Newsletter Articles

I found my banjo getting sticky, quill tightening up on my tailstock, and, of late, my Jacob’s chuck had spun in the tailstock when using a Forstner bit. Time to give my lathe some TLC. After researching, I came up with this maintenance list. Check all mounting bolts- they vibrate loose. Blow out belts, pulleys, bedways, motor, ...

Our fellow woodturning member, Dr. John Sowell, found a very crooked stick that he visualized could possibly be a “walking stick”. It was about two inches in diameter and long enough to fit perfectly to his six foot six inch frame (five foot eighteen inches he would always announce when asked his height). He asked ...

Original Concept Credit: This design is based on an idea originally ...

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 ...

In my opinion, one of the most sacred duties that a woodturner is tasked with is creating a funerary urn. To be entrusted with the final resting place of the remains of a loved one can feel a little daunting. Very simply, an urn is a lidded box or vessel. From there, the sky is the ...

Editor’s note: This design is a “double segmented” piece. The insert design is, itself, a segmented ring that is sliced and inserted into the segmented bowl. To find the exact size of everything, I start out drawing out the outside shape of the segmented insert. For this example, the dimensions are 2 ½” by 1 ½”. ...

When drilling on the lathe, sometimes it is hard to turn the tailstock wheel. This will make it a lot easier by moving the handle out to the maximum width for your lathe. This can decrease the force needed to drill with large ...

Go to the hardware store and get a 4- in. PVC coupling. It is double ended and has two rubber inserts, so it’s like getting 2 for one. Take the cap off ...

Go to the bottom to watch the video. Plan Design Board Set-Up Plan Design Board includes ...

I only do 2-3 shows a year. I feature many different items that I have turned along with my pens, which are the largest part of my display. One of the questions I get from other woodturners is how do you price your pens. This is also a big discussion at meetings and with groups ...