Today we’re swapping the small-item lathe for the trusty old pole lathe. We’re making lidded boxes. To ensure the lid fits snugly on the box after drying and doesn’t warp, we’re making both from quarter-split wood. Therefore, we have to…
Yesterday we modified a lathe such that we could make small, thin objects on a pole lathe. However, the way the wood was held in the lathe’s axle left something to be desired. The axle had a round hole, and…
Because of the cord wrapped around the wood, which constantly pulls down and up, it’s not really possible to turn thin objects on a pole lathe. The wood would bend or even break. But then again, they’ve been turning those…
The title of this blog post has an exclamation mark, and for good reason. A quote from Pieterjan: Planning also involves dreaming, dreaming of goals that may seem unattainable but that you can grow toward with practice and hard work.…
On day 36 of our meetings, Martijn had a new challenge for Pieterjan: teaching a group of 13 people. The larger the group, the harder it can be to keep everyone focused and finish on time. We solved the latter…
We co-organized and attended the third edition of the Draaifeest (Dutch Turning Festival) in Almen, the Netherlands. Draaifeest is an annual event where about 25 people interested in the craft come together to participate in a workshop, learn from each…
On our way south, we passed through Sheffield, a city known for its steel and tools. This is where the current workshop of Robin Wood is located. Robin is the driving force behind Wood Tools, a company that makes spoon…
On our way south, we passed through York, where we visited the Jorvik Museum, where a vibrant woodturning community existed in Coppergate around 900 AD. The museum displays a number of preserved wooden finds, as well as turning waste and…
In the United Kingdom, several gatherings of greenwoodworkers are held annually, some of which even focus on the pole lathe. The Northern Bowl is one of them. It’s hosted by Matt Whittaker in Durham. Matt himself is a highly respected…
Today we had the pleasure of spending a day with Peter Wood, from Greenwood Days. He’s a highly skilled woodturner specializing in chairmaking. While we didn’t make a chair today, we did learn all sorts of useful skills. Under expert…