Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl added 9 more fulcrum pin holes to his Trent Bosch Hollowing Tool Stabilizer. Now there is always a hole in the right location! This really saves time and makes hollowing a lot more fun! His new version can be ordered from SendCutSend.
I added 9 more fulcrum pin holes to my Trent Bosch Hollowing Tool Stabilizer. Now there is
always a hole in the right location! This really saves time and makes hollowing a lot more fun!
Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl's Vertical Chainsaw Bench is like a big C-Clamp. He uses it to make things sort of round (octagon shape) before he mounts them on the lathe. He uses it to cut the corners off of his bowl blanks and hollow form blanks.
Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl has developed a forced air drying method that uses fans and the "Air Dryer Rotator" shown here. It allows him to sand hollow forms and bowls ON THE LATHE while they are still round.
Click here for a PRINTABLE version of the above blueprints.
I like to turn hollow forms and bowls out of green (aka soaking wet) logs. I want to sand
them ON THE LATHE while they are round.
I DO NOT want to wait for them to dry naturally over days, weeks or months. Why? Because they
go oval if I let them dry naturally. Then, I will not be able to sand them on the lathe. Why?
Because they are oval!
I have developed a forced air drying method that uses fans and the "Air Dryer Rotator" shown
here. It allows me to turn a hollow form or bowl and dry the OUTSIDE surface enough to allow
sanding ON THE LATHE and the application of a clear finish. I do it all at once in one day. Raw log
to a complete piece with a nice clear finish.
My force air drying takes around 45 minutes. Things may go a little oval during the drying.
But, not as much as they do if you wait for things to dry naturally.
Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl created his own "Scraper Burnisher for Turners" with a 10 degree pin. Why? Because, the well known Veritas one sells for to much money.
Click here or on the above photo for a printable PDF with out the blue background.
Carl's DIY Scraper Burnisher for Turners with 10° Pin
Here is my design for a "DIY Scraper Burnisher for Turners with a 10° Pin". You can make one
for $10 or less on 11/2024. You just need to purchase some hardened steel pins on Amazon. You also
need a scrap of Hard Maple wood.
I came up with this "DIY Scraper Burnisher" for my students. I like the Veritas
(brand) "Scraper Burnisher for Turners". However, it sells for $59 on 11/2024. That is to much
money for my novice students.
Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl has discovered that an Overhead Light Bar with magnetically attached LED lights is the best lathe lighting solution. Why? 1. Let there be light anywhere! 2. EASY to REPOSITION lights! 3. Never in the way! 4. No shake! 5. Low cost DIY solution.
https://carlford.us/blog/2023/11/carls-light-bar/
Click here for a black & white PRINTABLE version of the above blueprint.
Over the last 20+ years I have seen and used a lot of lathe lighting solutions. I have gone
thru a number of different solutions in my studio. I started with incandescent Moffatt flex arm
lights when they were all the rage. Then, I moved on to …
Meta Description: Carl Ford's Woodturning Blog: Carl now uses "slip on" custom UHMW cones. Slip on cones are better! They are easier to make and they are easier to use. Why? Because, they just slip on!
Click here for a black & white PRINTABLE version of the above blueprint.
Updated: 1/31/2025. The AAW made a little video featuring this idea and posted it on Instagram. Click here to see the video on Instagram.
Updated: 2/26/2024. This idea was published as “Shopmade Slip-On Centering Cones” on pages 27 to 31 of the AAW February 2024 “American Woodturner” Journal. Click here for page 27 to 31 PDF.
I now use my "slip on" custom UHMW cones rather than the "threaded" custom cones featured in
my 2007 AAW Journal "Custom Centering Cones" article.
Some times you look backwards and realize you had "blinders" on. In 2007 I was replacing the
Oneway thread on aluminum cones with my own cones made out of UHMW plastic. Oneway threaded on there
aluminum cones thus I thought I needed to thread on my cones. It took years, but I have seen the light.
Slip on cones are better! They are easier to make and they are easier to use. Why? Because,
they just slip on! When you press them up against something with tail stock pressure they will stay
in place on there own. You don't need to waste time threading them on. Continue reading Carl’s Slip On Custom Centering Cones→
