I have had a commission for building a swift I had completely forgot about. I had started it months ago, and then quickly forgot about it. Well the most excellent Mistress EB finally inquired about her swift, and asked if she could pick it up next apprenti meeting. That lite a big old fire under my procrastinating butt.

The plans were from Clayton Boyer’s Clock website, and I had previously made a yarn winder for EB. I made a few minor adjustments to the plans to accommodate the lack of the same metal fittings Clayton asked for in the plans.

The frame and arms are made of red oak, the yarn pins are made of rose wood, and the handle (which spins and is not fixed as in the plans as per EBs request, also has several holes for customization) is made out of a bit of my dwindling supply of mystery bright red wood. All it needs now is a quick coat of Poly-urethane.

I tried it out one my yellow dyied wool (balling the slightly felt mess was a breeze, and making large skeins of 100%cotton 2/16 thread was super fast, and way less taxing than using the niddy noddy. I must put this on the list of things I need to build for myself.

I also am feeling guilty as I have yet to build the spinning wheel from the plans Clayton gave me for free. Nor have I started building my calendar clock/oreray.

• August 4, 2009 -- Spinning wheel Plans (4)

I was requested (told really) that I make a plywood bowl for my aunt’s birthday.

This is the first plywood bowl I have made with an inner lip. I left the wall a little thick as I was worried about the laminations separating if I cut it too close. I have previously made a very thin walled plywood bowl, that has now broken in a couple of pieces… Live and learn I guess. Turned out pretty nice, although I did see a little tear out on one side of the bowl. I looks nicer after a few coats of wipe-on-poly.

http://www.maryostler.com/2009/09/plywood-turned-bowl/ Link to another larger bowl I made for another aunt. This one has step by step photos in the post.

Cheers all!

• June 16, 2010 -- Triangular Stool ~ V1.1 (0)
• June 6, 2010 -- Triangular stool v1.0 (4)
• February 28, 2010 -- Niddy Noddy (0)
• January 16, 2010 -- 60 Spools (0)
• January 10, 2010 -- Pole Lathe from Electric Conversion (2)
• December 22, 2009 -- Emily’s Highchair v1.6 Done Baby Done! (2)

14 images of tedious details on how I make plywood bowls

Cut strips of plywood down to even lengths. These are from the end of my Bedouin bed platform

Wet each side of the plywood so that its damp.

Spread an even coating of polyurethane glue on the sides.

Clamp the block together.

Once the glue is set, I chisel off the outside residue.

I drew a series of circles with a compass, and then cut them out on the bandsaw.

Using a center finder rule I mark out the center point.

I drill out a 2″ hole to hook up to my lathe chuck.

Chucked.

With the bowl turning I marked out a 2″ space on the flat. This get hogged out to attach to the chuck for the inside turning.

The bottom has been turn till it had a nice profile.

Starting out the inside howling. Loud, nasty, dirty, dusty tiring work…blaaaah

The inside is now completely hogged out, and the sanding is about to start.

First coat of white shellac.

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