Beyond
Basic Turning
Off-Centre, Coopered & Laminated Work
by Jack Cox
Softcover
225 x 235mm
256pp
Published by Stobart Davies
R.R.P.$45.90
ISBN 0-85442-058-4
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 58
There is now a bewildering array of books for the novice woodturner to choose from - but nowhere near so many for the more experienced woodturner who is looking for 'something different'.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many woodturning exhibitions throughout the world consist of a relatively small amount of spindle work and a large number of not all that dissimilar bowls.
In this book, Jack Cox, who has been a woodturner for over 30 years, seeks to redress the situation.
He explores three extensions to basic woodturning - off-centre, coopered and laminated work. While these are by no means the only techniques that might be classified as 'beyond basic turning', the author fills around 250 pages in discussing them. His writing is careful and methodical and his descriptions, clear and unequivocal.
Because of the importance of preparation in much of the work dealt with in the book, a significant amount of space is given to 'segmentation principles', 'design and marking out' and 'the nomogram'.
Nomograms, for those who may be unfamiliar with them, are tabular bar style diagrams used to solve (ie. to supply the unknown factor in) simple equations. In these days of calculators and computers, they have all but disappeared from engineering, but Jack Cox shows that by learning a little about them, they can be extremely useful in calculating angles, segment lengths etc. when setting up segmented work.
The last third of the book is devoted to a series of Projects. Some of these are not only excellent examples of the type of work considered in the book, they are also very attractive pieces - worthy, we suggest, of any woodturner's efforts.
The offset straight-segment platter, curved-segment platter/bowl, curved segmented goblets and the cutlery handles (produced by the unusual technique of off-centre cage turning) all fall into this category. For those who have mastered the basic skills of woodturning, this book will push back the horizons of opportunity.
Photos: Black & White
Contents
Introduction
Chapter
1. Segmentation Principles
Types of segmentation and their advantages and
disadvantages. Effects of timber movement and methods of alleviation.
Chapter
2. Segmentation: Design and Marking Out
Planning a layout. Effective utilisation
of stock. Use of Nomograms in planning. Brick, coopered, and tapered-stave construction.
Non-radial segment alignment. Curved-segment work. Laminated stock.
Chapter
3. Off-Centre Turnery: Design Considerations
Basic ovals. Cage-mounted principles.
Multi-facet design. Unequal-facet design.
Chapter
4. The Nomogram
Basic Nomogram principles and uses. Simple examples. Scaling-factors.
Full Nomogram set.
Chapter
5. Sawing Techniques
Use of jigs and fixtures for the bandsaw in support
of segmented, coopered and laminated turnery.
Chapter
6. Sanding Techniques
Use of jigs and fixtures for the disc-sander for segmented,
coopered and laminated turnery.
Chapter
7. Assembly Techniques (Flat)
Preparing segmented sub-assemblies on a flat
worktop. Straight and curved-segment assembly. Decorative 'inlay' assemblies.
Jigs and fixtures.
Chapter
8. Assembly Techniques (Non-flat)
Assembly of sets of flat subassemblies
Coopered assemblies. Lathe-mounting of straight and tapered coopered work. Jigs
and fixtures.
Chapter
9. Lathe-mounting Techniques
Cramping-jig for spheroidal work. Hot-melt metal
pallet assemblies. Strength of joints.
Chapter
10. Turning Topics
Specifically related to turnery with respect to intermittent-cutting
and segmented work.
PROJECTS
1. Offset straight-segment (platter)
2. Coopered work (Biscuit barrel,
tapered vase)
3. Curved-segment work (Platters and bowls)
4. Laminated
turnery (Eggs, fruit, goblets etc.)
5. Ellipsoid turning (Cruets, small containers
etc.)
6. Three-axis turning (Twelve-facet containers with lids)
7. The
Platonic Solids (Ball and bowl turning)
8. Off-centre cage turning (Cutlery
set from laminated blanks)
9. Off-centre - 3 and 4 Facets (Cruets, containers
etc.)
10. Cut and join techniques (Candlesticks and bowl)
11. Three
Advanced Designs (Goblets; Pomander; Three-leaf Candlesticks)
Conversion Table
Index