I am a woodturner based in Co Kerry, Ireland. I upload a new video every Wednesday night (Irish time) but I also upload bonus random videos to try and answer questions I am asked either in video comments or on social media.
I first stood in front of a lathe some 30 plus years ago when I was lucky enough to be taught the craft by a master turner. I took a 20 year break with only occasional turning when I became a firefighter, since retirement on medical grounds turning has again come to the forefront
Turning bowls is something I love doing especially end grain bowls. I also turn quite a lot of exotic woods which I am lucky enough to have access to especially here in Ireland.
As is said at the end of all my videos the turning style is use is the way I turn and if you do not feel comfortable using my techniques use a technique you do feel comfortable with and enjoy the hobby. Irish wood turning is a hobby that is on the rise and hopefully will never be a lost craft.
I learn so much with every video thanks for sharing your wisdom experience! Loved the pencil-flute demo, often am squinting to try see just where the flute is on turning videos, this made it super clear! You recommended negative rake scrapers 60-80 degrees but then said yours was 45-45. So was the 60-80 a combined total recommended angle or is yours a little sharper angle than what you'd recommend to others? I recently bought a set of scrapers and have yet to decide what angles to do. I really appreciated the tip to make the top bevel something usable for using on the other side of the tool (outside of the bowl). The factory angle of the scraper I got was very steep indeed (and one single bevel) so if i re-contour it I'll be taking a lot of steel off and wanna be sure of what I choose.
@@BBTurning That is great to know thanks for the clarity Shay :) Oh if you don't mind a follow up question. If you were putting a new bevel on from scratch like I am what place would you put the top bevel. Would the edge be about 2/3 the way up or higher, I can't quite guage what yours is. maybe more like 3/4 of the way up? I know everyone has their preferences but as a newbie I don't know what my preferences are so I may as well emulate a turner whos work I admire/respect! :) ;)
@@perrys5954 No problem at all Perry, mine is three quarters on the bottom side and a quarter on the top. I keep it that was due to the fact I will use it much more on the inside than the outside and keeping the top smaller will make the tool last longer, just keep raising the burr until the top bevil disappears then put it back on and away you go again Shay
Thanks for sharing this one! I don't have many options of wood to turn and have mostly checked logs and was hoping to learn a few tips. Thank you so much for doing such a great job of teaching what you do! The bowl turned out beautiful!
I bought this vacuum pump and pot off Amazon and I also had to return it becaause the vacuum pump wouldnt pull a vacuum at all and there was no suction. I bought a different brand instead which is working fine.
What I found with it was if the knurled nuts were not really tight and the oil bath lid was not cranked down the vacuum was not great but as soon as everything was tight it worked like a dream. I do think they need to check the box contents better though so that the second seal is in the box. I bought straight from Vevor not Amazon , maybe that has something to do with your problem. I am glad you got sorted in the end. Shay
Yes David there is, entering a cut with the bevil facing away gives you a clean entry then pivoting the gouge puts the inside bevil in contact so you can cut easier and cleaner. I go into it a bit clearer in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XIcYh0V9GEA.htmlsi=Y4Gpq2syOZTyXSRS Shay
That does indeed work Archie, it works the same way as keeping the humidity high for the first week in a kiln, it replaces the sap with water which is much easier to get out. Shay
For some reason RU-vid keeps deleting my answers to you. If you are having trouble getting your chuck off just open the jaws a little and put the knockout bar in the gap, a short sharp jerk and it should come right off for you. Shay
Would sanding and sealing the outside before you move to the inside help strengthen the outer part of the bowl? Just a question you may have already tried. I’m still pretty green at 3 years almost turning. I have a lot more to learn.
Would sanding and sealing the outside before you move to the inside help strengthen the outer part of the bowl? Just a question you may have already tried. I’m still pretty green at 3 years almost turning. I have a lot more to learn.
That would be my normal way to do it Clyde bit alas on holly I am cursed to failure. One of these days I will get a largish holly bowl done with no cracks . Shay
Wow that was a beautiful bowl!! Beautiful wood/grain/shape.. everything. The bowl sure didn't wanna make it easy at first between the resin pour and the knots! 'When it rains it pours!' as they say :p I wish my setup could allow large diameter pieces like that, but at my experience level perhaps that is for the best :p I'm going to have to look-up the "Rule of Thirds" you mentioned though I suspect I'll come across more references and explanations as I dig deeper into your video library. Thanks for sharing, I always learn and feel inspired so thank you!
Yeah start small and work you way up Perry. The rule of thirds is simple enough. If you put a foot on a bowl that is a third of it's diameter it visually looks better and more balanced and it also will not tip over when the bowl has stuff in it. It is both an artistic rule and a physics rule all in one.. Shay
@@BBTurning Makes sense! Thanks! I often see bowl projects with great big wide bases and think they look so great and stable, always shocked when the turner then parts it off. I guess its a style preference or something. Smaller bases more hidden into the bowl look sleek and great too but as a huge fan of wood grain it always seem a shame to hide any grain revealing opportunity :p
Great video Shay! I loved that pen kit you added, so classy and great pairing with the antler! There's always gonna be a 'bob' out there on the 'interwebs' :p It was great you took his attempted attack and made a great video out of it, a little controversy gets people invested haha Love examples of one persons attack being turned into your own gain! I am left a little curious why 'bob' thinks using CA would have been some deep dark secret you'd have felt it necessary to hide :p
Thanks Perry, I think "Bob" may be of the mindset that everyone thinks like him and will lie in a video to gain some clout by putting something new out there that is untrue. Personally I couldn't give a monkey's about clout or anything like it, I am interested in making sure the craft survives and helping people along the way if I can. Shay
I'm not just saying this because you titled the video to me, but this video was the PERFECT explanation I needed! I think any typed response would have been confusing but this really made total sense THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
@@BBTurning Thanks Shay I will do! Part way through your video it just 'clicked' in my brain and so much else seems to make sense! I'm looking forward to two things now: checking out more of your videos and making some of my own wood chips fly (hopefully a little more controlled and competently now :)
@jamesward1855 the carpentry store stock both the Yorkshire grit and the Hampshire Sheen High gloss wax. They are located off junction 10 in Naas or you can order from them online and delivery is very fast. Shay
Anyone mind explaining to the newbie turner what was meant by "before anyone points it out I know I am cutting in the wrong direction"? The cut was 'downhill' from my understanding of it so what was wrong with that cutting method?
Not a problem at all Perry. The downhill rule is for spindle work , as in you are cutting into the side grain all of the time. If a blank is in bowl orientation you keep switching between side grain and end grain as the blank spins. For the endgrain part you want to be cutting the grain when it is supported. It helps stop end grain tearout. Shay
@@BBTurning thanks for taking time to reply and the explanation. Sorry but how was the end-grain you were cutting not supported? I have watched a LOT of turning videos to hopefully get a better handle on things as i just begin my attempts, bit feel somehow this must be a lesson I've overlooked. Do you perhaps have a 'bowl turning basics video you could refer me to where these lessons are explained? ..so I don't have to bother you with what probably seems like trivial questions.
It is not a trivial question at all Perry. I will do up a quick video to explain it as it is much easier to understand if you can see it. Give me about an hour. Shay
Lovely big bowl Shay that ended up a lovely smaller bowl but just as nice. The ebonising fluid makes for a really nice finish mate. Is the 'normal' vinegar just standard 'shop' stuff ? 👍🏴
Gorgeous piece of Spanish Chestnut Shay. The contrast is just brilliant. Nobody would ever know that this wasn't the design you had in mind from the start. Take care mate. Cheers, Huw
Beautiful piece shay if I had a shilling for every bowl that cracked on me I'd have enough for a good auld session 😅 great video mate hope your keeping well, kind regards from will 👍 😊
I just opened mine and have been having the same issues and all the proper parts were included. Been pretty happy with Vever. Gonna play with it a little more but its frustrating
Is the second seal there Robert? . What i have found since I got it the more I use it the easier it seals. Now I don't have to put any pressure on it at all to get it to seal. I just turn the pump on and away it goes. Shay
Where are you getting all these lovely straight pieces of antler? I check all my local pet supply stores fairly regularly, and they never seem to have anything decent.
Unfortunately there are many "Bob's" in this world. I don't think I would have had the patience with him that you have demonstated. I would have asked for his proof.
Shay, There is no excuse for Bobs comments. I found that everything I have learned about finishing I learned from you and they work if you follow your instructions. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks Alan, Bob has the right to his opinion the problem I have with him is how he said it,the fact he didn't have the guts to actually comment directly on a video but rather skulked around in Facebook pms and he called me a liar. Shay
@@BBTurningI see your point. I just see this kind of thing too often. I was raised that if you can’t say something nice say nothing and if you can knowledge do so. Have a great day Shay.
