Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! For the first monthly challenge of 2026, I want to focus on something a bit different and very fun: Bending wood! Now, bending wood can be accomplished in various ways: via microwaving, steam box, green wood and pressure, using compressed wood, dry bending, etc... In the woodturning context, this usually involves turning something thing and bending with the help of forms, rubber bands, or other external aids. You can also harness the power of green wood, grain orientation, and timber features to allow wood to naturally twist and bend as desired. The sky is the limit for this challenge--as long as there is a turned component, your final piece can be all natural, carved, burned, painted, or anything else required by your vision. I won't list any tutorial resources (Google is your friend), but feel free to reach out to me or anyone else if you have questions.
Here are four bent pieces for a bit of inspiration (by Keith Tompkins, Dave Roberts, Benjamin Planitzer, and Kurt Herzog, respectively):
Here are the challenge rules, as determined by AAW Forum legal counsel Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe:
Good luck, have fun, make shavings, and let the chips fall where they may!!
Happy New Year! For the first monthly challenge of 2026, I want to focus on something a bit different and very fun: Bending wood! Now, bending wood can be accomplished in various ways: via microwaving, steam box, green wood and pressure, using compressed wood, dry bending, etc... In the woodturning context, this usually involves turning something thing and bending with the help of forms, rubber bands, or other external aids. You can also harness the power of green wood, grain orientation, and timber features to allow wood to naturally twist and bend as desired. The sky is the limit for this challenge--as long as there is a turned component, your final piece can be all natural, carved, burned, painted, or anything else required by your vision. I won't list any tutorial resources (Google is your friend), but feel free to reach out to me or anyone else if you have questions.
Here are four bent pieces for a bit of inspiration (by Keith Tompkins, Dave Roberts, Benjamin Planitzer, and Kurt Herzog, respectively):
Here are the challenge rules, as determined by AAW Forum legal counsel Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe:
- Entries must be posted in this thread by 11:59 PM Coordinated Universal Time (ish) on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
- You can post up to two photos of your piece in this thread. Please don't crop your images tightly (meaning, leave a bit of room in the image so I can add your name later).
- Your turning can be any size, and can be embellished or natural. There are plenty of opportunities to get creative here, so feel free. Include the dimensions in your entry post.
- As always, this is a turning contest, not a "moldy oldie" photo contest, so in fairness to everybody, make sure your work is something you have made since this challenge was issued on January 6, 2026.
- You may not post any photos of your entry in this month’s challenge in any other thread or in the gallery until the voting has ended and a winner has been declared. Your are allowed to solicit information on mounting strategies though.
- Voting will take place from January 30, 2026, through 3:59 am Coordinated Universal Time on February 1, 2026.
- Solicitation of votes will result in disqualification.
Good luck, have fun, make shavings, and let the chips fall where they may!!
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