Once the lathe has been set up ready to go and the general turning tools sharpened, there are still some tools that the woodturner needs before getting started.
In particular, for making wooden bowls a chainsaw and a bandsaw are suggested.
In order to turn a bowl, a bowl blank is needed and for that we turn to these familiar tools.
Unlike other woodworkers, the woodturner usually does not begin with carefully prepared boards, but rather with a log.
For a bowl it is necessary to cut off a length of log equal to its diameter.
In other words a ten inch diameter log would call for cutting off a ten inch length.
This is done with a chainsaw.
While it could be done with a hand held bow saw or other crosscut, this is a lot of work and for larger logs could be considered a full exercise program.
Once the log is cut to length it is placed in a saw buck to hold it securely and then cut down the center.
This can be hard to visualize but consider the end of the log.
It is a crude circle with the rings of the tree making smaller and smaller circles down to the pith near the center.
If you drew a line through the pith to either side of the circle, you would see two half bowls with the pith line the top.
This is the line to cut and is easiest to cut with the log on its side.
This is a rip cut and a chainsaw is best at cross cuts but if the bar is held at a sixty degree angle it is quickly done as long shavings instead of sawdust come flying out.
Each half makes a bowl blank.
The blanks still need to be roughly rounded before turning.
This is done most often with one of three tools.
For larger blanks the chainsaw is favoured.
The blank is placed in the sawbuck with the top up and the corners are cut off one by one to leave an octagon.
Now this can be mounted on the lathe and turned.
Mid size bowl blanks can be taken to the bandsaw.
First they are laid down on their tops and a circle drawn on the bark to give a cutting line.
Some turners use templates, simple circles cut from cardboard, to guide the cut.
With the top down on the bandsaw table to prevent rocking, the blank is cut.
This leaves a more uniform blank than does the chainsaw.
If the size of the bowl blank permits it can be mounted on the lathe using a faceplate or screw chuck or between centers.
The corners can be knocked off with the lathe turning.
This can be intimidating with larger bowls but it takes a large lathe to accommodate them and it is advised to work ones way up to the bigger blanks.
It also should be remembered that chainsaws in particular are dangerous tools and all reasonable caution should be taken to prevent accidents.
With that in mind, chainsaws and band saws are very much a part of the woodturning world
In particular, for making wooden bowls a chainsaw and a bandsaw are suggested.
In order to turn a bowl, a bowl blank is needed and for that we turn to these familiar tools.
Unlike other woodworkers, the woodturner usually does not begin with carefully prepared boards, but rather with a log.
For a bowl it is necessary to cut off a length of log equal to its diameter.
In other words a ten inch diameter log would call for cutting off a ten inch length.
This is done with a chainsaw.
While it could be done with a hand held bow saw or other crosscut, this is a lot of work and for larger logs could be considered a full exercise program.
Once the log is cut to length it is placed in a saw buck to hold it securely and then cut down the center.
This can be hard to visualize but consider the end of the log.
It is a crude circle with the rings of the tree making smaller and smaller circles down to the pith near the center.
If you drew a line through the pith to either side of the circle, you would see two half bowls with the pith line the top.
This is the line to cut and is easiest to cut with the log on its side.
This is a rip cut and a chainsaw is best at cross cuts but if the bar is held at a sixty degree angle it is quickly done as long shavings instead of sawdust come flying out.
Each half makes a bowl blank.
The blanks still need to be roughly rounded before turning.
This is done most often with one of three tools.
For larger blanks the chainsaw is favoured.
The blank is placed in the sawbuck with the top up and the corners are cut off one by one to leave an octagon.
Now this can be mounted on the lathe and turned.
Mid size bowl blanks can be taken to the bandsaw.
First they are laid down on their tops and a circle drawn on the bark to give a cutting line.
Some turners use templates, simple circles cut from cardboard, to guide the cut.
With the top down on the bandsaw table to prevent rocking, the blank is cut.
This leaves a more uniform blank than does the chainsaw.
If the size of the bowl blank permits it can be mounted on the lathe using a faceplate or screw chuck or between centers.
The corners can be knocked off with the lathe turning.
This can be intimidating with larger bowls but it takes a large lathe to accommodate them and it is advised to work ones way up to the bigger blanks.
It also should be remembered that chainsaws in particular are dangerous tools and all reasonable caution should be taken to prevent accidents.
With that in mind, chainsaws and band saws are very much a part of the woodturning world
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