woodturning practices to its emergence as a vehicle for artistic invention and formal experimentation".Transforming Vision presents a retrospective of sculptor William Hunter's work from 1970 -

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1159704048726953212006-10-01T08:00:00.000-03:002006-10-01T09:00:48.780-03:00

As regular readers of the ToolRest will know, Liam Flynn and Hilary Pfeifer took part in the ITE this year. They worked together on some collaborative pieces and thanks to Vincent Romaniello you can watch some video where they discuss the collaborative process and how they feel about it.The video starts with Albert LeCoff talking about the collaboration as the Wood Turning Center sees

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1156857900080988802006-08-29T09:46:00.000-03:002006-08-29T10:25:00.513-03:00

Last weekend at the Pictou Craft Market I had three woodworkers at my booth comparing their injuries from table saws.The first to arrive was a freshly bandaged finger. It sounded like the nail and some skin was gone, but otherwise it will probably heal reasonably well. Just then a friend of mine passed by so I called him over to show his scarred finger off to us. Meanwhile a fellow from a nearby

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1156342704623213002006-08-23T11:18:00.000-03:002006-08-23T11:18:24.693-03:00

It is rare to come across anyone specialising in ornamental turning, so it was a pleasure to find the website of Joshua Salesin. Joshua has his studio in Santa Cruz, California, and his work can be found in galleries across the USA. He makes bowls, boxes, cups and jewelry which you can see in his online gallery.Joshua's studio includes antique machines and tools such as a Holtzapffel ornamental

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1154357229278152202006-07-31T11:47:00.000-03:002006-07-31T15:45:45.496-03:00

The International Turning Exchange is nearly over and Hilary Pfeifer has completed her installation project. This is quiet a long post and one really needs to see several of the pictures to really understand what it is all about. There are no hollow vessels, natural edges or exotic woods here. Just some blocks of wood turned on multiple axes, painted red , blue and yellow and hung on wires in an

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1152720179011555442006-07-12T13:02:00.000-03:002006-07-12T13:02:59.076-03:00

Welcome to the 11th edition of Carnival of the Creators, a monthly roundup of creativity in the blogosphere. Last month the carnival visited Grackle Stew. This month the carnival concentrates solely on wood.Rockler's Woodworking Blog looks at the Advantages of Designing Your Own Projects. Woodturner Andi Wolfe is currently taking a five day course with Jean-François Escoulen. She is learning to

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1150815816708125852006-06-20T12:03:00.000-03:002006-06-20T12:03:36.773-03:00

Flickr user timtom has posted some woodturning pictures taken at a Celtic festival in Switzerland. French turner, Jean-Paul Rossi appears to be making some sort of ladle, and I just love the way his lathe is constructed, especially the headstock which is a limb growing out of the bed.  Here is a Google translation of Jean-Paul's homepage:"The turning of this utility crockery, starting from green

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1149963245752634852006-06-10T15:14:00.000-03:002006-06-10T15:14:05.783-03:00

Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival doesn't sound like it would have much to offer woodturners, but the schedule does include several woodworking workshops. The aspiring woodturner can learn to turn a bowl, or make a stool. Also on offer is carving, driftwood furniture and basic joinery. Other crafts on offer include weaving, spinning, rug hooking, quilting, knitting, needlework and basketry.

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1149039096205204982006-05-30T22:31:00.000-03:002006-05-30T22:31:36.273-03:00

Artist Hilary Pfeifer is taking part in this year's International Turning Exchange at the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia, and is promising to blog about her experiences.Hilary is a mixed-media sculptor who has recently added lathe work to her art. She says that she works fast, inspired by improvisational jazz, creating small components that are later assembled into larger sculptures. Other

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1149015715376651252006-05-30T16:01:00.000-03:002006-05-30T16:01:55.413-03:00

I quite often mention very experienced woodturners, so to day I thought I would point out a new woodturner who is off to a great start. Messiah, and I would guess that is not this turner's real name, bought a lathe a few years ago but never mastered it's use. A weekend course at a local wood supplier saw the creation of several nice pieces of work. Read all about it and see the finished items in

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1148063494205647772006-05-19T15:31:00.000-03:002006-05-19T15:31:34.240-03:00

Most woodturners are very happy when they are given a 30 inch diameter log to work with, but Don Thur was stunned when carbon dating at the University of Toronto revealed one log he had acquired was 8,637 years old.The white pine was discovered sixteen feet down by a friend digging a pond. The tree itself was 261 years old when it fell. The Huntsville Forester explains a theory scientists have

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1147713621255010532006-05-15T12:04:00.000-03:002006-05-15T14:20:21.313-03:00

I recently took a trip back to my home town of Wells in England. While there, I visited the Bishop's Palace which is open to the public. One of the many interesting things I saw there was this chair, believed to have been made around 1600 CE.The guide book describes it as "a fine example of wood turning and would have had a swivel writing table fixed to the arm rests."It is an unusual three

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1147705258459508612006-05-15T12:00:00.000-03:002006-05-15T12:00:58.470-03:00

Dennis Laidler has been kind enough to post some pictures from the recent Association of Woodturners of South Africa 2006 Conference.There is some nice work there. My favourites are the bowl which won best on show made by John Wessels and a vessel made from Mopane roots in resin by Thys Carstens.Technorati Tags: woodturning

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1147206529617134062006-05-09T17:21:00.000-03:002006-05-09T17:28:49.636-03:00

I have been making weedpots today, a job I have done thousands of times before. The wood was roughed down and was held securely by a tenon in a chuck. I was at the stage of boring the hole, with the drill bit held in a Jacobs chuck in the tailstock. I decided to withdraw the drill bit to clear the flutes, and rather than wind the quill all the way back, I loosened the tailstock and slid that

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1147089266519726522006-05-08T08:54:00.000-03:002006-05-08T08:54:26.530-03:00

Woodturners cutting bowls in half to examine the profile and wall thickness is nothing new. But potter Nancy Utterback smashed a pot to make another point to a customer. As it turns out, she ended up getting well paid for her performance.(thanks to John Norris for the link to this article)Technorati Tags: performance, art, woodturning

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1145925531414145642006-04-24T21:12:00.000-03:002006-04-24T21:38:51.460-03:00

Over the last year or so I have been having problems fitting pre-drilled wine corks to the dowel on a bottle stopper. They seem to be excessively tight, leading to problems like splitting or getting stuck part way onto the dowel.At first I thought maybe it was just a bad batch, but as time went on I realised I had to do something about the problem. It was costing me too much in broken corks and

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1145451495162927612006-04-19T09:58:00.000-03:002006-04-19T09:58:15.170-03:00

The Arizona State University Art Museum have announced their forthcoming exhibition, “Turning Point: Inspired by the Edward Jacobson Collection of Turned Wood Bowls.” It opens April 22 and runs through to August 12.In 1989 Edward “Bud” Jacobson donated his collection of turned wood bowls by contemporary American artists. This collection has since influenced the museum's collecting of wood

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1145196372272018822006-04-16T09:24:00.000-03:002006-04-16T11:06:12.313-03:00

It's always good to find more woodturners writing a blog. I recently came across two that I wanted to share with you.First is Dennis Laidler from Cape Town in South Africa. This is a new blog where David shows some of his work in woods like Araucaria excelsa, camphor and silky oak, as well as pictures of work in progress. My favourite piece so far is the Silky Oak Bowl which incorporates some

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1143327603134213612006-03-25T18:07:00.000-04:002006-03-26T21:30:38.896-04:00

I have had a couple of large pieces of wood outside the workshop for several months waiting for me to get them cut up and roughed out into bowl blanks. I made a start on them a few days ago, and I thought I would share some pictures with you.This first piece is a crotch of yellow birch and I want to take a slab out of the middle to remove the pith, leaving two big bowl blanks on either side. In

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1142972826872951562006-03-20T09:40:00.000-04:002006-10-01T12:56:29.206-03:00

The del Mano Gallery is currently showing its annual exhibit, Turned Wood - Small Treasures. With work from over 60 artists, all of whom are showing technically and aesthetically brilliant work, it would take too long for me to look at them all, so I have chosen just three which caught my eye.The most original in my opinion is Glenn Krueg's series Asian Temples. These are beautifully executed

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1141782422237211622006-03-07T21:17:00.000-04:002006-03-07T21:47:02.290-04:00

When you order spare wheels for the Beall Buffing System, make sure you order the right ones. I just discovered that they sell two different types; one for the standard motor-mounted buffer, and one for the three-on-a-mandrel system.The difference is in the mounting hole. The wheels for the mandrel system have a much larger hole. So when I realised my mistake and figured out what was going on, I

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1140738928702995212006-02-23T19:55:00.000-04:002006-02-23T19:55:28.760-04:00

Emily Murphy's blog post "A Potter's Mark" is interesting in several ways. First, those potters have it so easy! Just press a stamp into the wet clay and your maker's mark becomes an indelible part of their work.But Emily goes on to say that one magazine is showing the marks of the potters they feature, and that the Potters Council is creating an archive.Wouldn't it be a good idea for woodturning

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1140392724793173532006-02-19T19:45:00.000-04:002006-02-19T19:45:24.836-04:00

The Creativity Portal™ is a great website to check out if you feel the need to boost your creativity. The site describes itself as "an imagination-inducing sanctuary for artists, writers, crafters, and creativity enthusiasts."The site is chock full of articles on the topic of creativity. Its one fault is that it is difficult at first to find your way around this huge site, the large selection of

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1139363648737119942006-02-07T20:56:00.000-04:002006-02-07T21:54:10.393-04:00

Art in Motion is the name of an exhibition just opened at the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia, and features the work of German woodturner Siegfried Schreiber."Schreiber combines minimalism with an understated elegance that moves and rocks with the lightest touch." (WTC)While most woodturners approach bowl design with some stability in mind, Siegfried takes a different attitude to what a bowl

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1135104140752696872005-12-20T14:42:00.000-04:002005-12-20T14:42:20.783-04:00

The first ever bursary from the Crafts Council of Ireland has been won by a woodturner, Liam Flynn. The purpose of the bursary is to release recipients from their usual commitments so they can invest in the creative development of their craft. You can see some of Liam's work on his website. Read the full article in the Limerick Post: Top honour for Limerick woodturner

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1133998783439972342005-12-07T19:35:00.000-04:002005-12-07T19:39:43.510-04:00

Luann Udell made an interesting observation on her blog today titled 'Influence'.She makes the point that 2-D artists will often declare that they work in the style of a well known artist. Craft workers seldom do this.It made me wonder why this is so.Could it be that more artists have had a formal arts education and have been exposed to thinking in depth about their work and have practiced

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1133963790226229272005-12-07T09:56:00.000-04:002005-12-07T09:56:30.613-04:00

I just found this article about power sanding on the Sandpaper Blog: Sanding Slow when Woodturning. Good advise I think. Maybe I need a new sander though. I use a power drill and although it has variable speed controlled by the pressure on the trigger, it is really hard to maintain a slow speed. Who would have thought there would ever be a blog about sandpaper! I have recently been turning a

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1133032026848424022005-11-26T15:07:00.000-04:002005-11-26T15:07:06.986-04:00

The good folks at Woodworking Magazine have been testing ways to accelerate the natural color development in cherry. One of the tests included a trip to the local tanning salon. Now we have to wait for the spring issue to see how their tests worked out. Tags: Woodworking

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1132337347117333892005-11-18T14:09:00.000-04:002005-11-18T14:09:07.136-04:00

If you need some inspiration for your next stair spindle design, check out the Old Basing Woodworking Co website which has over one hundred examples shown. I'm not suggesting of course that you copy a design. There is much more to be achieved by studying the designs and creating your own. A good place to start is to decide which ones you like, or dislike, and then try to decide why! For example

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1131063464393085092005-11-03T19:25:00.000-04:002005-11-03T20:17:44.453-04:00

When you purchase one of those 'signature' bowl gouges with a fancy grind on it, what exactly are you buying? A piece of round steel with a flute ground in it, sharpened carefully to match a profile developed by a master woodturner.A few sharpenings later, what do you have? A slightly shorter piece of round steel with a flute ground in it, sharpened as best you can to match what you think it

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1128905259613329792005-10-09T21:32:00.000-03:002005-10-09T21:54:37.683-03:00

If you think that cutting up and gluing together the pieces for a segmented turning is time consuming, take a look at the work of Elias Wakan. The site is quite extensive and includes some essays, and an article on The Arabesque Construction Series which jig making enthusiasts will enjoy.Technorati Tags: woodworking

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1128894228032462932005-10-09T18:25:00.000-03:002005-10-09T18:43:48.040-03:00

When I make salad bowls and other food use bowls that are going to be washed, I put them through a grain raising process before applying an oil finish. This helps to maintain a smooth finish when it is eventually put to use and washed.Once the bowl has been turned, I dunk it into a sink full of clean warm water. This causes the grain to swell unevenly and the surface will feel rough. When dry,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1128086584567117492005-09-30T09:33:00.000-03:002005-09-30T10:23:04.596-03:00

Michael Hosaluk has won the 2005 Saidye Bronfman Award which I mentioned last week.From The Star Phoenix : Turn, turn, turn: Saskatoon artist wins prestigious national award. They report that the peer panel wrote: "Michael Hosaluk's idiosyncratic turned-wood objects are recognized throughout the world for their inventive spirit and technical mastery. His ability to communicate his personal

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1127316463615268572005-09-21T11:22:00.000-03:002005-09-21T12:27:43.670-03:00

Michael Hosaluk, an internationally known woodturner from Saskatoon, Canada, is one of five finalists for the prestigous 2005 Saidye Bronfman Award. This is Canada's highest distinction for excellence in the fine crafts. The $25,000 annual award is one of the largest individual arts prizes in Canada. In addition to the cash prize, works by the recipient are acquired by the Canadian Museum of

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1127089701474330642005-09-18T20:41:00.000-03:002005-09-18T21:28:21.503-03:00

Woodturner Joan Kelly has been featured in commercialappeal.com of Memphis, TN. Apparently Joan only started turning in 2003 but has already quit her day job as art teacher and started her own business, Turningpoint Woodcraft. Joan is a member of the Mid South Woodturner's Guild, and if you download the September 2005 issue of Turner's Talk you will find several photos of her work.Also of note in

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126920327412228712005-09-16T21:34:00.000-03:002005-09-16T22:25:27.440-03:00

I am chuffed to be Turner of the Month at Woodezine.And I am in the good company of Carver of the Month David James Calvo and Furniture Builder of the Month Stover Amish Furniture.Other articles of interest to woodturners in this issue of Woodezine is their regular Turning & Carving News and article describing the construction of a lathe bench.Be sure to check out their archives for other

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126710353757150852005-09-14T11:53:00.000-03:002005-09-14T12:05:55.220-03:00

Would anyone care to guess what I am making here?Leave your answers in the comments below. Closest / best / funniest answer(s) will win a fridge magnet.Technorati Tags: woodturning, art, sculpture, circles

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126486312493436752005-09-11T20:37:00.000-03:002005-09-12T11:57:02.513-03:00

So you just got a big log of some nice wood that you want to turn into bowls.Now what? It needs cutting down the middle for starters, and although it is possible to cut out a bowl blank nearly twice the diameter of a chainsaw bar, it is not a nice job nor without risk.Two years ago I got a large maple log and was lucky enough to be able to get it cut right down the middle with a bandsaw mill. The

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126293703624082382005-09-09T16:21:00.000-03:002005-09-09T16:39:29.883-03:00

There is currently a lot of interest amongst woodworkers in expanding the woodworking entries on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can help edit. The details of the project can be seen at Wikipedia:WikiProject Woodworking. There is of course plenty of scope for adding to the woodturning section.Newcomers to Wikipedia should read the introduction and article about editing before

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126289221208412102005-09-09T15:05:00.000-03:002005-09-09T15:07:01.210-03:00

My lathe chuck slowly gets clogged up with fine wood dust and the key operation becomes quite sticky. So I will occasionally blow out all the dust with the shopvac, and lubricate the mechanism with graphite lubricant. This is a fine graphite dust and is sold in hardware stores for lubricating door locks, amongst other things.After I turn the jaws in and out a few times, they become noticeably

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126279583529872092005-09-09T11:17:00.000-03:002005-09-09T12:26:23.543-03:00

Do you want to be informed everytime I post a new article to this blog?If so, RSS is the ideal way to do it. You don't even need to give me your e-mail address!All you need is an RSS reader. The one I use and recommend is Bloglines. Simply register as a new user, and add the RSS feed URL (http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/atom.xml) to it. Then you can log in to Bloglines everyday,

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1126264560062537502005-09-09T07:40:00.000-03:002005-09-09T08:16:00.086-03:00

My name is Derek Andrews. I have been a full time woodturner since 1995. My business name is Seafoam Woodturning Studio. It is located on the beautiful north shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, in a tiny community called Seafoam. The nearest village is River John.I mainly make small giftware items, some of which you can see in my online store. I also make a few pieces of a more creative nature, and you

Derek Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12058511671737531988noreply@blogger.com1