Spindle Turning Project Kits for Members?

[Don Stephan]

Bowl turning blanks would seem relatively easy to obtain by many who are members of AAW chapters. Utility wire trimmers often leave on the ground firewood sized pieces of wood. There are a plethora of tree maintenance companies that likely would make available pieces of wood at their yard. Granted, not everyone has a chain saw and/or bandsaw to process, but fellow members may be willing to collaborate. And drawings aren't needed to turn bowl shapes.

But those looking to turn spindle projects are much more limited. Unlike chiunks of tree, wood for spindle blank projects most often come from pieces of lumber. Lumber can be expensive and often is broken down with a table saw and sliding miter saw or circular saw, and a band saw.

Do any AAW chapters offer spindle turning kits for members, consisting of appropriately sized wood blanks and full sized drawing at cost?

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Don

Not exactly kits, but on my YouTube channel there are two spindle projects (more to come) with full demos and downloadable plans (free downloads from my website).

One is a ‘skew-friendly’ design, designed around using planed 2x2 from a DIY store: Video here

The other is a stylised acorn finial which could be in hardwood or softwood: Video here

Each year, I do a Christmas challenge on my Instagram, this year it will be on my YouTube too, so that will be out at the start of December.

Hope this is helpdul

Richard

 

[Mike Brazeau]

Here is a screenshot from a presentation I did on wood processing about ten years ago. When I had log sections, I processed a portion of it into spindle blanks which I endcoated with melted wax in an electric frypan and just dried in my basement or put them in my kiln. Rarely lost a blank. I have more than enough in numerous species to last the remainder of my turning adventure in my 80s.