74 Australian Wood Review
Always hold the skew with the
slope of the edge going in the same
direction as the curve you are turning,
and then as the skew reaches about
45°, flip the skew over and finish the
bead with the tip.To smooth any long surfaces,
use the flat chisel, bevel down,
and held at an angle to the blank
where you can imagine the fibres
slicing off the closest corner of
the bevel. This one takes a bit of
practice and it’s a notorious cause
of shed based tantrums when it
catches and rips out the fibres.
Photo 21 shows a detail you
can add: with wire and leg you
can burn in a decorative line.And finishing is simple; no need for
sandpaper, just grab a handful of fresh
shavings, squeeze them around your
finished turning and pedal like the
clappers. The end result is a beautifully
burnished piece (photos 22, 23).Follow these instructions and you will
end up with a pole lathe and a turning
of your own. The first of many as this
addictive ancient gizmo takes hold of
your soul. I make spoons and scoops on
mine these days, but regardless of what
you make it’s doubly satisfying because
there really are few better feelings than
making something from a tool that you
also made yourself.Photos: Jeff DonneJeff Donne is a professional spoon
carver and treecraft teacher from
the far south coast of NSW. His
roaming Spoon School travels to
many parts of Australia. From
October 26 to 27 he will again host Spoon Jam,
this year in Canberra. See: http://www.spoonsmith.
com.au Photo: Matthew McKenzie- Cleaning up the shape with the tip of the
skew. - For smoothing flat surfaces a simple flat
and wide chisel will do a fine job. - Burning a decorative line with wire and
leg power. - The end result – this is the casuarina
scoop being made in the photos. - A blackwood scoop made on a pole lathe.
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