Here is an easy and fun offset turning project, “Fan” Weed Pots using Jim Duxbury’s Dux Chuck.
There are plans on our web site showing how to make this chuck: https://www.worldwidewoodturners.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/duxchuck.jpg
Start out with a ¾” x 3-¼” x 4″ board.
Draw a 3″ circle, centered on the 3-¼” direction and offset in the 4″ direction leaving about ¼” past he circle on the headstock end for the spur drive and longer on the tailstock end is for the stem.
Draw a line end to end thru the center, between the stem and spur drive end.
Mark both ends about ¾” wide centered on the board.
You will end up with a ¾” square on both ends Cut off the excess wood on the band saw Mark the centers of the ends.
Drill 5⁄16″ hole in the stem (tailstock end) as deep as you want.
Drill a small hole on the other end for the point of the spur drive.
Cut an x with the bandsaw on headstock end for the spurs to set in to keep it from spinning.
Turn the 3″ circle and the stem round. Watch the top edge to see where to cut.
Take light cuts.
You can sand now or later by hand.
Remove it from the lathe.
Because the pot is 3″ in diameter, I made a new Dux Chuck to fit my 100 mm jaws. The hole in the center is 2″.
Make the rotating center (hub) tenon 2″ in diameter with the shoulder 3″ in diameter.
Mark this at 20 degrees increments in both directions.
Place a witness mark about the center of the chuck on the hinge side of the chuck. You use this to align the rotating hub.
Mount the pot to the rotating center (hub) of the chuck using double sided tape. Try to keep it centered.
If you make the top of the hub piece 3″ diameter it will be easier to center.
Align the center mark on the pot with the “0” mark on the hub.
Turn the hub until the “0” is at your witness mark you made earlier. Offset the chuck to make the new center about 3⁄16″ past the 3″ circle ( edge of the turned piece).
After this don’t move the offset thru any of these cuts.
Rotate the plug counter-clock wise in the chuck 20 degrees.
Be sure to draw each cut by hand first.
When the lathe is turned on you will be able to see the line and where to cut.
Make your first cut using a ¼” point tool about 3⁄16″ deep.
Make very light cuts.
Turn the hub another 20 degrees counter-clockwise, draw and make another cut.
Repeat this for total of 6 cuts.Take it off the chuck and cut/sand the bottom flat up to the bottom of the fan.
Use a dremel and a cone burr to round the edge of the left side of each cut.
Sand and finish. I used Krylon clear gloss.