tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:16:33 +0000Tips, 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/noreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)Blogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1235562962808580741Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:16:00 +00002010-03-08T08:16:33.360-04:00 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 to http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/atom.xml. http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2010/03/this-blog-has-moved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-3742545152875724740Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:17:00 +00002010-02-19T07:17:56.631-04:00inspirationNo 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) http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2010/02/quote-for-aspiring-woodturners.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-5095493482851460050Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:33:00 +00002009-06-14T08:12:33.324-03:00sharpeningIt 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2009/06/why-are-sharp-tools-important.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-4170091102448077744Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:52:00 +00002009-04-14T16:09:40.054-03:00safetylatheI 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 allhttp://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2009/04/nova-outrigger-hazard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-4510570330330577791Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:25:00 +00002009-01-09T08:55:12.759-04:00woodturning centerITEinspirationdecorationSatoshi 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2009/01/inspiration-from-nature.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-2344086020893336251Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:28:00 +00002008-03-10T21:04:19.847-03:00websitesYou 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 alsohttp://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2008/03/wikiwood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-3581071564224284875Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:43:00 +00002009-06-14T08:23:56.867-03:00Last 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2008/01/index.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-951879853841306946Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:44:00 +00002008-01-24T09:35:09.439-04:00Six 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2008/01/remounting-dried-bowl-blanks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8077832369062869245Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:34:00 +00002008-01-03T07:46:08.790-04:00projectswoodturningHere 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2008/01/turning-honey-dipper.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-5846677108655307327Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:33:00 +00002007-08-02T08:40:36.051-03:00woodturning centerartITELesya 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?http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/08/wood-sculpture-interpreted.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8930156843150393151Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:08:00 +00002007-07-31T16:20:34.116-03:00craftsI 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/blast-from-past.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8203620014966137466Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:08:00 +00002007-07-25T21:26:36.645-03:00artdesignMany 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/empty-vessel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-9192254370285489689Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:48:00 +00002007-07-17T08:53:57.095-03:00woodHave 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/whats-that-tree.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-7284969373730029245Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:25:00 +00002007-07-13T13:34:31.714-03:00craftsmarketingHow 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 & http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/how-important-are-handcrafted-items-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8921635000421521365Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:05:00 +00002007-07-12T08:46:26.516-03:00woodturning centerITEThe 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/ite-2007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-1799821029609519768Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:21:00 +00002007-07-04T10:53:29.508-03:00exhibitiondesigndecorationBlogger 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/07/blogger-alan-irwin-has-been-covering.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8548390793216920667Fri, 25 May 2007 13:07:00 +00002007-05-25T11:30:05.929-03:00artdesigndecorationYeah, 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, http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/05/pysanky-and-trypillian-decoration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-5281429485178370056Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:13:00 +00002007-03-18T13:32:05.637-03:00designOne 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/03/design-resources.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-2249098157062511714Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:10:00 +00002007-02-22T10:21:47.810-04:00Hey 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/02/interview-on-layers-upon-layers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-116281882311649325Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:43:00 +00002007-02-16T18:30:45.745-04:00seasoningwoodI 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2006/11/drying-wood-some-low-tech-approaches.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-2935340029011805111Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:41:00 +00002007-02-11T17:50:16.884-04:00tipsRemote 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?http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/02/wheres-remote.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-8268108769629575485Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:22:00 +00002007-02-10T14:23:57.975-04:00artdesignOne 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 http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/02/repetition-as-design-element.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-474368054709588219Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:00:00 +00002007-02-07T11:46:08.130-04:00artdesignwoodturningThere 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:"http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2007/02/woodturning-plus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-116281927644383655Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:25:00 +00002007-02-06T20:25:27.137-04:00sharpeningmaintenanceEvery 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 thehttp://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2006/11/sharp-tools-and-lathe-maintenance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16519253.post-116281917185138546Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:42:00 +00002007-01-30T20:42:24.753-04:00A 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.http://seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2006/11/marking-dark-wood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Derek Andrews)1