W

W. O. W.

(Wonders of Wood)

George Kelly

Always have had a fascination with wood from when I was a small boy, it might have been building a soap box car to making stilts. Younger people might not know how much fun stilts were, we were really getting up in the world! What has happened in my retirement I have been able to make my hobby pay for at least the material used. When a medical problem forced me to give up golf, I became more serious and spent more time in the "shop", really took over the garage. Started out carving which was ok but not that interesting for me.

Following are a few of my projects.

A Crane carved from Bass wood

That's me with a beard, do I look like a carver? Wife said that has to go!

As my kids are into kayaks, I saw on the internet where you can make one from materials from the local lumber yard, something I could get my "teeth in to". Furniture grade plywood and Douglas fir.

This one was for my daughter in law, wood deck, made from door skins, canvas hull.

My barber heard about my building, I build four different ones, this is a ten footer. I traded this to him for free haircuts for two years. Only used once, now on display in his barber shop.

That's me ready to make delivery, notice that the beard is gone.

Can't spend all your time in the shop! Nice bass caught in a local pond, good time to enjoy a good cigar.

That's Ruffles, our "guard dog" we both enjoy our afternoon naps!

If the dog can sleep so can I, but I will keep an eye on her!

After building four Kayaks, time for something new, took up wood turning, again a source of materials was a problem. Started with small projects, this is Water Oak, taken from a downed tree.

Candy dish from Eastern Cedar

Was using any material I could find, the top of the goblet is from the trunk of an Orange tree, the stem from a branch, Orange wood is fun to turn never know what colors you might get as it depends on the soil.

Orange wood again, notice the colors, base Walnut.

Orange wood, starting to learn to get a "thinner wall".

Pieces starting to get little more advanced, had to remember my geometry to work out the angles. The white wood is pine 2X4's, the stripes made from left over pieces from the deck of my kayaks, top and bottom Walnut.

Same type of construction, walls not as thin as I would like but at this time was not sure how strong the glue joints would be. Have now found with the new glues you can trust it to hold.

LATEST WORK

Have added a few new pieces, these have been in the works for several weeks

A Oak Burl 5 X 11 inches, top is Walnut

This burl was given to me by a friend who's son had cut from a tree up north 15 years ago, had been setting in his garage all this time, as he was a wood turner years back. Has a thin wall an is finished on the inside also. Has been sold.

Another piece of Oak burl that was given to me, 5X11 inches, bottom was turned while leaving the bark on. Finished with a food safe product, this piece is not for sale

A 9 inch hollow Birch vessel turned from a log harvested from Georgia.

One of my first experiments is using a wood burning tool for decoration, also painted the inside and bottom with a dark brown color. Bowl is 3X7 inches.

This is Sea Grape from the East coast of Florida, log was harvested last year just after the hurricanes. Although a year old still had some moisture, pieces was dried using paper bag method, as the wall is quite thin, had some distortion.

Sea Grape from the same log, this time, rough turned, dried (again paper bag) then made the finish cuts, top is of Walnut. Bowl is 6 inches across.

Several of my pieces are for sale at.

Hart's Old Country Store

100 W. Third Street

Mount Dora, Fl. 32757

(352) 735 4006

If you are in the area an interesting shop to check out!

Have enjoyed building this site, hope you enjoyed also, any comments can be sent to.

[email protected]

Showing some of my home made tools where perhaps other turners can get some ideas of how to save some money an still get the job done. Being retired and having time, enjoy working out problems with out the high cost. The steady rest is made from 3/4 plywood with an oak bottom then bolted to rails. Also have an oak "slide bar" that the tool handle rides on, this I keep waxed for easy control. The tools are made from 5/8 cold rolled bar stock that was picked up from local hardware. Bent into shape an a hole drilled to receive a 1/4 inch tool bit, held in place with a small allen screw. Not real pretty, but I am mainly interested with how the tool performs. Having machine shop training, in high school, many years ago, found that if I sharpen tool bit same as if I was turning steel, work quite well.

This works quite well when turning hollow vessels, with the tool bars I have made can reach 6 inches deep with control in a 12 inch piece, working through an 1 to 1 1/2 inch opening.

Most of my home made tools are made to do a certain job, function, I'm not concerned with beauty, as I believe that tools are meant to be used, keep them sharp and put them to work. Yes I use old files, some say this is dangerous, as a chip could break off, found as long as you keep plenty of "meat" around cutting edge your OK. Most end up being some type of scraper, found that if tool is held at a slight angle you can get a nice curl chip in most woods. (Have you noticed that many of the new replaceable tip tools are of this design.) A trick I use is to make the handles different shapes and lengths, makes for finding the correct tool faster. Do have one set of turning tools left over from a lathe I had many years ago, very mild steel, OK for soft woods.