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Pictures of Embellishing Area/Stations

Joined
Sep 29, 2021
Messages
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Location
Hatboro, PA
I did a google search "aaw forum embelishing station" and an aaw forum search 'embellishing station'. Got no results. So i am at a point where I want to take the next step in my turning journey, and i want to step up an embellishing station. not just for me, but my wife as well who has all but stopped embellishing over the past year. We got rid of alot of machinery to make room, and I just want some ideas. Would you please reply with pictures of the area you do embellishing/carving/painting etc? ----- OR ----- Send me the link from this site where this question has already been answered.

Thanks everyone!

Nick
 
Hmm, well, I carve a fair amount on the lathe most of the time using a custom built carving jig. But theres a list of of 'other gear' also required for the embellishments I do, I.E. the layout of the embellishment on the piece before carving. Also the actual form and shape of the turning is affected according to what effect I am after. Add to that tools for embellishing, sanding, etc. In my case orientation of the blank has part to play and so I have modified chucking/Jaws to accommodate that. The question you have asked covers such a huge area with as many variables perhaps as those who embellish.

But if you have or use Facebook and Instagram I am the as the The Wooden Potter https://www.facebook.com/TheWoodenPotter/ and https://www.instagram.com/thewoodenpotter/ and perhaps peruse my album here to see what I do and how it may be useful to you.
 
The term "embellishing station" doesn’t ring a bell with me either. Be more specific about the type of embellishing (coloring, carving, decorating, etc) in your search. Also, the word "station" probably is more of a hindrance than a help when searching. I also noticed that you misspelled "embellishing" which would prevent you from getting any results.
 
I don't do much embellishments but I either do it on the lathe or at my workbench. The same workbench I use for cutting dovetails and planing boards. I haven't really seen anyone yet have a separate area for this work. Will be interested in other responses.
 
I have a smallish area that i setup for doing non turning work to my turned pieces. I got lots of stuff crammed into my shop so wall space is limited but i wanted a dedicated spot for things that would take many days to work on. The bench is 17 inches deep and 31 inches wide bolted directly to the wall at a height that i could sit on a stool or stand.

carving station.jpg
 
Nick it depends on what you want to do. Carving, painting and pyrography require adequate ventilation. Setting up a working space to accommodate your tools and considering ergonomics is a trial and error thing. I elected to use a downdraft table as I do a lot of carving with power tools.
 
Most of what I do to include carving and pyrography is done on my workbench. All my carving , burning and most other embellishing tools are in arms length away. Also in front of me are my small acrylic paints, alcohol based stains and other pigments, plus epoxy for pigments .

2.bowls-carving 8-19.JPG

Note the open slot on the right has a bit op open space on the wall. Since this photo there are now a couple of small cabinets in that space for some of the above mentioned items as well as a micro motor and two burners
 
The first thing I think about when embellishing a piece is how do I hold it. My solution is a carving stand mounted to a solid workbench at a comfortable height, so I can sit on my favorite shop stool and do the deed.

I use a old articulating Wilton Pow-R-Arm mounted to a small bench. To attach my work I have different adapters. One to directly mount a lathe chuck, one for a vacuum chuck, and a third to mount a standard work vise. The articulation allows me to rotate the piece in any position to do the work. I can hold anything from small ornaments to full size stools and chairs while drilling for stretchers. The bench is small enough I can roll it outside when power carving or sanding to keep the dust out of the shop.
 
Seems to me "embellishing" is a broadly encompassing word. "Station" seems to imply a fixed location.

For a piece with carving, I turn, remove from the lathe and sometimes mount the piece on a carving stand (Best Wood Tools) for much of my initial prep standing (hand saw, chisel, files, dremel, foredom, etc), maybe back and forth to/from the lathe as needed, some carving/texturing while mounted on the lathe, some off. Depends.

Then I move to an extremely comfortable Aeron chair and put my feet up for most of the detailed carving/shaping/sanding/texturing by hand. Usually with my feet up. Sometimes I put a towel under the piece. The chair is next to a small table where I put tools and such. I've watched Graeme Priddle and Melissa work and seems like they worked in a similar way. Difference is their pieces are astounding.

Below is one piece I did approximately as described above, about 10 years ago.
This was my first attempt at such a thing - I'll do a lot of things differently next time.

Bradford pear.
Initial steps on the lathe.
carved_bowl_process_IMG_201.jpg
End result. I didn't get photos of any intermediate steps.
carved_bowl_IMG_4195.jpg
I have no idea how much of this would be considered "embellishing".

Does chip carving count as embellishing?
I do most of my chip carving in the same chair or in a small folding chair pulled up to a small, low table.
The table is actually an electronic keyboard stand with plywood mounted on the top, has plenty of leg room underneath, no drawers,
A sample of chip carving, beginner's level.
chip_carving_comp.jpg

Sorry, I don't have pictures of my chairs or my small table.

I carved a quick sign that describes my work "stations" (and my entire shop):
chip_mess.jpg

JKJ
 
I am training myself to do my carving/texturing standing up. My carving is with either hand tools or reciprocating carvers and got into trouble with a repetitive strain injury to my shoulder. I had poor body position and would spend far to long working sitting stooped over the work causing shoulder and neck problems. On advice I now work standing and concentrate on a neutral stance.
I hold my work in a chuck with a Veritas carving vise. The vise works for settling the angle and ease of rotation. I found that by affixing the vise to a 2x4. I clamp it in my bench vise and make very quick adjustments to height and angle as required to keep a good body position.
 

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I am training myself to do my carving/texturing standing up. My carving is with either hand tools or reciprocating carvers and got into trouble with a repetitive strain injury to my shoulder. I had poor body position and would spend far to long working sitting stooped over the work causing shoulder and neck problems. On advice I now work standing and concentrate on a neutral stance.
I hold my work in a chuck with a Veritas carving vise. The vise works for settling the angle and ease of rotation. I found that by affixing the vise to a 2x4. I clamp it in my bench vise and make very quick adjustments to height and angle as required to keep a good body position.
Will, can you tell me about your blue bench vise? An old Record? Newer Eclipse (a Record look-alike)? Something else? Thanks.
 
I did a google search "aaw forum embelishing station" and an aaw forum search 'embellishing station'. Got no results. So i am at a point where I want to take the next step in my turning journey, and i want to step up an embellishing station. not just for me, but my wife as well who has all but stopped embellishing over the past year. We got rid of alot of machinery to make room, and I just want some ideas. Would you please reply with pictures of the area you do embellishing/carving/painting etc? ----- OR ----- Send me the link from this site where this question has already been answered.

Thanks everyone!

Nick
Here's where I do much of my carving and most all of my pyro. The 4" hose/duct fan shown in both up and down position helps protect my lungs. I also have a carving station at the lathe that sees a lot of action. My studio is small so it may seem a bit crammed and cluttered but it's actually quite efficient.
 

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Will, can you tell me about your blue bench vise? An old Record? Newer Eclipse (a Record look-alike)? Something else? Thanks.
I installed it new around 30 years ago. It is a Record 52 ED quick release. It works so much better now than I cleaned and lubed it about a year ago.
 

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I installed it new around 30 years ago. It is a Record 52 ED quick release. It works so much better now than I cleaned and lubed it about a year ago.
Sweet, thanks! It's good for another century or so now.
 
Previous threads have shown pictures of well laid out, pristine shops. I am SO glad to see photos of real shops, with all the chaos and clutter that a well used work space will have. Just dump a couple wheelbarrows of shavings on the floor and I'd feel right at home.

Ha! That reminded me that I DO have a picture of one of the the little tables I sometimes use, mostly for sketching, tracing, design/layout, chip carving, texturing.

I took this photo years ago to try to win the a "Messy Shop" competition. There's actually a PM table saw with slider there somewhere.

I don't think I won that contest, but I'm sure I could win now. Anyone not wearing narrow shoes couldn't navigate the paths in my shop today.

mess.jpg

JKJ
 
Ha! That reminded me that I DO have a picture of one of the the little tables I sometimes use, mostly for sketching, tracing, design/layout, chip carving, texturing.

I took this photo years ago to try to win the a "Messy Shop" competition. There's actually a PM table saw with slider there somewhere.

I don't think I won that contest, but I'm sure I could win now. Anyone not wearing narrow shoes couldn't navigate the paths in my shop today.

View attachment 71956

JKJ
Every turning shop needs a few watermelons.
 
Every turning shop needs a few watermelons.

Cushaw Squash, on their way to the house.
cushaw_IMG_20140710_181202_749.jpg
We save seeds and grow them most years. Some are small, some are huge.
Cut up and cook like pumpkin, cushaw pie, cushaw bread.
Freeze portions to use all year. We like it better than pumpkin.

Oh the terrible burden we endure. A little compassion, please.

farm&garden.jpg

JKJ
 
I have a smallish area that i setup for doing non turning work to my turned pieces. I got lots of stuff crammed into my shop so wall space is limited but i wanted a dedicated spot for things that would take many days to work on. The bench is 17 inches deep and 31 inches wide bolted directly to the wall at a height that i could sit on a stool or stand.

View attachment 71755
Nice Setup, Chris. The hose just goes to a dust collector? I like that you swapped the set screws for wing nuts on the chuck mount. Good idea. I like how the flex shaft is just at the right height for the controller/pen to carve. Does it ever become taught and hinder the carving? Does the airline there go with the embelling station, or its just passing through?

Thanks for the Photo, Chris.
 
The first thing I think about when embellishing a piece is how do I hold it. My solution is a carving stand mounted to a solid workbench at a comfortable height, so I can sit on my favorite shop stool and do the deed.

I use a old articulating Wilton Pow-R-Arm mounted to a small bench. To attach my work I have different adapters. One to directly mount a lathe chuck, one for a vacuum chuck, and a third to mount a standard work vise. The articulation allows me to rotate the piece in any position to do the work. I can hold anything from small ornaments to full size stools and chairs while drilling for stretchers. The bench is small enough I can roll it outside when power carving or sanding to keep the dust out of the shop.
Hey Larry, Do you have any pictures or video of this setup? I would love to see it.
 
Seems to me "embellishing" is a broadly encompassing word. "Station" seems to imply a fixed location.

For a piece with carving, I turn, remove from the lathe and sometimes mount the piece on a carving stand (Best Wood Tools) for much of my initial prep standing (hand saw, chisel, files, dremel, foredom, etc), maybe back and forth to/from the lathe as needed, some carving/texturing while mounted on the lathe, some off. Depends.

Then I move to an extremely comfortable Aeron chair and put my feet up for most of the detailed carving/shaping/sanding/texturing by hand. Usually with my feet up. Sometimes I put a towel under the piece. The chair is next to a small table where I put tools and such. I've watched Graeme Priddle and Melissa work and seems like they worked in a similar way. Difference is their pieces are astounding.

Below is one piece I did approximately as described above, about 10 years ago.
This was my first attempt at such a thing - I'll do a lot of things differently next time.

Bradford pear.
Initial steps on the lathe.
View attachment 71849
End result. I didn't get photos of any intermediate steps.
View attachment 71850
I have no idea how much of this would be considered "embellishing".

Does chip carving count as embellishing?
I do most of my chip carving in the same chair or in a small folding chair pulled up to a small, low table.
The table is actually an electronic keyboard stand with plywood mounted on the top, has plenty of leg room underneath, no drawers,
A sample of chip carving, beginner's level.
View attachment 71851

Sorry, I don't have pictures of my chairs or my small table.

I carved a quick sign that describes my work "stations" (and my entire shop):
View attachment 71852

JKJ
Thanks John. Great Work. Would love to see a picture of the setup. Maybe with you in the chair giving the camera thumbs up? :) :) :)

I think that anything you do to the piece that is done on spinning work by slicing, pealing, scraping or abrading wouldnt be considered embelishment. IMO. Anything else (generally speaking) would be.
 
Here's where I do much of my carving and most all of my pyro. The 4" hose/duct fan shown in both up and down position helps protect my lungs. I also have a carving station at the lathe that sees a lot of action. My studio is small so it may seem a bit crammed and cluttered but it's actually quite efficient.
Thats a nice setup, Pat. I especially like the little pillow with what i believe is something to rest your wrists on and hold the work alittle higher. Nick collection of bits you have :) See labels above that read 5mm HHCS (Hex Head C? S?) are all those drawers fasteners? So many tools there!
 
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