North East Chapter – Irish Woodturners Guild

July 2017

Our traditional July BBQ was complemented by a full day of demonstrations with Robert O’Connor and Seamus Cassidy.  Robert started the day by turning a 10” Horse Chestnut bowl with a series of beads on the rim and a bead under the rim.  A coat of red water based milk paint was applied to the outside of the bowl, and a strong black line was burnt at the bead underneath the rim for decoration and also to prevent migration of the paint into the rim. 

Spanish Chestnut beaded bowl - Robert O'Connor

Next project started with a log of wet Birch, 7” x 10”, mounted between centres to cut a 4” spigot and to bring the log to a round.  It was remounted in the chuck and the inside was hollowed out and shaped, and finished with a round nosed scraper.  The outside was shaped to reflect the shape of the inside.  A light was positioned inside the vessel while continuing to turn the outside to a wall thickness of 2mm – the light penetrating the timber to indicate even wall thickness.  The base was undercut and decorated before parting off. 

Horse Chestnut with milk  paint bowl

- Robert O'Connor

The third project was a 15.5” Spanish Chestnut beaded bowl which had been previously rough turned.  The outside and rim were trued up and the finished surface was achieved with a shear cut.  Using a 3/8” spindle gouge and starting at the outside base, a series of beads were formed which gradually increased in size up to the rim.  The beads were formed in one continuous operation without lifting the gouge from the bowl – a procedure that took all of 3 minutes. 

Robert O'Connor creating shavings

A second light repeat cut was applied as a finishing cut.  Reverse chuck to turn inside.  Redefine the large rounded rim and cut 30 mini beads   on the rim.  Starting at the inside centre of the bowl create a further series of beads on 1/3 of the inside surface – 3/4’s of beads were formed working right handed, and the balance working left handed. 

Spanish Chestnut beaded bowl - Robert O'Connor

Meanwhile, Imelda Connolly Dave Carroll and Seamus Cassidy were preparing the outdoor BBQ which was followed with a variety of scrumptious deserts. The lunchtime orchestral recital was supplied by James Halligan on guitar & mouth organ, Michael Clarke on accordian, Eamonn McKelvey on harmonica and vocalist was Paul O’Leary. 

BBQ Trio - Eamonn,Michael & James,

with vocalist Paul

Before we eventually returned to demonstrations, Imelda conducted a monster free raffle where everybody was a winner on at least two occasions.  The prizes being donated by the members of the North East Guild and our visiting IWG members. 

North East Chapter Members

The fourth project was a request for Robert to repeat his method of continuous beading technique, this time working at a slower pace.  

The fifth project was a lamp stem turned from a piece of spalted Beech measuring 3” x 20” mounted between centres.  A 1” spigot was cut at the tailstock end, and three sections were marked for design.  When the stem was finished, Seamus Cassidy was tasked with turning a 7” matching base for the lamp. 

Spalted Beech lamp stand - Robert O'Connor

& base by Seamus Cassidy

Seamus concluded the day’s turning by reproducing an antique beaded chair leg with a square pummel.   The blank was mounted between centres and the pummel marked.  Seamus explained his technique to cut a clean, crisp pummel: This entailed making one side of the square with a starting line for the pommel and an ending line 3/8” apart.   The first cut is made with the long point of the skew chisel presented at 90 degrees 3/8” from the pummel mark.  The third or fourth such cut working towards the pummel should reach the point where square meets round on all four sides.  A parting tool can then be used to define the start of the round section. 

The rounder spindle was then marked using a Story Stick with all the necessary points to reproduce an exact copy of the antique chair leg. 

Reproduction of antique chair leg - Seamus Cassidy

A memorable day was enjoyed by all, thanks to demonstrators, members, visitors and trade stand. 

Eamonn McKelvey with his Sycamore bowl