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Doc Green’s Woodturning Site

Articles Index

Adhesives and Fillers       Bandsaw Related         Chainsaws         Chucking Related


Gauges     Hollowing        Miscellaneous      Powermatic 3520        PM Electrical  


Projects                Sanding and Finishing             Wooden Tool Handle      


Turning Tools:     Gouges     Parting Tools      Scrapers       Skews       Sharpening


Working with Degraded Wood



Adhesives and Fillers


Adhesives for Working Wood

Basic properties of wood glue, cyanoacrylate (CA), and epoxy.


Thin CA Glue Applicator

An inexpensive plastic pipette makes a good applicator for thin CA glue.


Coffee Grounds and Epoxy as a Filler

Using coffee grounds (and other materials) and epoxy to fill cracks and voids.  



Bandsaw Related


Bandsaw Fixture

A simple fixture that enables bowls to be cut apart safely on a bandsaw.


Bandsaw Sleds

Build a short one and a longer one with a novel system for steadying a log.


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Infeed, Outfeed Rollers

How to make infeed and outfeed supports for the long bandsaw sled.



Chainsaws


The Wonderful Chainsaw

The two most common causes of kickbacks and how to avoid them.

Subtitle:  “How to not get killed with a chainsaw.”


Cutting Blanks with a Chainsaw

Tips for cutting blanks, building log holders, and using a chainsaw inside the shop.



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Chucking Related


Rotary Adaptor for a Vacuum System

How to make a double-bearing rotary adaptor that gives improved performance.


Vacuum Chuck for Spheres

Make a vacuum chuck for holding spheres while sanding and finishing.


Holding Power of Chuck Jaws, Part 1

How large should the tenon be to maximize the holding power? Jaws fully expanded or closed to near minimum?  To better understand this question, the holding power is separated into two components, torque and leverage, and the effect of tenon diameter on each is considered.


Part 2: Holding Power, More Details

Types of chuck jaws: dovetail and serrated. Forming a dovetailed tenon. Working near the limits.


Tenons and Variations, Part 1

Describes tenons that are somewhat unconventional: an inset tenon; a tenon inside a bowl; a tenon inside the foot of a bowl, and a tenon that surrounds the foot of a vessel.


Part 2:  A Tenon on a Tenon – Make a Plunder Bowl

A bowl whose hollow is off center makes a neat overnight repository for pocket plunder.


Small, Chuck-Mounted Faceplate

Make a wooden “faceplate” for holding items roughly 2” in diameter.


Screw Chucks and Threaded Mandrels

An in-depth look at screw chucks. Pitfalls to avoid. How to make a screw chuck.


Screws in End-Grain Wood

Why screws do not hold well in end-grain wood. The importance of a pilot hole.


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Gauges


Bevel Angle Gauge

How to use a “sliding bevel” to measure the bevel angles on turning tools.


Bowl Bottom Thickness Gauge

Free-standing fixture for accurately measuring the bottom thickness of a bowl.


Earl’s Depth Gauge

Earl Kennedy’s easy-to-make, laser-equipped depth gauge for hollow forms.  


Thickness Gauges for Ornaments

Three small gauges for measuring the wall thickness of globes for tree ornaments.


Self-Supporting Depth Gauge

A laser-equipped gauge for the bottom thickness of chuck-mounted vessels.


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Hollowing


Sorby Hollowmaster

A description of the Sorby Hollowmaster and an introduction to hollowing.


Hollowmaster: Sharpening the Rod, Disk, and Bullet Cutters

Holders for the cutters; setting the angle; grinding and honing.


Air Circulation in Hollow Forms

Reducing the curing time for a finish applied to the inside of a hollow form.


Wooden Tool Rest

How I made a thin-profile tool rest for use with small hollowing tools.


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Miscellaneous


Making Tiny Tools, Part 1

Tools for fine detail. What you need; heat treatment; round-nose scraper.


Making Tiny Tools, Part 2

V-Cutter, Pyramid, Skew, Parting tools, Long-bevel cutter, and several more


Lathe-Mounted Sanding Pad

Make a holder for a sanding pad so it can be mounted on the lathe.



Anchorseal Brush Storage

A way to store Anchorseal so you don’t have to clean the brush.


Dowel Collet, Shop-Made

Jeff Willaford’s wooden collet for holding a dowel for a bottle stopper.


Draw an Ellipse.

Using a string to draw an ellipse of a predetermined size.


A Holder for a Set of Circle Templates

This holder keeps them in order and allows any one to be selected quickly.


Torque Amplifier for a Chuck Key

A simple handle makes it much easier for an old guy to get the chuck really tight.


Using Dividers to Transfer Dimensions

Safely transfer a dimension to the face of a workpiece.


How to Solder Electrical Connections, Part 1

Soldering irons and guns.  Solder and flux. The secret to getting solder to stick.


Part 2: Tinning Wires and Making Connections

The basic technique for joining wires and attaching wires to solder lugs.


Part 3: Power Controller for a Soldering Iron

Use a light dimmer to prevent a soldering iron from overheating.


Hoop Snake Warning

Do not turn wood from a tree that has been struck by a Hoop Snake


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Powermatic 3520


Indexing Wheel

A fixture for using the indexing wheel from Ironfire LLC.


Lathe Extension  

An all-wood extension for a PM 3520B for parking the tailstock.


Lathe Speed

Guidelines for selecting the RPM for turning various workpieces.


Spindle Lock

A simple way to lock the spindle on a Powermatic lathe.


Tailstock Quill Mechanism

Step-by-step instructions for disassembling the tailstock quill.


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PM Electrical


Power Line Switch for PM

How to install a line switch for a Powermatic lathe


PM Control Circuit, Part 1

Circuit description; how it works.


Control Circuit, Part 2

Troubleshooting


Control Circuit, Part 3

Removing the inverter for replacement or repair.


PM 3520 Switch Replacement

Description and part numbers; details for replacing; a stop-gap repair.  


Remote Switch for PM 3520, Part 1

Installing a remote switch on a PM lathe; details of making the connections.


Remote Switch, Part 2

Crimping connectors and mounting the switch.


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Projects


Egg-Shaped Birdhouse

An egg combined with a hollow form yields a functional birdhouse.


Rolling Pin Stand

A rolling pin holder that stands the rolling pin on end for a small footprint.


Turn a Sphere – Four Methods

A brief description of four methods for turning a sphere.


Sphere – Shadow Method

A spotllight above the lathe casts a shadow onto a screen placed below the blank. A circle drawn on the screen serves as a guide for creating the sphere


Turn a Doughnut

How to deal with the challenges of holding the blank while you turn a doughnut.


Cutting Rings and Templates

How to cut accurate rings and disks from thin, flexible materials


A Three-Tiered Tray with Lazy Susan, Part 1

How to make a three-tiered tray and install a lazy Susan


A Three Tiered Lazy Susan, Part 2

This is the second part of the Lazy Susan project


Cake Stand, Part 1

Overall description. Making the top platter.


Cake Stand, Part 2

Making the base and attaching the platter.


Rolling Pins, Part 1

A design for a rolling pin with rotating handles.  Making the body.


Part 2: Making the Handles

Making and installing the handles. Includes making a threaded mandrel.


Part 3: A French Rolling Pin

Making a single- and a three-section French-style rolling pin.


Part 4: A Half-Scale Rolling Pin for Little Rollers

Describes the modifications required to scale down the basic rolling pin.


Plunder Bowl – See the article in the “Chucking Related” section.


Make a Screw Chuck – Described in the article in the “Chucking Related” section.


Plate from a Thin Blank – Described in the article “Tenons and Variations, Part 1.”


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Sanding and Finishing


Sanding, Part 1: Introduction

Basics of sanding: sanding speed; sanding through the grits; and so forth.


Sanding, Part 2:  Power Sanding

Using a drill and sanding disks to remove deep scratches and torn grain.


Sanding, Part 3:  General Comments and Applications

Sanding the footprint of a nubbin.  Wet sanding.  Sanding a finish.


Applying a Lacquer-Based Finish

The method I use to obtain a glossy finish using Deft lacquer.


Beall Buffing

The Beall system and the buffing process. What buffing cannot do. Common problems.


Lathe-Mounted Buffing Wheel    

Make an inexpensive mandrel for mounting a Beall buffing wheel on your lathe.


Preparing a Mineral Oil – Beeswax Finish

Determine the quantities of oil and wax to use. How to “cook” the mixture.


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Making a Wooden Tool Handle


Making a Tool Handle, Part 1

Describes a method for making a tool handle out of wood.


Part 2: Drilling the Hole

Using the lathe to drill the hole in a tool handle.  Emphasis is on safety.


Part 3: Adding a Ferrule

What a ferrule does and how to install metal and wrapped-string ferrules.


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Gouges


Part 1: An Introduction

An introduction to gouges: names of parts, types; definitions of swing, tilt, and rotation.  


Part 2:  Spindle Roughing Gouge

How to use a spindle roughing gouge. Why it must not be used on a bowl.


Part 3: The Basic Cut with a Bowl Gouge

A systematic approach to the basic cut. Rubbing the bevel and guiding the cut.


Part 4:  Cutting on the Wing

Description. Roughing and bevel-rubbing cuts. Hollowing the interior of a goblet.


Part 5:  Basic Sidegrain Turning

Description of several basic cuts with a bowl gouge. Preparing a practice blank.


Part 6:  Cuts in Rough Turning a Bowl

Describes several ways a bowl gouge may be used while roughing out a bowl.


Part 7:  Small Spindle and Detail Gouges

Applications.  Includes cutting V groves, coves, beads, and small tenons.


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Sharpening


Inxpensive Honing Fluid

Importance of using, and a readily available, inexpensive honing fluid.


Free-Hand Sharpening

My method of sharpening turning tools without the use of a jig.


Grinding Jig Instability

Using a simple jig to sharpen a tool with a steep bevel can be very dangerous.



Scrapers (Revised)


Part 1: Introduction to Scrapers  

Scraping vs. cutting; Properties of burrs from grinding, honing, and burnishing; How to sharpen a scraper.

 

Part 2: More about the Burr; Shear Scraping

Testing a burr to determine its characteristics; How the bevel angle affects the burr; Introduction to shear scraping.


Part 3: Negative Rake Scrapers

A discussion of negative rake and bevel angles; A scraper with a 35° included angle and why it cuts; A few applications.


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The Skew


Part 1:  Introduction to the Skew

Rectangular, oval, rolled-edge, and round.  How to make a planing cut.


Part 2:  Incising a Line, V Grooves, and More

Square cut across end grain. Shaping convex surfaces; using the skew in making a finial.


Part 3: Sharpening Skews

How to sharpen skews using either a grinder or a belt sander. Tips on honing a skew.


Parting Tools


A Mishap with a Parting Tool

Neglecting to provide clearance for a parting tool had a dramatic effect.


Part 1:  Description and Use

Thin and symmetrical-bevel parting tools.  How to cut a bead with a beading/parting tool.


Part 2:  How to Sharpen a Parting Tool

Sharpening thin parting tools with a grinder or belt sander. Honing parting tools.


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Working with Degraded Wood


Part 1: Introduction to Spalted and Degraded Wood

Tips on evaluating and mounting degraded wood on the lathe.


Part 2:  Obtaining a Clean Surface

Roughing out the form using several different cuts with a bowl gouge.


Part 3:  Finish turning, Sanding, and Applying a Finish

Use of lacquer sanding sealer to fortify the wood.  


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