After a brief start last year, followed by a long time out due to many other priorities, I'm back on my wood turning adventure. I also got to deal with a broken finger due to a turning related accident while not actually turning. Basically, my left pinky got trapped between two logs I was collecting for turning. It broke the place where the tendon attached to the outermost bone. After 8 weeks in a splint, it reattached, but I can't bend it anywhere near as much as I could before.
Anyway, I spent lots of time reading and watching turning videos. I feel like I've gotten to know Mike, Sam, Shawn, James, Rick, and others whose videos have been so helpful. This helped me reset my learning priorities and to better understand the set of Harbor Freight chisels I am beginning with. For example, I've temporarily suspended trying to make bowls since the set didn't come with a bowl gouge. Instead, I'm focusing on spindle work for now.
My first two finished projects are the bud vases below. I made the one on the left for my wife for mother's day. I finished the one on the right today. They are both made of spalted birch, the stuff which broke my finger last year. The rough log was for the one I made today. The finish on today's is danish oil with a coat of wax. The wood was outside a little too long, I encountered a couple punky spots I had to firm up with CA. Inside both is a plastic test tube so they can hold live buds.
I plan to make more bud vases, some tops, mushrooms, and other small items to build skills. I've also been asked to make salt and pepper shakers and I want to turn some cup holders to start building skills for making boxes.
This leads to a couple questions.
First, other than watching videos and proceeding carefully, is there any other advice on getting comfortable with skews?
Second, since I don't have a bowl gouge, I'm not sure which of the tools I have (spindle gouges, skews, round scraper, beading, parting), if any, I could use to hollow out a cup holder?
Anyway, I spent lots of time reading and watching turning videos. I feel like I've gotten to know Mike, Sam, Shawn, James, Rick, and others whose videos have been so helpful. This helped me reset my learning priorities and to better understand the set of Harbor Freight chisels I am beginning with. For example, I've temporarily suspended trying to make bowls since the set didn't come with a bowl gouge. Instead, I'm focusing on spindle work for now.
My first two finished projects are the bud vases below. I made the one on the left for my wife for mother's day. I finished the one on the right today. They are both made of spalted birch, the stuff which broke my finger last year. The rough log was for the one I made today. The finish on today's is danish oil with a coat of wax. The wood was outside a little too long, I encountered a couple punky spots I had to firm up with CA. Inside both is a plastic test tube so they can hold live buds.
I plan to make more bud vases, some tops, mushrooms, and other small items to build skills. I've also been asked to make salt and pepper shakers and I want to turn some cup holders to start building skills for making boxes.
This leads to a couple questions.
First, other than watching videos and proceeding carefully, is there any other advice on getting comfortable with skews?
Second, since I don't have a bowl gouge, I'm not sure which of the tools I have (spindle gouges, skews, round scraper, beading, parting), if any, I could use to hollow out a cup holder?