I had a question on Christmas ornaments...

[Jonathon.C]

There is going to be a Christmas ornament making contest at my turning club... I was wondering if anybody had any unique ideas for Christmas ornament design. I see a lot of balls with little icicles attatched... hoped that someone might know of a more unique design!!! Any replies much appreciated

 

[MichaelMouse]

Looking like a duck is the first stage of duck recognition, as I recall. Though you can hang anything light enough on a branch, it may not be considered an ornament by some if it doesn't look like one.

I make long/short/broad/thin/large/small, long spindle on top/bottom/both/entire, mixed woods or matched grain ornaments. I have also made a few snowmen and fir tree patterns and the odd inside-out type. None of which do more for me as a turner than turning the ball and attached icecicle.

Of course, I learned many Easters ago that turning something shaped like an egg does not make it look egg-shaped.

Play with the scraps you have and see what makes you feel right. Square sections with spindles look pretty neat, in my opinion.

Hint if you don't like big hanging devices. Glue a cotter key in a 1/16 hole.

 

[Ken Grunke]

Inside/out turnings are always an eye-catcher, and the idea is great for ornaments.
I demoed these for our AAW chapter in 2002, and prepared a printout to pass around which is available as a PDF file here:
http://www.crwoodturner.com/howto.html

 

[John Trant]

Bruce Hoover's Demo in 1992

At the Rhode Island AAW Symposium, I saw Bruce Hoover turn thin walled ornaments and then pierce them with a high speed (400,000 rpm) grinder. The holes define the outline of holly leaves and berries, snowflakes, and winter scenes. In one he made of walnut, he added a small light to the interior so that the positive/negative images were reversed and the image was projected onto the walls. In others, he cut a slice off of one side so that he could hang a miniture inside (again, scenes, Christmas trees, another ornament, etc). Food for thought.

John

 

[Jonathon.C]

You guys are coming up with some really good suggestions!!! I like the inside/out ornament ideas (that is a great tutorial, BTW)!! Those I definitely gotta try. I also liked the idea of hollowing out an ornament and putting images onto the outside. Another thing I thought might be cool is to use a yellow wood for the finial and turn five "golden rings" on it I don't know how many people would recognize the idea, but it would be cool decoration. The question with that is that I don't have a captive ring tool... does any one know of a substitute for one/how to cut a ring with out one????