DIY Network

Woodturned Vessel: Finishing Touches From "Wood Works" episode WWK-611

	The finished vessel.
	The distinctive veins of the spalting combine with the curly-maple figure to create an eye-catching appearance that almost looks like it might have been carved from veined marble.

The final steps in the creation of the turned vessel are to complete the final shaping of the foot and apply a wood finish to highlight the color and grain pattern of the piece.

Materials:

Lathe
Drill press
Diamond parting-tool
Hand saw
Sharp chisel
Die-grinder; carbide ball-mill
Sandpaper
Tung-oil wood finish
Paint brushes
Rags

Safety Apparel for WoodturningFor safety, wear a face shield when to protect your eyes and face from flying chips. A turning jacket, that seals at the neck, helps keep chips from getting down your shirt. Ski gators will prevent chips from getting down your socks and into your shoes.

Safety Alert: Always wear protective gloves, and ensure adequate ventilation, when working with wood stains, solvents and other toxic solutions. When working with some sprays and chemicals, a respirator mask may be required.

Finishing Touches

• With the final turning and sanding complete, the vessel can be removed from the lathe. To complete the final shaping of the foot and to remove the vessel from the lathe, remove the center-steady, leaving the vessel attached by the 4-way chuck. Then use the diamond parting tool to cut the vessel from the lathe.

• With the lathe spinning at a slower speed, use the parting tool to cut the tenon made earlier down to only 1/2" in diameter (figure A).

• Use a small hand-saw to separate the vessel from the lathe. Then use a sharp chisel to pare the nub off the base.

• Use a die-grinder, with a carbide ball-mill, to sculpt a slight dome into the base (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  
  

• At the drill press, starting with a pad of 80-grit sandpaper, gradually work your way up to 320-grit to sand the base smooth (figure C).

• For the finish, we selected tung oil to complement the natural texture and colors of the spalted wood (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

RESOURCES :

The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619

Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456

David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com