Did you know that wood turning tools don't last forever? As a bowl is turned, the sharp edges on the tools that are necessary to cut and shape the bowl wear down; they are only temporary. According to Al (our household turning expert) , he needs to stop and sharpen the edges of the tools he is using up to five times per bowl! The size of the piece he is working on, as well as the type of wood he is turning does influence the amount of sharpening required. For instance, small 8 inch bowl turned from a soft wood such as pine causes less tool dulling than a 12 inch bowl created from oak, a hard wood. So how is the tool sharpening done? Al uses a grinding wheel, his has an 8 inch 120 grit wheel. Securely fastened to his work bench to keep it stable, the grinder is powered on and the wheel starts to rotate. The dull end if the tool is placed against the wheel, using what is called a "jig" to help support the tool and hold it at the desired angle for each edge. Perhaps I should mention here that each tool he uses has a different shaped edge, allowing Al to make different types of cuts. Therefore, a variety of jig angles are necessary when sharpening the tools. Due to the fact that each time a tool is sharpened it becomes smaller, a goal in tool sharpening is to remove the least amount of metal as possible. Wood turning tools are rather pricey. Replacement of the tools is necessary, but with careful sharpening perhaps the lifespan of the tool can be elongated.
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Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor POISON IVY stays Al from the swift completion of his woodturning tasks!
I was cleaning out a cabinet the other day, and came across a wood bowl. In our house that's nothing unusual, but this bowl was actually one that Al did not turn himself. Nope, Willow Vale Woodturning had no hand in this old beauty. I recall buying this piece at a yard sale in Burlington Vt. about thirty two years ago, when I was shopping for items to use in my first apartment. It's clearly been used and abused, sporting cracks and stains. Though I can't do anything to repair the cracks, I decided to clean the bowl up a bit. Check out the before and after photos posted at the end of this blog, I think it came out rather well! Here's what I did:
Al at Willow Vale Woodturning has recently begun experimenting with a technique which has the potential to greatly vary the look of the piece he's working on. It's referred to as "raising the grain" and involves heating the wood with the flame of a blow torch. This process chars the wood and darkens the grain so it becomes a more visible and prominent feature. It is especially effective on light colored woods such as ash, where there is a distinct yet subtle grain.
Working in a cleared and safe area (absolutely no wood shavings allowed here!), Al carefully passes a low flame across the item he's working on. This should be done with a smooth and sweeping motion. He avoids lingering for long in any one area so as not to allow the wood to catch fire. Once charred, Al has the option to fine tune the look he's created. Using steel wool or sandpaper, the degree of browning can be reduced for a softer or more subtle look. In those instances when a more dramatic look is preferred, Al simply gives the piece a quick and light sanding to smooth the texture, then finishes it off with salad bowl oil. Should you happen to look at the “events” tab on the Willow Vale Woodturning website, you will note that we participate in quite a few fairs. Craft fairs provide us with the very valuable experience of meeting many people who are interested in our wooden bowls. We have the opportunity to talk with them, ask questions, and hear their opinions, suggestions and stories. Believe me, it’s all great stuff! In return, we (ok, mostly Al) can answer their questions about wood types, finishes, inspirations and such. Their inquiries regarding woodturning cover many areas, but perhaps the one question that we hear the most often is “How long does it take to make a bowl?” Please allow As The Shavings Fly to provide a basic timeline for turning a wooden salad bowl.
Let there be no doubt about it, turning wood creates an extensive mess. Please allow me to share…
Al Lanseigne, my husband and the sole wood turner at Willow Vale Woodturning, stores his logs outside in a nice, tidy woodpile at the edge of our property. It’s logical. Who’d keep a bunch of logs in the house? When he’s ready to turn, Al rolls a log from the wood pile onto the driveway and uses his chainsaw to cut it down to a more appropriate size. Wood shavings and sawdust scatter about. He then carries the reduced piece of wood into his workshop, which happens to be located inside our house. Wood shavings and sawdust trail behind him. Once the log is positioned on his lathe, Al begins the turning process. Wood shavings and sawdust fill the air. They fly like snow in a New England blizzard, covering every exposed surface, filling every nook and cranny. There are piles and piles of wood shavings and sawdust. Al himself becomes covered with wood shavings and sawdust; it’s in his hair, in his pockets, in his ears…you get the picture. Lunchtime rolls around and Al leaves his workshop to go to the kitchen. Wood shavings and sawdust follow. He sits down to eat; wood shavings and sawdust stick to the chair. Our cat Layla jumps on his lap; wood shavings and sawdust become stuck in her fur. Al and I pass by each other; wood shavings are now on me. Like the wood shavings and sawdust, what began solely as Al’s hobby has become a part of my daily life; though not directly involved with woodturning, I am consistently seeing it, hearing it, cleaning it, supporting it and learning new things about it. Thoughts of woodturning stick in my brain, just as wood shavings and sawdust cling to my clothes. Thus I write As the Shavings Fly. Here I will share insights into the world of wood turning and crafting. I’ll tell you of successes and failures, of the people we’ve met and the experiences we’ve had. I’ll write a bit about what goes into Al’s woodturning and how he comes up with the pieces that he creates. There will not be anything very technical here, just a collection of thoughts that I think might appeal to people who are interested in natural, hand made, unique and crafty types of things. People like you! Needless to say I am new at this. Your feedback, comments, and suggestions would be helpful and appreciated! |
AuthorAs the Shavings Fly is a blog written by Jeanne Betournay Lanseigne, the wife and #1 supporter of wood turner Al Lanseigne Archives
September 2015
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