Woodturning Techniques
by Michael
O'Donnell
Softcover
210 x 275mm
189pp
Published by Guild
of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, East Sussex UK
R.R.P.$39.90
ISBN 9781861082831
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 144
Michael O'Donnell has been turning wood for more than 30 years. In that time, he has often left his home in the north of Scotland to demonstrate in many countries including Australia.
Today, he is well known for his use of green (unseasoned) wood, an area of woodturning which, he says in the introduction to this book, he began to pursue after meeting Richard Raffan in 1981.
O'Donnell and his wife Liz were among the first of the modern woodturners to capitalise on the possibilities of enhancing woodturned objects with surface decoration.
Samples of their current work can be seen on: http://www.woodturning.uk.com/Gallery/gallery.html.
The book is designed as a comprehensive introduction to the craft but the abilities of the author lends it more weight than might otherwise be expected. It is likely to appeal, not only to the novice and those who have only recently begun woodturning, but also to the much more experienced woodturner.
Part One deals with the basics of the craft - lathes, chucks, holding devices, tools, sharpening, abrasives and auxiliary equipment as well as wood and finishes. The treatment of each is brief but pithy, supported by excellent photos and large illustrations.
Part Two is devoted to Techniques while Part Three continues this discussion under the heading of Turning.
It is these two sections which are sure to prove the most attractive to experienced readers since a great part of the value of a book such as this is the opportunity to learn the methods used by an internationally respected woodturner.
Again the text is amply supported by superb photos and clear explanatory drawings.
The fourth and final part of the Book contains several projects - a straight-forward bowl, a lamp, an elegant goblet, a quirky set of mushrooms, a cylindrical lidded box and, finally, an apple.
Photos: Colour
Units of Measurement: Imperial and Metric
Contents
Introduction
Background
Part
One - Equipment
The lathe
Chucks and holding devices
Tools
Tool
sharpening and care
Abrasives
Auxiliary equipment
The wood
Sandpaper
Finishes
The
workshop
Part
Two - Techniques
Safety
Approaching the lathe
Holding the tool
Entering
the wood
Controlling the tool
Working with the grain
Chucking the wood
Sharpening
the tools
Long-hole boring
Sanding
Applying finishes
Part
Three - Turning
Spindle
roughing gouge
Deep-fluted gouge
Shallow-fluted gouge
Skew chisel
Scrapers
Parting,
sizing and beading tools
Part
Four - Projects
Bowl
Lamp
Goblet
Mushroom
Box
Fruit
Conversion
table
About the author
Index