Concealing the split may well include the simplest alternatives. If the crack is very small, a simple fill with CA glue may suffice. Or, fill the crack with matching wood putty, or use sawdust from the bowl itself mixed with glue to fill the crack. Sawdust may blend the best. Easy, but with less of a match would be to fill the crack with colored epoxy or casting resin. Escalating the scene a bit more, the crack may be cut out with a router or saw and new matching wood inserted before the finish turning. Even more drastic would be to cut off an entire bowl segment and turn a replacement. For example, if the crack is in the bowl’s bottom, cut off the bottom, and turn a new bottom.
One of the recurring myths of woodturning goes something like “the longer you turn wood, the larger the piece you want to make.” Instead, for many wood turners the desire is to turn work that is more intricate and from more exotic woods. The ideal are for this type of work is found in small woodturning projects.
Woodturning produces a lot of dust which can become trapped in the nasal pages and eventually end up in the lungs. There are dust masks and full face helmets with inbuilt respirators and visors to ensure that dust does no find its way to areas it does not belong. Dust from certain types of wood can also be toxic-as is the case with the cocobolo or granadillo woods- to the extent where you can experience a condition known as toxic shock. And there are few people who might actually be allergic to oils contained in oak and walnut sawdust. Plus, being exposed to soft wood dust for a long period of time can increase your chances of developing lung cancer.
The finger section gives a comfortable feel to the tool and is coved with the spindle gouge. This is the section that really emphasizes cutting with the grain and is a valuable learning place for new wood turners. Similarly the ferrule section needs precise cutting with the parting tool to precisely fit the pipe section. After a quick sanding and finish on the lathe with a bit of shellac, if desired, it can then be parted off and another one mounted.
When it comes to do it yourself woodworking, having a thorough library of projects displaying a good set of plans and instructions is critical. It is because the DIY Woodworking plans can help you plan properly, stay organized, reduce a handful of mistakes that almost everyone ends committing. Details plans allow you to get some expert advice to make some great pieces of wood projects really fast. The important question is where can you get a good deal on some great plans for woodworking.
First they need to be instructive. While it can be argued that any woodturning gives instruction to the beginner, there should be a deliberate thought given to choosing a project that teaches one or two new skills. Ideally, the project will work on existing woodworking skills and build from that experience to gain confidence on the lathe. The first tools to learn are typically the roughing gouge, the parting tool and spindle gouges. These allow the new woodturner to rough a square to round; shape with straight lines, beads and coves; cut to a determined diameter; and part off the finished project.
The roughing gouge is used to turn the wood to a rough cylinder. In conjunction with a measuring gauge, the parting tool is used to determine the final diameters of the butt end, hand grip, finger grip, and ferrule. Either the roughing gouge or the spindle gouge can be used to cut to the final surface but the spindle gouges will generally give a smoother texture and can be used for all the shaping or for the final cut before sanding.
Third, the project should be interesting. Realizing that the beginning woodturner is intending to develop and refine skills, it is encouraged that the project be repeated several times. It is far better for the would be wood turner if the project maintains its interest through several incarnations. This is achieved in at least three ways.
This type of woodworking involves the spinning movement of the wood which is shaped with special tools and the use of a stationary tool called a lathe. This equipment resembles a table with legs. A number of tools which perform different functions, are applied to the wood. In this way the piece is cut, shaped, drilled, sanded or knurled. Generally, you can make any sort of object with the use of a lathe.
3. Projects can be used by the turner or given to friends and family unlike practise sticks that are at best highly decorated kindling.
