Sunday, April 27, 2008

Wetstone horror!


My father got himself an amazing new Jet Wetstone system with all the bells and whistles for sharpening wood turning chisels. I watched the DVD part on sharpening gouges with the gouge jig and felt confident I could sharpen my chisels with ease.

Well it turned out to be a disaster! I destroyed one or my gouges completely. I am not sure exactly what I did wrong as I followed the instructions from the DVD as best as I could. I basically ground the angle on my gouge too shallow, I havent even bothered to try and fix them as I am too scared I am going to destroy them even further.

I am going to see if I can get the expert and Strand Hardware to try and help me re-grind my gouge back to something usable. I did have a great deal of success with the skew chisel and the large bowl gouge. They are both razor sharp. Wish me luck! I don't want to have to go and buy a new chisel now after dropping so much cash on a new Nova chuck!

I think this is a wonderful tool, a bit expensive, but once I can learn how to use I think it will be indispensable!

Monday, April 21, 2008

I got a Nova Chuck!

I just bought myself a brand new Nova Chuck! I got it from Strand Hardware in Govan Mbeki Avenue.

A Nova Chuck allows you to hold the wood on one side and do spindle work, or you can use it to hold the bottom of a bowl for bowl turning.

I will add some pictures as soon as I get home and have a chance to assemble it.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Some of my work to date


Candle Holder (Beech) - Made on the course done with Nico Swart



Milk Stool (Pine) - Made on the course with Nico Swart



Natural Side Bowl - Made on the course with Nico Swart



Simple Bowl (Unknown Wood)



Square Bowl (Unknown Wood)


Small shallow bowl (Imbuya)




About Me

I am pretty new to wood turning. I bought a Rockwell Lathe about 2 months ago, I managed to source some tools from my dad, who recently upgraded his set.

I have also just Joined the Port Elizabeth Woodturners Guild PEWG.

I started turning when I was about 16 years old. I basically taught myself on my dads lathe and I made one or two lamps and some solatare boards. This year my father and I went to Nico Swarts' wood turning classes and where taught how to use the tools properly. Ever since then I have been addicted to turning.

I am slowly but surely learning and growing my skills to that one day I can make some works of art.

My Rockwell Lathe