Woodturning Day 1

So at last we are here. After a few years of to few interested the course is on. The course is held in the Egilhalen at Västerbottens museum. Egil is a tugboat now on display in the museum, you can see the stern of Egil in the picture. The course is 4 days and covers spindle work, bowl making and how to shape and sharpening the tools . The course is all about the cutting method with is the first method developed in woodturning. It was lost here in Sweden till about mid 80's when some guys want ed to learn the traditional way of turning and wrote a book about it. Maybe a separate post exploring the history of the cutting method in Sweden. The cool thing about the cutting method is the finished result. No sanding of the surface is needed. It is like the surface you get when planing. Smooth and shining.

Anyway we started of by Åke talking a bit about the lathe and safety and the then how to use one of the tools. The first exercise is just to turn a piece of green birch into shaving, with Åke had already turned rounds. Some of the people taking the course have never done any woodturning so it starts of rely simple. 500 rpm on the lathe and of you go.

The tool is a 19mm Robert Sorby finger gauge given a straight edge. This makes it simpler to use for beginner. Used correctly and carefulyl it gives a surface not far from that you get from a skew.

This is what you end up with, a of long shavings. I've used a smaller spindle gauge shaped more traditional on this one. You pretty much go you'r one pace on this course and Åke gives you guidens on the level your at which is relay nice.

Next exercise was to make an egg, which was done in dry birch. From square we use a 19mm gauge to make it round. Then with the smaller gauge two V cuts is made on both sides of what is to become the egg. I'm happy with the results. It's not perfect but is a tough exercise. Not everyone found there egg inside there blank;)

After this I went on making a practis piece with a v-cut, a bead, a cove and a up side down v-bead(don't know and can't find the english word for it). That conclude the day. Tomorrow we will continue do spindle work and I'll take more picture and continue reporting.

Last Notes:So that all for to day. Had a hell of a time trying to get this blog post together. Went a lot smother when I found a better editor than the standard on. Hopefully next post will go much better.