new demo ideas

[egsiegel]

Each month we have a demo at our club meeting. Usually one of our members presents.
I've only been a member for about 4 years (lived in another area before that and was a member of a different club).
When I first joined this group, I was asked to demo and my response was "I'd love to...what haven't you guys seen yet?" I've done several presentations now and we are starting to load up the schedule for next year. My struggle is how do you (your clubs) find new topics for demonstrations?
We do like to include some turning basics each year (for newbies), but if we want to keep the long time members and advanced turners engaged, we don't want to do just another variation of an ornament, or rehash square bowls for the third time.
So....how do you find something new?

 

[AlanZ]

One of the reasons clubs like the demo that Lauren and I do about making jewelry is because it's "not yet another bowl or spindle turning demo". They get to see tools and techniques that they have not seen or used before, and it's always interesting to follow up and see how members incorporate what they learned into their own work.

 

[egsiegel]

One of the reasons clubs like the demo that Lauren and I do about making jewelry is because it's "not yet another bowl or spindle turning demo". They get to see tools and techniques that they have not seen or used before, and it's always interesting to follow up and see how members incorporate what they learned into their own work.

I agree Alan...and I always enjoy your demos when I have the chance to attend (Totally Turning). And you are making the same point that I am. How do we find "new" or "different"?

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I cannot say that turning a bowl is boring, maybe the presenter is. We do not do bowl often. The thing for me is to cover various topics and only go back if demand is there or a while has passed (at least a year). There are so many techniques to turn that you could go a while and not repeat. Think turning is not just that but covering many techniques. Embellishment (which covers a lot..burning,carving, coloring or paint, spiraling, metal leaf, inlay to name a few) is also varied. Then we can go on to tools and their use including specialized tools.
Now the job is to find someone to do all this in a manner to keep the attention of the club. The subject is not boring only some presenters.

 

[hockenbery]

@egsiegel I think you need a mix of subjects over the year.

I like to see a mix of
2-3 small treasure types demos - weed pots, ornament, pepper mills, ball, top,
Three sided napkin rings, wobble....
1-2 constructed turning -segmented, stave, bowl from a board.....
1-2 hollow form demos
1-2 cut rim bowl demos
1-2 NE bowl demos
1-2 Techniques -sharpening, vacuum chucking, sandcarving, chip carving,
relief carving, thread chasing, tool making, using a hook tool.........
2-3 unusual/challenging turnings. 3 corner Bowl from a cube, ball in a ball,
pewter cast rims, birdhouse ornament with eggs and threaded top......

A well done well thought out demo has something for all skill levels.

 

[John Torchick]

Our Dalton Area Woodturners Guild chapter had a demo on turning a cowboy hat! Sorry, too lazy to look up the demonstrator but we have something different every month. One interesting demo was using paint (acrylic?) and moving it with an airbrush across the wood. Had a beautiful effect.

 

[egsiegel]

I cannot say that turning a bowl is boring, maybe the presenter is. We do not do bowl often. The thing for me is to cover various topics and only go back if demand is there or a while has passed (at least a year). There are so many techniques to turn that you could go a while and not repeat. Think turning is not just that but covering many techniques. Embellishment (which covers a lot..burning,carving, coloring or paint, spiraling, metal leaf, inlay to name a few) is also varied. Then we can go on to tools and their use including specialized tools.
Now the job is to find someone to do all this in a manner to keep the attention of the club. The subject is not boring only some presenters.

agreed....the presenter is very important. And I'm not saying that turning bowls is boring. And I agree that repeating some topics is important to keep newcomers interested. I'm just saying that everyone gets excited about trying new things (we have a monthly challenge based on the last demo). Finding those new challenges is...well...challenging

 

[egsiegel]

@egsiegel I think you need a mix of subjects over the year.

I like to see a mix of
2-3 small treasure types demos - weed pots, ornament, pepper mills, ball, top,
Three sided napkin rings, wobble....
1-2 constructed turning -segmented, stave, bowl from a board.....
1-2 hollow form demos
1-2 cut rim bowl demos
1-2 NE bowl demos
1-2 Techniques -sharpening, vacuum chucking, sandcarving, chip carving,
relief carving, thread chasing, tool making, using a hook tool.........
2-3 unusual/challenging turnings. 3 corner Bowl from a cube, ball in a ball,
pewter cast rims, birdhouse ornament with eggs and threaded top......

A well done well thought out demo has something for all skill levels.

Looks like a good mix. And good guidelines for scheduling. I'm still struggling with how do you find the "fresh" version of the small treasures or unusual challenge pieces?

 

[john lucas]

Here is a list of my demos. Hopefully you will get some ideas from it. I also do a lot of just simple projects for the local club since we can't bring in many outside people. So it falls on about 6 of us to do all the demos.




In this demo I will show many different tools that I’ve made and will demonstrate how to shape and heat treat smaller steel tools. I will make a small hollowing tool. I will also describe how to make HSS cutting tips. If time allows I will turn a tool handle and show how to insert the new blade.



Texturing on turnings

In this demo I will discuss many different ways of applying texture to a turning. These will include pyrography, wire brushing, Sorby texturing tool, chatter tool, Dremel engraver, hand stamping, carving and many other techniques.



Making Duplicate Spindles

I will demonstrate the techniques for spindle turning and discuss the spindle gouge, spindle roughing gouge, parting tool and skew. Then I will show techniques for making duplicates of this spindle. These are techniques used in making stools, table legs, matching candlesticks, and ballisters.



Inside-Out turning

Inside –out turning is a process where you glue 4 pieces together and turn the inside. These are cut apart reversed and glued back together. The outside can then be turned. This process leaves a silhouette or hole in all 4 sides.



Using the Router on turnings

I will demonstrate many ways to use the router to add accents to turnings and also as a carving tool. I will also demonstrate fluting on turnings. This demo also includes adding indexing to your lathe and how to use it.



Turning Hand Mirrors

This demo shows how to turn a mirror with a handle. The demo includes both platter turning and spindle turning since the mirror body is just a small platter and the handle is a spindle. I try to discuss different ways to use the cutting edges of the tools as well as a skew turning demo.



Turning Boxes

This is a demo on different ways to turn a lidded box. We will discuss the various styles of boxes and how to fit the lid. I’ll also discuss adding finials and feet.



Christmas ornament turning

I will show how to turn a 3 part Christmas ornament which includes hollowing and turning a slender finial. I’ll also discuss turning these from a green limb or small crotch. If there is time I’ll also show how to turn a 2 part hollow ornament.



Turning a Natural Edge Bowl

This demo shows how to turn a natural edge bowl from a green log.



Turning Tagua nut and Banksia pod

I will demonstrate the pros and cons of using these materials to turn. I show how to use the tagua nut turnings for accent including making chatter work inserts. I also show thing you can do with the Banksia pod.



Adding Inlace and Epoxy to turnings

I will demonstrate how to add Inlace decorations to your turnings. I will also show how to work with and color Epoxy to be used in similar fashion to Inlace.



Turning Lamps

I will demonstrate how to bore the lamps for cords or other ways of getting the cord through, and how to turn the various lamp parts for perfect alignment..



Turning Platters

I will show how to turn a platter and discuss options for the rim and back.



Pyrography on turning

I will show how to use pyrography tools to decorate, texture, and even make images on vessels using wood burning tools. I also discuss using flame to add color and texture to the wood.



Turning Clocks

In this demo I will show a couple of ways to make a clock. One will be using segments and the other is solid wood. I will discuss simple ways to make accurate segments and glue up methods. I will show a way to make your own dowels for the clock face and how to make oval dowels. The other method will be using solid wood with inlay’s to decorate the clock face.



Threading wood

This demo is all about threading wood. I demonstrate different techniques from using the Beal tap and a wooden dye, Hand chasing threads, and using the Baxter threading machine.



Bending wood

This demo discusses different ways to bend wood. I do steam bending, heat bending, compressed wood bending, stack lamination bending, and ammonia bending. I discuss how these can be used in turnings.



Turning Clocks

I will turn a clock using drilled inlays to decorate and show off the numbers. I will show how I judge the thickness for the clock movement. I show special techniques for hollowing for the clock. I discuss tool techniques for cleaner cutting. I will show how to drill and fill accurate holes for the clock as well as ways to make your own dowels for inserting into the numbers.

 

[hockenbery]

Looks like a good mix. And good guidelines for scheduling. I'm still struggling with how do you find the "fresh" version of the small treasures or unusual challenge pieces?

In central Florida we are fortunate to have two things in our favor.
1. 20 plus Excellent demonstrators and
2. The Florida Symposium every year.

Clubs often ask a Florida Sympsoium demonstrator to come a early stay late.
The Florida Sympsoium also provides an opportunity for the club leaders to see the better demonstrators from Florida.

A local club I belong to has 4 members who have demonstrated at the AAW and two more members who are terrific demonstrators. I know this is a rarity but I also know there are other clubs as fortunate. The Rocky Mountain club is even stronger!

 

[john lucas]

We are lucky in that we are only a little over 2 hours from Arrowmont so one of the clubs I attend will often try to get someone coming or going to Arrowmont. The other club simply isn't large enough and has a very small budget.

 

[Dave Hulett]

Thanks John for posting these. Our club is struggling to come up with new demos. this helps.

 

[Hy Tran]

Each month we have a demo at our club meeting. Usually one of our members presents.
I've only been a member for about 4 years (lived in another area before that and was a member of a different club).
When I first joined this group, I was asked to demo and my response was "I'd love to...what haven't you guys seen yet?" I've done several presentations now and we are starting to load up the schedule for next year. My struggle is how do you (your clubs) find new topics for demonstrations?
We do like to include some turning basics each year (for newbies), but if we want to keep the long time members and advanced turners engaged, we don't want to do just another variation of an ornament, or rehash square bowls for the third time.
So....how do you find something new?

Once a year, our club meeting does not do a demo: We discuss things that we'd like to see, and write down the topics on big flip charts. Then, we ask the attendees to vote. The attendees all get 10 votes; they can vote 10x for the same topic, or vote 1x for 10 different topics, or some combination. The program chair then takes all the votes and figures out whose arm gets twisted. During the discussion, we do get some fairly creative ideas--but often, we get requests for the same topic over and over again.

A couple of things that I've done as program chair, regardless of the voting: A periodic presentation about safety (and I also ask each presenter to spend a few minutes talking about safety), and periodic presentations on sharpening (about every two years seems to work out right).

I do recruit presenters from the folks who exhibit at our instant galleries and at state fair.

One demo that a friend gave this past January at our club was really neat, I'm attaching a photo that I did at his shop after seeing his demo. It's a 1 piece coffee scoop (holds 2 tbsp of ground coffee; the outer sphere is 1.5" diameter). First, turn a spindle with a handle on one end and the ball at the other end. Then, use a regular scroll chuck with step jaws or pin jaws (or custom jaws) and a piece of leather to cushion the outer sphere. Hollow out the sphere as if it were a face grain bowl.

 

[hockenbery]

@Hy Tran that is a terrific method of voting!

The scoop demo is one I saw Soren Berger do at an AAW. It is great demo, shows multi axis well. Michael Hosaluk does a significant variation in which he makes a ladle with along handte that he steam bends.

I now do a demo on suspended spherical forms. It all began with Soren's scoop. I first thought I can make a two handled scoop. That idea morphed into a hollow ball with two handles and then the handles became legs and tails suspending the form from the ground.

On the left the first hollow ball from red oak with sort of vestigial wings. The first suspended form on the right from walnut
.

This is a more typical form from sycamore


This is a demo that shows lots of elements people can use and a finished form that few people ever make. It starts between centers with sphere turned in the middle using a ring to get it near perfect. The it goes into a vacuum chuck for hollowing. The legs are shaped with a bandsaw. A little carving and sanding to finish the legs.
In the one on the bottom the tail profile is all turned then then cut about a 1/2" thick on the bandsaw then the sanding refines the shape.
All form watching a scoop demo by Soren Berger.
@egsiegel new fresh ideas for me come from some inspiration. When I go to a demo or a class I'm going to learn techniques and get ideas. I turned one Soren Berger scoop and never finished it.

I've been fortunate to have turned a few things that no one else has done that I know of.
Trent Bosch has done at least dozen series that no one else has done.

 

[John Torchick]

Hy Tran, that is an outstanding turning. Thanks for sharing the photo and technique.
BTW, spent some time in ALB and parts of NM. Love it and want to go back. Loads of western history there!

 

[Glenn Lefley]

Here is a list of my demos. Hopefully you will get some ideas from it. I also do a lot of just simple projects for the local club since we can't bring in many outside people. So it falls on about 6 of us to do all the demos.




In this demo I will show many different tools that I’ve made and will demonstrate how to shape and heat treat smaller steel tools. I will make a small hollowing tool. I will also describe how to make HSS cutting tips. If time allows I will turn a tool handle and show how to insert the new blade.



Texturing on turnings

In this demo I will discuss many different ways of applying texture to a turning. These will include pyrography, wire brushing, Sorby texturing tool, chatter tool, Dremel engraver, hand stamping, carving and many other techniques.



Making Duplicate Spindles

I will demonstrate the techniques for spindle turning and discuss the spindle gouge, spindle roughing gouge, parting tool and skew. Then I will show techniques for making duplicates of this spindle. These are techniques used in making stools, table legs, matching candlesticks, and ballisters.



Inside-Out turning

Inside –out turning is a process where you glue 4 pieces together and turn the inside. These are cut apart reversed and glued back together. The outside can then be turned. This process leaves a silhouette or hole in all 4 sides.



Using the Router on turnings

I will demonstrate many ways to use the router to add accents to turnings and also as a carving tool. I will also demonstrate fluting on turnings. This demo also includes adding indexing to your lathe and how to use it.



Turning Hand Mirrors

This demo shows how to turn a mirror with a handle. The demo includes both platter turning and spindle turning since the mirror body is just a small platter and the handle is a spindle. I try to discuss different ways to use the cutting edges of the tools as well as a skew turning demo.



Turning Boxes

This is a demo on different ways to turn a lidded box. We will discuss the various styles of boxes and how to fit the lid. I’ll also discuss adding finials and feet.



Christmas ornament turning

I will show how to turn a 3 part Christmas ornament which includes hollowing and turning a slender finial. I’ll also discuss turning these from a green limb or small crotch. If there is time I’ll also show how to turn a 2 part hollow ornament.



Turning a Natural Edge Bowl

This demo shows how to turn a natural edge bowl from a green log.



Turning Tagua nut and Banksia pod

I will demonstrate the pros and cons of using these materials to turn. I show how to use the tagua nut turnings for accent including making chatter work inserts. I also show thing you can do with the Banksia pod.



Adding Inlace and Epoxy to turnings

I will demonstrate how to add Inlace decorations to your turnings. I will also show how to work with and color Epoxy to be used in similar fashion to Inlace.



Turning Lamps

I will demonstrate how to bore the lamps for cords or other ways of getting the cord through, and how to turn the various lamp parts for perfect alignment..



Turning Platters

I will show how to turn a platter and discuss options for the rim and back.



Pyrography on turning

I will show how to use pyrography tools to decorate, texture, and even make images on vessels using wood burning tools. I also discuss using flame to add color and texture to the wood.



Turning Clocks

In this demo I will show a couple of ways to make a clock. One will be using segments and the other is solid wood. I will discuss simple ways to make accurate segments and glue up methods. I will show a way to make your own dowels for the clock face and how to make oval dowels. The other method will be using solid wood with inlay’s to decorate the clock face.



Threading wood

This demo is all about threading wood. I demonstrate different techniques from using the Beal tap and a wooden dye, Hand chasing threads, and using the Baxter threading machine.



Bending wood

This demo discusses different ways to bend wood. I do steam bending, heat bending, compressed wood bending, stack lamination bending, and ammonia bending. I discuss how these can be used in turnings.



Turning Clocks

I will turn a clock using drilled inlays to decorate and show off the numbers. I will show how I judge the thickness for the clock movement. I show special techniques for hollowing for the clock. I discuss tool techniques for cleaner cutting. I will show how to drill and fill accurate holes for the clock as well as ways to make your own dowels for inserting into the numbers.

Where is a good place to source round mirrors for this project?

 

[Perry Hilbert]

Where is a good place to source round mirrors for this project?

Jo Ann's Fabrics sells 5 inch diameter mirrors for 99 cents. There are some bulk e-bay sellers that sell 24 count packs of 6 in diameter mirrors for about $19.00. IIRC Michael's sells 7 inch mirrors for $2.99 ea. Dollar tree sells 4 and 7/8 inch diameter bevel edge mirrors for $1.00.

 

[Perry Hilbert]

I am back into turning after 40 years. Sort of a beginner all over again. One of the things, I find helpful, is the tricks to mount the pieces. Or in what order to turn certain steps to achieve something. I recently turned a round picture frame. It was something I thought about for months before I attempted it. It is basic face turning, but requires turning both sides. and without a center for gripping in a chuck. I used cole jaws but had to make light cuts to avoid flying objects.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Perry,
Another approach to your picture frame is gluing the project onto a wood face plate with a tenon or recess on both sides
so you can turn the front of the picture frame profile and then turn the face plate around on the lathe and finish turning
the back side of the picture frame by removing the outer edge of the wood face plate to get to the picture frame portion.
This keeps the project centered on the face plate so long as your tenons are cut in the center on both sides of the face plate.
The last step is removing the inner part of the wood face plate which can be done in the cole jaws.

Another approach would be double sided tape or hot glue which can be reheated to remove the piece. Trying to center a large
piece onto a lathe after turning one side can be challenging if you do not have a center reference point to work from. Takes time
using cole jaws to get the piece perfectly aligned when you reverse it for the back cuts. A dial indicator is usually used on large
metal turning pieces when you need to center a large work piece, these can also be used on the wood lathe.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

Each month we have a demo at our club meeting. Usually one of our members presents.
I've only been a member for about 4 years (lived in another area before that and was a member of a different club).
When I first joined this group, I was asked to demo and my response was "I'd love to...what haven't you guys seen yet?" I've done several presentations now and we are starting to load up the schedule for next year. My struggle is how do you (your clubs) find new topics for demonstrations?
We do like to include some turning basics each year (for newbies), but if we want to keep the long time members and advanced turners engaged, we don't want to do just another variation of an ornament, or rehash square bowls for the third time.
So....how do you find something new?

Do not forget live remote demos! Take a look at my web site, I have listed the demos that I can do there. www.hawaiiankoaturner.com @AlanZ can help you get set up to receive my transmission... Aloha