There have been many manual powered lathe designs in history, such as the well known pole lathe. There are also treadle lathes such as the one built by Chris. Check out this video:
Texturing 101
If you were at our October mini-symposium one of the demonstrations you would have seen was basic texturing given by our membership director Stan Gardner. Stan showed us several different tools and techniques used to add interest to turnings.
If you are an AAW member you received the December, 2013 issue of American Woodturner. In it is a nice article by Mike Peace titled Texturing and Spiraling. In this article Mike explains the difference between texturing and spiraling wheels and shows how to use each on spindles, bowls and platters.
This is a good instructional article, one of many you can find in American Woodturners, with many pictures so you get a good visual of the correct way to use these tools. Check it out!
If you are not a member of AAW, why not? The subscription to American Woodturner is worth more than cost of the membership. Otherwise, you can pick up a copy at your favorite woodworking store.
AAW Message
Note – The following is a message from AAW Executive Director Phil McDonald
As 2013 draws to a close, I have the pleasure of reflecting on nearly two years since I arrived at the AAW. I relish every opportunity I’ve been given to contribute to this extraordinary organization and to the mission of educating others. And along the way I’ve been captivated by the wealth of personal stories shared with me by members as a testament to how the AAW has benefited the lives of others.
Every member counts, and every gift directly helps to support the work we do. 2013 has proven to be an excellent year for AAW. Our membership exceeded 15,000, an all-time high. We launched a new scholarship program to two major craft schools in conjunction with our local chapters. Over $35,000 in Educational Opportunity Grants were distributed. Publication of our Woodturning FUNdamentals digital resource entered its second year and subscriptions are climbing. And I am indebted to my tremendously dedicated staff of three here in Saint Paul, Linda, Jane and Tib, and of course Betty Scarpino, editor of our journal, who have ensured we consistently deliver top service to the entire membership throughout the entire year.
Your donation to the AAW is vital to sustain our momentum and to meet the challenge of higher operating expenses as we grow and it will enable us to continually add to the value of membership. In February we will be launching a new website and online member relations system. We have intentions of expanding the page count in future issues of American Woodturner and publishing new digital and mobile editions. We’ve heard the call from members to present more online instructional videos. And in the Spring of 2014 we are planning to publish the next round of instruction books in our new woodturning workbook series.
We have made it extremely convenient to donate at any level your budget may allow, by either using our online fundraising site by clicking here, or by simply mailing a check or calling our Saint Paul office. In recognition of your tax-deductible contribution we are offering Thank You gifts at each of the following levels of giving:
For a $100 minimum gift: A complete set of the new three-book AAW “Elements of Woodturning” workbook series.
For a $50 minimum gift: Any one book from either the AAW “Getting Started in Woodturning” or the “Elements of Woodturning” workbook series.
Our success in 2013 is a direct result of your support together with the AAW Board’s commitment to the oversight and stewardship of all of AAW’s financial and organizational resources. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead. I extend my deepest appreciation for your longstanding loyalty to our mission. If you would like more information on how to donate, please contact me.
Yours respectfully,
Let’s Have a Party!
Do you believe it? Christmas is once more upon us and it is time for our annual Christmas Party and Potluck Dinner.
Let’s all get together on Thursday, December 19th (that would be this Thursday night). Everyone is invited. Bring your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, or whatever.
The festivities begin at 6:00. As always, their will be presents and prizes and lots of good food. However, the food depends on you. This is a potluck, the quantity and variety depend on you. People whose last names begin with A thru Z, that would Abeles thru Zandell, should bring their favorite main dish, side dish, soup, salad, or most especially desert. If your name does not start with A thru Z, you should check your birth certificate and bring some food any way.
Almost forgot. If you have a special turning please bring it with you to share with the other people at your table.
Hope to see you all there on Thursday night!
Doctor’s Woodshop Finish
In the SPSW store we carry many of the commonly used items for woodturners. One of those products is Doctor’s Woodshop Walnut Oil and Wax woodturning finish. This is a patented product that is food-safe.
Mike Meridith, the Doctor of Doctor’s woodshop, has a video explaining the finish and how to apply it:
Upcoming Woodturning Symposiums
Here are a few of the upcoming woodturning symposiums:
Alaska Woodturners Association Woodturning Symposium
Every year the AWA hosts an annual woodturning symposium where we present Master Turners with International or National status. You do not have to be an experienced turner to gain education, tips, and skill building techniques from this event. This year’s symposium is being held on January 25th and 26th. Featured turners are Dixie Biggs and Jason Breach.
More information at the AWA Woodturners Website.
Florida Woodturning Symposium
The Florida Woodturning Symposium is the largest woodturning event in Florida and is held each year at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center. A self contained, wooded campus where you are immersed in nothing but woodturning for 2 1/2 days. This is one of the best ways to take the next step in your woodturning. This year’s event is being held Janary 31st through February 2nd.
The Florida Woodturning Symposium began in December 2001 through the efforts of three Florida Chapters of the American Association of Woodturners. Seven AAW Chapters now put on the symposium and attendance has grown each year thanks to the high quality of our demonstrators and our Hands-on-Workshops.
A large trade show offers the woodturning “goodies” you’ve been looking for, both new woodturning tools and a great selection of wood for the woodturner. In addition the FWS features a great auction and raffle and the chance to win an Education Grant to one of the great national Craft Schools or a one-on-one workshop with a talented Florida woodturning teacher.
Featured this year are Cynthia and Michael Gibson, Ashley Harwood, Bonnie Klein and Mike Mahoney.
More info can be found at the Florida Woodturning Symposium web page.
Tennessee Association of Woodturners 26th Symposium
The Tennessee Association of Woodturners (TAW) will be presenting their 26thAnniversary Symposium on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st, 2014. The Symposium will be held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Boulevard in Franklin, TN.
The 2014 Symposium features some of the worlds’ leading woodturners including: Trent Bosch, Barbara Dill, Doug Fisher and Kurt Hertzog.
You can get more in formation on the TAW Symposium webpage.
Totally Turning Symposium
The Adirondack Woodturners Association (AWA) is proud to bring you the 11th Totally Turning Symposium. Totally Turning 2014 will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and March 30, 2014 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
The AWA (Adirondack Woodturners Association) is a Special Interest Group (woodturning) of the Northeastern Woodworkers Association (NWA). The NWA has presented a woodworking show titled SHOWCASE in Saratoga Springs, New York for the past 23 years. SHOWCASE draws about 6000 woodworking attendees. It provides an Instant Gallery of roughly 500 pieces of fine woodworking including woodturning, presents continuous classes on woodworking, offers about 70 woodworking vendors (including many related to woodturning), and displays continuous demonstrations of woodturning, woodcarving, scrollsawing, and lumbering. Door prizes, raffles, and many give-aways make it an exciting two days of woodworking.
On March 29 and March 30, 2014, the Adirondack Woodturners Association will present Totally Turning 2014 in the same location as SHOWCASE. Every Totally Turning registrant will have full access to BOTH the woodturning rotations of Totally Turning 2014 and to all of SHOWCASE 2014. Instant Gallery pieces brought by Totally Turning registrants will be a part of the Instant Gallery of Showcase and as such will be viewed by about 4000 of the general public in addition to the woodturners of Totally Turning 2014.
Get more info on the Totally Turning website.
