Handcrafted Wood and Acrylic Pens

Wood turning is a form of woodworking that is used to create wooden objects on a lathe (see: also antique wooden polelathe). Wood turning differs from most other forms of woodworking in that the wood is moving while a stationary tool is used to cut and shape it. Many intricate shapes and designs can be made by turning wood.

There are two distinct methods of turning wood: spindle turning and faceplate turning. In spindle turning, the wood is fixed between 2 points. The spur center digs in to the wood and is powered by a motor. The other, a hard center or a live center may be a point or set of points in the tailstock. In face plate turning, the wood is secured with screws to a faceplate or in a chuck or jig. the tail stock and a center may also be used for added support on large pieces with a faceplate. Most bowls, platters and many vessels are face plate turned, while, Pens, furniture legs, spindles, and some vessels are spindle turned. The method used may differ depending on the shape of the blank and the technique of the turner, and both methods may be used on the same piece.

When wood is cut in such a way that the fiber being cut is not supported by the fiber below it, it tends to separate and tear. This "tearout" exhibits a rough, highly damaged looking surface texture and greatly reduces the value of any product exhibiting it. The direction of cut is different in spindle turning and faceplate turning because cutting in the wrong direction can cause tearout. Spindle turning cuts are made from high points toward the axis on the outside of the piece, and from the axis toward the outside when hollowing. When faceplate turning, the opposite applies.

The origin of wood turning dates to around 1300BC when the Egyptians first developed a two-person lathe. One person would turn the wood with a rope while the other used a sharp tool to cut shapes in the wood. The Romans improved the Egyptian design with the addition of a turning bow. Early bow lathes were also developed and used in Germany, France and Britain. In the Middle Ages a pedal replaced hand-operated turning, freeing both the craftsman's hands to hold the wood turning tools. The pedal was usually connected to a pole, often a straight-grained sapling. The system today is called the "spring pole" lathe (see Polelathe). Spring pole lathes were in common use into the early 20th Century. A two-person lathe, called a "great lathe", allowed a piece to turn continuously (like today's power lathes). A master would cut the wood while an apprentice turned the crank.

The term "bodger" stems from pole lathe turners who used to make the chair legs and spindles. A bodger would typically purchase all the trees on a plot of land, set up camp on the plot, and then fell the trees and turn the wood. The spindles and legs that were produced were sold in bulk, for pence per dozen. The bodger's job was considered unfinished because he only made component parts. The term now describes a person who leaves a job unfinished, or does it badly.

During the industrial revolution the lathe was motorized, allowing turned items to be created in less time. The motor also produced a greater rotational speed for the wood, making it easier to quickly produce high quality work. Today most commercial woodturning is done by computer-operated machinery allowing for mass-production that can be created with precision and without the cost of employing craftsmen. Despite this, there is still a demand for hand-turned products. Woodturning is also a hobby enjoyed by many people.

Modern professional wood turners are typically either "production" turners producing large quantities of functional pieces, or artistic turners producing smaller numbers of pieces, often enhanced after turning by carving, piercing, coloring, applying pyrography, gilding, or a number of other techniques to produce objects for the art market.

Turning tools are generally made from three different types of steel, Carbon steel, High speed steel (HSS), and more recently Powdered Metal. Comparing the three types, high speed steel tools maintain their edge longer, requiring less frequent sharpening than carbon steel, but not as long as powdered metal tools. The harder the type of high speed steel used, the longer the edge will maintain sharpness. Powdered steel is even harder than HSS, but takes more effort to obtain an edge as sharp as HSS, just as HSS is harder to get as sharp as Carbon Steel. Unlike other edged woodworking tools, wood turning tools require more frequent sharpening, because the wood passes at a great speed. To maintain a clean cut, the sharpness of the tools edge must be maintained. The sharpening process requires either skill of the craftsman, or one of the many available sharpening jigs, which facilitate maintaining a specific bevel on the tool. High speed steel is not prone to blueing (overheating) whereas carbon steel blues easily, requiring frequent quenching to avoid losing temper (making the edge too soft.)

What is a Wood Turner?

As woodturning is being discovered by hundreds of people, wood turners are becoming more plentiful. A wood turner is someone who does woodturning, yet not everyone who tries to do wood turning can be considered a wood turner. A wood turner is a person who makes a variety of wood turned products such as furniture parts, such as table legs, stretchers, and spindles, along with serving trays, baseball bats, platters, lamp shades, bowls, pool cues, and chess pieces.

Wood Turning Techniques

Many techniques are used by wood turners to ensure safety and keep the products to a high quality after they are done. One of these is the eccentric turning in which a single piece is turned a number of times on a different axis each time. Another one is segmented turning, where a wood turner constructs the blank of wood from many segmented wood pieces which have been glued to one another even before they are turned. A lot of beautiful patterns are made when the glued piece undergoes the processes of shaping in the lathe.

Next is the wet turning, also referred to as green wood turning, wherein the wood being turned has not dried out properly but has just been recently felled. The finished item is usually not that perfectly rounded because of the differential shrinking that occurs to the wood.

On the other hand, rough turning allows the piece to be turned to a general shape, while leaving enough thickness for it to dry up and be turned perfectly some time later on. Another technique is the elliptical or oval turning, in this way, a wood turner will turn a piece by the use of an accessory tool elevated to the headstock.

It modifies the middle of the rotation process with regards to the piece in time with the rotation. The result becomes an oval shape rather than round because of the cutting tool held in a fixed position on the tool-rest. Edge work that is natural is yet another technique used by wood turner wherein finished products include bowls or any items with hollow vessels. Wood turners would usually use the green or wet turning technique on its final dimension.

Its pieces usually include the outside of the tree trunk or limb. The pieces with bark should be carefully observed to ensure that none is missing or damaged. Ornamental turning (OT) is a method also used in wood turning where the actual piece ends up being mounted to a headstock. A tool used for spinning, which is known as the rose engine lathe is then used in order to cut exotic as well as highly decorative patterns.

Wood Turning as a Hobby

Though wood turning can be a hobby, it is usually a serious activity that requires safety precautions. Safety is an important factor to be considered before a wood turner can eventually start turning. Loose clothing is avoided to prevent the excess cloth from becoming entangled in the machine, jewelry should be taken off, and even long hair must really be tied up. Wood shavings that are generated during the turning methods must also be removed from time to time.

What are the Safety Rules?

To ensure an enjoyable wood turning experience, wood turners are guided by these safety rules being implemented worldwide.

%u2022 Gear for protecting the eyes is very important in wood turning. Many PPE or personal protective equipment is available in the market to ensure eye protection in various activities or work. Personal protective equipment for the eyes includes visors, safety goggles, and also glasses.

%u2022 Respiratory equipment is also important in wood turning specifically with fine imported woods such as mahogany or rosewood. A dust mask, or a helmet that covers your face fully, or even respirators are advised to be used to avoid irritation to the lungs and mucous membranes. It was found out that prolonged exposure to dust may cause negative long-term effects such as cancer. Use of respiratory equipment is still important and therefore advisable to many other activities that create dust.

%u2022 Ear protection must be used, especially when the noise is too much to handle. Excessive noise can be because of a motorized part of a machine for collecting dust or it can come from a wood and tools being used. However, a wood lathe is known to be a quiet machine compared to some other powered tools.

%u2022 Hand or skin protection such as gloves must not be worn when rotating equipment. A huge risk associated with it becoming tangled into the machine is always possible. Yet, there are some woods that have splinters that puncture skin and can also cause skin irritation.

%u2022 Foot protection is necessary for all types of shop activities. Foot wear that protect a wood turner often include leather and steel-toe boots.

%u2022 Always use the tool rest and never free-hand a tool into the turning stock during wood turning. This can cause a tool to be ripped out your hands. Tool rest should be put closed to the work and should be safely tightened in place. You should always rest the tool before moving it into the stock.

Safety Note: Always follow all manufacturers safety instructions before working with your lathe, or any of the tools or products you may use. If you are unsure about any operation, obtain competent professional instruction before proceeding. Use and wear all necessary safety devices during turning and observe safe woodturning practices to prevent accident or injury.

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