Club Night Report

Wednesday 9th April 2025

Club Night Photos for Wednesday 9th April 2025 - Club Demonstrator: Dave Branscombe

The demonstrator for the April 2025 meeting was the welcome return of Dave Branscombe, who last visited us in August 2024.

Tonight's subject was the making of Bud Vases - a fairly simple project, possibly something that everyone has made at some
time (?) - but, Dave introduced a lot of different ideas, designs and techniques for his demonstration.

Starting with a 3" square by 7" long, dry cherry blank, held between centres with a Steb drive centre. Dave used a spindle roughing gouge to make the part round. He emphasised that you should always take an opportunity for 'play and practice' wherever possible - making the part smooth with the spindle roughing gouge, but also practice with the skew chisel to make it even smoother. Deciding on the shape - you can always 'draw' on the timber for inspiration and to 'see' your ideas. A pencil was used to mark out the waste wood at both ends, another line for a spigot, and then some considerations for the 'rule of halves' and 'the rule of thirds' to achieve a balanced design. A holding spigot was cut at the headstock end - the part was reversed and held on the spigot in a 4-jaw chuck - with tailstock support. A 3/8" spindle gouge was used to shape the neck section. Dave enquired which members of the audience turned right-handed, also who turned left-handed, and who was confident with both hands? He recommended practicing with both hands as an essential skill that made you a much more accomplished and versatile turner.

A hole will need to be drilled in the part to hold the flowers, herb stems or weeds - and a decision made as to whether it is a wet or a dry vase. For a vase that needs to hold water, a plastic or glass test tube can be installed - probably 5/8" diameter by 4" long. Typical eBay price: £4.80 incl. for 10 pieces, plastic, 16 mm diameter by 100 mm long. A 5/8" diameter by 4" deep hole was drilled in the part. The base section was rough and finish turned - along with the neck section - joining them with a bead cut with a skew chisel. The end of the hole was flared. The part was sanded through the grits and parted off to produce a slightly concave base. A small sanding disc was held in a Jacobs chuck, mounted in the headstock - to sand the base smooth and remove the part-off pip. Dave made a recommendation that a bud vase (design) should have a stable base, to resist being tipped over. This can be tested by tilting the vase by about 15 degrees from vertical, and releasing it - (ideally) it should right itself…

Dave's second bud vase was made in two-pieces - the first, from a short branch of ornamental cherry - approx. 2" diameter by 2" long - mounted between centres, with a Steb drive centre. A spigot was cut on the end, and the part was then held in a 4-jaw chuck. The end face was cleaned up and a dome shape was rough turned on the end. A 13 mm diameter hole was drilled in the end face - and the domed face was finish turned.

The second component - the top of the vase, was made from a piece of 1 ¼" square by 5" long oak - once again held between centres. The part was rounded, and a 13 mm diameter tenon was rough turned at the headstock end. Dave then showed a rarely seen technique - he used a 13 mm open ended spanner - held firmly onto the tenon to compress the fibres of the wood - the intention being to produce a very tight fit in the drilled hole in the base component, when the fibres relaxed a little.

The base was re-mounted in the 4-jaw chuck on its tenon - and the top piece was pressed firmly into the drilled hole, to produce a drive fit. The outside diameter was trued up - and a hole to suit a test tube was drilled about 4" deep. Tailstock support was used - and the outside of the top section was shaped as required. A 'scrap' piece of timber was used to make a drive tenon for the base. Using light cuts, the underside of the base was finish turned to remove the tenon and create a concave surface. Dave showed that using this technique lent itself to a 'mix-n-match' capability where different bases and tops could be made and configured…

Dave's third bud vase showed a different used for a bowl blank - in this case, sapele, 6" diameter by 2 ½" thick. This was held/ driven between centres (as before) - the outside dimeter was trued, and the end face was cleaned up. A recess for a dovetail tenon was cut into the end face using a shaped scraper - alternatively, a parting tool and skew chisel held on its side, could be used. The part was then mounted on the tenon in a 4-jaw chuck. The end face was trued and a similar recess and dovetail tenon was cut into this face. A spindle gouge was used to turn some details/ a button, into the end face and a texturing tool was used for decoration. A gentle 'bowl shape' curve was added to the end face. The part was reversed on the tenon and the decorating process, and curved shape was repeated to match the other side. The position for a hole (for the bud vase), was marked out on the outside diameter. Dave then used his alternative, vertical drilling machine setup, to drill the hole. To hold the vase upright, a flat would be cut across the edge of the vase (opposite the drilled hole) or it could be held (upright) in a shaped stand/ base.

Dave once again showed his skills and creativity in the making of three simple items - all very nicely executed - entertaining and informative - with interesting tips and techniques along the way.
Thank you, Dave!

The Display Table was well supported with some interesting items on display...

Dave Branscombe displayed a large variety of bud vases, to promote interest and design ideas. John (Theo) Theobald shared an ash bowl, finished with carnauba wax - the very first bowl he had ever made - and nicely done too! George Gansbuehler presented a flower vase (similar to a bud vase?) - made from rescued timber, in this case, white hornbeam. Paul Kohn showed a large yew potpourri, finial lidded vase - that had piercings around the side, along with two turned pens - one in laburnum and another in holly, held upright via magnets in shaped wooden bases. Sean Snook once again showed his skip-diving and constructions skills with a rescued oak flooring, double-sided, shallow platter/tray, with a chopping board on the underside, finished with food-safe oil. Frans Brown showed a set of blanks and a finished briar smoking pipe - where the bowl had been turned on two- axes - with a shaped ebonite (very dense rubber) mouthpiece and a bamboo (cut from an old cutlery handle) centre section. Frans commented that making this pipe was a very labour intensive and lengthy process. Ron Carter showed three turned pens - one of which was a 'failure' when the drill emerged from the side of the blank! He stated that he was very pleased with the result and had made a 'great' pen for himself, for use when sketching. Graham Furze presented a baby's rattle (intended for a family member), made as a prototype, from a repurposed chair leg about thirty years ago. Don Webster displayed two large platters (approx. 12" diameter) - one with a pyrography decorated rim - and the other with pyrographed flowers, coloured with iridescent paints and Indian ink black lines. Martin Stanway showed two pens made from kits - one in acrylic, which had suffered from an 'accident' during turning - but, had been successfully recovered, and the other in exotic timber. Dave Hawes presented five turned ('Bic' stick) pens in various designs and timbers, along with a pen made from a kit. Mark Cable had been inspired by last month's demonstrator (Robert Till) to make a smoking mushroom, in yew - complete with a door, windows and a chimney - looking good!