I'm very happy with how these turned out! I inherited a lathe from my late uncle and have just started using it after picking up some pen turning essentials. I've turned less than 10 pieces and I learn something new each time.

This red cedar came from the top of a tree that fell on a property where I have a willow research plot, so I turned a couple of pens to give to the caretakers of the property as a thank you for their hard work there.

In October last year, I made a poplar bowl, burned the outside, and coloured the inside to evoke fire. This weekend, I revisited the concept, but this time I faceted the exterior before burning.

Poplar with yakisugi/shou sugi ban, spirit stain, and pure tung oil.

6 inches / 15 centimetres by 2⅓ inches / 3 centimetres

Video link, if you are so inclined: https://youtu.be/SBurb3lQkGQ

My son is making a bed frame so I volunteered to make 6 legs/feet. The right is 10", the left is 15, and the middle is 14...the final height. This was way different than making a 4" finial or a simple tool handle. While I learned many things, I did not find a great way to make the bottom of the square a clean cut as I transitioned to the spindle. I tried a variety of tools with mediocre results...I'm open to ideas... Note: this was just a 4x4 untreated pine post that I used for experimenting...the finals will be mahogany...but I have to try duplicating now...another never before attempted feat!

Quick accent dish, maybe ash. Simple profile, simple finish. Nice way to relax after work.

Well this is a new one on me, drilling into end grain with an 8mm bit, was getting tough to back it out (it was approx 20cm deep) and by the time I got it out it looked like this. Something tells me it's not proper hss!

Beginner here - sorry if this is a dumb question.

I've tried using blue shop towels and microfiber rags, but the both leave fibers behind that are now basically glued in by the finish. And do you turn on your lathe to apply the finish or do you just spin the headstock by hand?

I had the opportunity to demonstrate at the SWAT woodturning symposium in Waco Texas this past weekend. With ~900 attendees it’s the second largest woodturning symposium in the US, only marginally smaller than the American Association of Woodturners national convention.

4 demo over 2 days. My Saturn bowl demo and my neo-traditional Christmas ornaments demo.

I have a bunch of these tiny rectangle blanks from bowl blank scraps. I’d like to do something with them. Preferably on a lathe since I don’t have too much machinery. I was thinking things like spinning tops or fidget toys. Maybe Christmas trees if they’re big enough. But any other ideas would be appreciated.

I don’t have a ring or pen mandrel so those are out

Sanity check, is this legal? Or am I asking for an exploded rolling pin down the line?

2" x 2" birch blank, cut and glued in some 1/4" walnut at 30 degrees across the center there, and I think adding those perpendicular pieces would look great, but crossing the grain gave me pause--is this a bad idea? Blue lines show grain direction on the walnut. Finished pin will be about 20" long and 1.5-1.75" diameter in the center. Thanks!

Yes, that is so !

Hi all. For all the acrylic pens I’ve done before, I’ve had to use my grandpa’s bandsaw. I have a scroll saw but the one time i tried it, the acrylic melted around the blade. Just wondering if anyone else has experience using a scroll saw on acrylic and if so, what type of blade I should use. I don’t really want to buy a whole bandsaw just for this so any tips would be appreciated.

For the same price - Numbers tell me 2hp, anyone have any experiences?