Paul Demmert shared how to make a Celtic Knot rolling pin. A Celtic knot is an infinite loop type pattern which makes an impressive decoration on a rolling pin. But first we had our regular show and tell where several people showed us what they’ve been making lately, from sculptures to grinders to chips and dip bowl.
Below are examples of various Celtic knots.
Below is an example of how to layout the cuts made in the blank before turning. You must make deep cuts just 1/8″ short of going through to hold it together until glued. Place a different colored 1/8″ thick wood blank in each slot, cut and glue one at a time.
Some other tips he shared:
Rolling pions are between 19”-22” in length, so starting with a 3″x3″, 24” long blank is best
35 degree cut works well, 1/8” wide and 2 7/8” through
Cut one at a time, glue in the insert and after 6 hours cut off excess and cut next side, so prep takes about 2 days
Use Titebond or epoxy glue
Each handle is about 4” long to fit a hand well
Using a sanding block helps keep the rolling pin flat when sanding
Use table saw sled at angle, table saw blade is vertical, but use a block for perfect repeat
Due to the demo lathe’s size limits Paul used smaller pieces to show how it’s done.
Look at this beautiful final product, when done on a full sized lathe.
Our first meeting after the summer break was a time to reconnect and learn what everyone made over the summer, so we had a larger than normal show and tell session as well as a great wood auction.
We had a normal meeting at the Rivet including a business discussions, show and tell and an in-depth presentation and sharpening demonstration by our very own Larry Lukens.
Several people showed the nice pieces they had created
We had a normal meeting in January which featured the business meeting, wood auction, show & tell as well as a discussion and walk through from Gib Corl on how he creates bowl blanks using left over hardwood flooring as well as how he recycles home wiring into a nice rim decoration.
The steps involved include:
Cutting off the tongue and groove and bottom grooves of the flooring
Sanding off the finish
Gluing each layer at right angles to get striping colors
Mounting with a faceplate using soft screws,
Using carbide tools to turn
How do you turn hardwood flooring into bowls?
Show & Tell
Some of the bowls made from hardwood flooring and two have a twisted wire decoration in the rim
This was our Holiday celebration meeting where everyone brought in something to eat and we had extra time to hang out and chat. We held a truncated business meeting, short wood auction and show & tell.
Paul Demmert discussed many different options of things you can make from skills gained after making pens. There are many things like coffee scoops, ice cream scoops, pizza cutters, measuring cups and spoons, and seam rippers which go together much like pens by tuning handles. You can find kits for such projects at places like Penn State Industries.
Some tips Paul shared from the classes he’s taught included:
A mandrel saver works best for pen setup, protecting flexing of the mandrel
Barrel trimmers works but can dull quickly, using a drill with a sander can be as effective
CA glue fails due to weak shear strength, use 2 part epoxy to glue in brass tube, put plumbers putty or apple in the tube to keep glue from clogging the tube
For threaded inserts use a bolt and washer to make them sit flat on the end of the blank when glueing
Drill press works better than a chuck on lathe to drill blanks straight
Washer over the hole of blank allows using a cone tailstock will help protect the blank from splitting
It was a show & tell bonanza…everyone brought things they made since the May meeting, so there was a lot to share. So many amazing pieces from the talented turners in our club.
During our first meeting after the summer break, Lee Stover gave his “Using Wood Intelligently” presentation which covered how and why and all the details about wood movement. Lee shared his expertise from his experience kiln drying and manufacturing of innovative hardwood flooring , including how to identify a tree by the microscopic cellular makeup.
Paul Demmert walked through the various ways to attach and secure a wood blank to the lathe to make a bowl using a chuck, faceplate and even the drive spur.
We also had a great turnout for the show & tell at our meeting. Look at all the amazing work our members made recently.
Unfortunately we could not meet in March as planned due to a COVID outbreak at our normal meeting place, but our members had kept busy turning and below are some of the items we likely would have seen at the show & tell time. Enjoy the craftsmanship and hopefully it sparks some new ideas for you as well.
Tony Omeis – Tapered stave vasesTony Omeis – Turnings from solid blocksTony Omeis – An assortment of finials from solid block designBrian Hummel – Spalted Maple BowlsLinda Vance – Holders for the Ukrainian eggs she has made for this season
Richard Garland – Small bowl from Reg’s magnolia tree
Richard Garland – Bottom of small bowl from Reg’s magnolia tree
Richard Garland – 11″ Walnut bowl wet with mineral oilRichard Garland – Spalted Maple vase
Paul Demmert – Small spalted curly maple bowl, once turned, ready for sanding and finish
Paul Demmert – Same small bowl is 6.5H x 9.25D x 0.25 wall thickness
Paul Demmert – Larger spalted curly maple bowl, once turned, ready for sanding and finish
Paul Demmert – Same small bowl is 6.5H x 9.25D x 0.25 wall thickness
Jim Hopkins – Spalted Oak, cracks filled
Jim Hopkins – Spalted Oak, crotch grain is crazy
Jim Hopkins – small spalted oak bowl.
Jim Hopkins – cracks filled with coffee and CA glue
Stephen Tuttle not only sent a picture of what he’s been working on, he also explained how it was done, the plan and tools he used and how to get your own. We nearly got a virtual demonstration for this one.
These two items worked very well to create tight joints in the rings. Rings are glued up using hose clamps that can be gotten at any hardware store.
Once all the rings are made they are glued in a stack. I did this incrementally – the bottom half of bowl section was done first and notched to receive top half. The throat was a little different as the sections are staves and not cut with the sled. This was turned separately and glued to the completed bowl section.
This technique is definitely not for everyone as it is more figurin’, calculatin’, cuttin’ and gluin’ than turning. If I do more of it I think I will keep it simple. I don’t think a 10,000 piece masterwork you see online is in my future. It does have positives in that it can be done with many of the scraps that accumulate in a shop. There are no drying issues. There isn’t any end grain exposed in the circumference of the turning. You can make a large bowl with more manageable pieces of wood.
I know I have seen this shape before, but where?…
Perhaps our next president’s challenge should be making Genie bottles. Now you have all you need to make your own.
