When Good Wood Cracks – Demonstration # 1
It's a curse and an opportunity when wood cracks. The a series of techniques are shown to take the curse of a crack and turn it into an artistic opportunity.
This demonstration appeals to woodturners of all skill levels.
There are two key themes in the demonstration. The first theme is to demonstrate a safe way to use each technique. The second is unleashing the creativity of each turner to resolve cracks in their own unique way.
Techniques will be from the following list:
Splines - This is a repair technique suitable for wider flaws than the Dutchman technique. The creation of a custom spline with matching slot across the flaw will be shown.
Lacing – It sounds simple, but it is not. I will discuss the technical issues and how to solve walking drill bits, misaligned holes and other problems. The key decisions in lacing will be illustrated with a sample board that shows a variety of lacing materials and patterns.
Staples – An alternative to lacing is the use of staples. Staples can go through the wall or be hidden in the wall. Both techniques will be shown.
Cut it Out – This is the third choice for flaws. We can leave it, highlight it, or cut it out. I will show how to create a mountain range rim, a wave rim and the wrapped vase. The idea of using common items, such as a zipper, or a button, as an insert will be demonstrated.
Brass Plating – Demonstration will include making the template, cutting the plate, and forming the plate to the curved surface, and creating hand formed rivets.
Rope it Up – This technique uses actual rope to bind the crack in a unique way with a rope.
Cable it Together - Holding things together with steel cable and springs.
Art Theory. - How you can use a repair to make your pieces look more appealing. The point of turning a flaw into a design element is illustrated with actual examples.
Group Discussion – The demonstration concludes with a group discussion of how to repair flaws on actual pieces. Each individual’s creativity is encouraged.
This presentation in its entirety will run approximately 1 1/2 -3 hours of speaking time. The length can be shortened by removing topics or lengthened by adding techniques.
Handouts for the demonstration are under the “Demonstrations” Tab on my website. Step by step instructions for each of the techniques, the specifics of the materials and tools used during the demo and a copy of my article “When Good Wood Cracks” from the American Woodturner, August 2015 can be downloaded from the site.
It's a curse and an opportunity when wood cracks. The a series of techniques are shown to take the curse of a crack and turn it into an artistic opportunity.
This demonstration appeals to woodturners of all skill levels.
There are two key themes in the demonstration. The first theme is to demonstrate a safe way to use each technique. The second is unleashing the creativity of each turner to resolve cracks in their own unique way.
Techniques will be from the following list:
Splines - This is a repair technique suitable for wider flaws than the Dutchman technique. The creation of a custom spline with matching slot across the flaw will be shown.
Lacing – It sounds simple, but it is not. I will discuss the technical issues and how to solve walking drill bits, misaligned holes and other problems. The key decisions in lacing will be illustrated with a sample board that shows a variety of lacing materials and patterns.
Staples – An alternative to lacing is the use of staples. Staples can go through the wall or be hidden in the wall. Both techniques will be shown.
Cut it Out – This is the third choice for flaws. We can leave it, highlight it, or cut it out. I will show how to create a mountain range rim, a wave rim and the wrapped vase. The idea of using common items, such as a zipper, or a button, as an insert will be demonstrated.
Brass Plating – Demonstration will include making the template, cutting the plate, and forming the plate to the curved surface, and creating hand formed rivets.
Rope it Up – This technique uses actual rope to bind the crack in a unique way with a rope.
Cable it Together - Holding things together with steel cable and springs.
Art Theory. - How you can use a repair to make your pieces look more appealing. The point of turning a flaw into a design element is illustrated with actual examples.
Group Discussion – The demonstration concludes with a group discussion of how to repair flaws on actual pieces. Each individual’s creativity is encouraged.
This presentation in its entirety will run approximately 1 1/2 -3 hours of speaking time. The length can be shortened by removing topics or lengthened by adding techniques.
Handouts for the demonstration are under the “Demonstrations” Tab on my website. Step by step instructions for each of the techniques, the specifics of the materials and tools used during the demo and a copy of my article “When Good Wood Cracks” from the American Woodturner, August 2015 can be downloaded from the site.
MultiAxis Flower Disc – Demonstration # 2
There are several key themes woven into the presentation.
- Woodturning is a journey, not just making a thing.
- The journey starts with a simple horizontal disc then progresses to a vertical disc that becomes a canvas for a multitude of coloring, texturing, and carving techniques.
- Breaking the pattern of jumping from one form to the next. Doing them all, but not mastering any of them.
- The importance of working out the sequence of operations before you start.
- And oh yes, the bulk of the time is spent actually making a functional multi-axis, vertical flower disc.
The primary handout is my article from the June 2017 issue of the American Woodturner which can be downloaded from DennisBelcher.com, the Demonstrations Tab. This is supplemented with a Sequence of Operations Handout and information on the coloring techniques that I use. My article on Water Soluble Dye is scheduled to be published 2021.
Board to a Vase - Demonstration #3
All woodturners have limitations. Those constraints can be equipment or our body. An attraction of this project is that it does not require a chain saw, heavy lifting, an extensive shop, deep hollowing tools, a truck, or a strong back. Only a lathe and a basic set of turning tools are required.
The idea is to glue up a vase blank rather than turning it from a solid block of wood. A glass tube insert allows you to use the vase with water. No need to hollow. While the completed vase will be 8”, this technique permits scaling up or down. Regardless of the size, no hollowing is required.
Instructions will be given on the proper use of a spindle roughing gouge, a bowl gouge, and drilling in a safe manner. The group will also be exposed to variation in design, and we will work on training the eye to see good form.
Variations in finishing techniques will be explored.
Most woodturners start life as wood workers. This is an excellent transition project for the change.
This project was one of the featured articles in the February 2021 issue of the American Woodturner. That article details each step in the creation of the finished vase. Demonstration runs about 1 ½ hours and is can be paired with Tuning your Lathe, or Drilling on the Lathe.
All woodturners have limitations. Those constraints can be equipment or our body. An attraction of this project is that it does not require a chain saw, heavy lifting, an extensive shop, deep hollowing tools, a truck, or a strong back. Only a lathe and a basic set of turning tools are required.
The idea is to glue up a vase blank rather than turning it from a solid block of wood. A glass tube insert allows you to use the vase with water. No need to hollow. While the completed vase will be 8”, this technique permits scaling up or down. Regardless of the size, no hollowing is required.
Instructions will be given on the proper use of a spindle roughing gouge, a bowl gouge, and drilling in a safe manner. The group will also be exposed to variation in design, and we will work on training the eye to see good form.
Variations in finishing techniques will be explored.
Most woodturners start life as wood workers. This is an excellent transition project for the change.
This project was one of the featured articles in the February 2021 issue of the American Woodturner. That article details each step in the creation of the finished vase. Demonstration runs about 1 ½ hours and is can be paired with Tuning your Lathe, or Drilling on the Lathe.
Before the Wood Spins Lathe - Demonstration #4
Turning is about more than just cutting wood from a whirling blank, but demonstrations are never long enough to teach turners how to maintain their lathe, how to sharpen their tools, and safe drilling techniques. The goal is to provide core knowledge on these topics. If you have not received full training in any of these three core topics, this session is a must attend.
Each topic is supported with videos and articles that make this session a comprehensive resource for all woodturners.
Demonstration will run 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Turning is about more than just cutting wood from a whirling blank, but demonstrations are never long enough to teach turners how to maintain their lathe, how to sharpen their tools, and safe drilling techniques. The goal is to provide core knowledge on these topics. If you have not received full training in any of these three core topics, this session is a must attend.
Each topic is supported with videos and articles that make this session a comprehensive resource for all woodturners.
Demonstration will run 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Demonstration Skills for Woodturners - Demonstration #5
Time and energy are spent teaching people how to turn. But no time is spent on teaching how to give a worthwhile demonstration. This session will teach the attendees the four pass in planning a good demonstration, camera awareness, blocking, ending on time, finding your own demonstration style and much more.
The goal is to develop the speaking skills of local club demonstrators and to broaden the number of club members that can give a solid demo. The session will also help identify and broaden the pool of local demonstrators which helps club budgets. More experienced demonstrators will pick up techniques that improve demo skills.
The Skills Demonstration has three possible lengths, 90 minutes, half day, or full day. Best done in person.
Clubs that have hosted this skills training have encouraged a new generation of demonstrators to step up and improved the demonstration from the folks that have historically done programs for their clubs.
Please reach out to be for further details.
Christmas Time! - Demonstration #6
Christmas ornaments are an excellent teaching project for woodturners. In this session up to four different ornaments will be shown, depending on the time available. The demo flows from articles written for the American Woodturner and is supported by the step by step instructions in the article. The articles can be found on my website, DennisBelcher.com
Christmas ornaments are an excellent teaching project for woodturners. In this session up to four different ornaments will be shown, depending on the time available. The demo flows from articles written for the American Woodturner and is supported by the step by step instructions in the article. The articles can be found on my website, DennisBelcher.com
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