TURNING Salt & pepper shakers
80 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking September 2019 http://www.getwoodworking.comLes Thorne comes up with two
different designs for a pair of
salt and pepper shakers, both
using oak and paduak: one with a
toothpick holder and one withoutSHAKE
THINGS UP
In my experience as a woodturner, when making
cruet sets, they tend to use a grinder or a similar type
of mechanism. This project is a break from the norm
for me and a trip down memory lane as I used to make
cruet sets for the craft fair market. My father, who used
to own a woodturning supplies shop, sold hundreds
of these inserts every year and they are quite simple
to make, meaning they were always popular.
I thought that I’d better add something to the project
to give the whole thing extra value, and the addition of
the stand fulfils that need perfectly. The cross member
of the stand has the advantage of being turned from a flat
piece of stock, which is something that many of you might
not have tried before. It is an interesting technique and
not as difficult as you might think. I wasn’t sure whether or
not to add the toothpick holder to the top, so I decided to
make two design variations. The inserts are available from
Turners Retreat and luckily are still relatively inexpensive.
One thing to remember is that any item that will be used
and handled a lot requires the addition of a durable finish,
and ideally one that can be wiped over with a cloth.