Club Night Report

Wednesday 10th September 2025

Club Night Photos for Wednesday 10th September 2025 - Guest Demonstrator: Colwin Way

The demonstrator for the September 2025 meeting was a warm welcome to Colwin Way (see: www.colwinwaywoodturner.com) on his first visit to the Club.
Colwin announced that for the evening he would be showing three different demonstrations: a wet-turned Rocking Pot, using the Skew Chisel and a Natural Edge Square Bowl.

The wet oak blank (cut down around 3-days ago) was mounted between centres - a Steb drive and a ring centre in the tailstock. Using a bowl gouge, the blank was turned to round, a dovetail spigot to suit the O'Donnell jaws was cut and the basic shape of the bowl was roughed out. The blank was reversed and held on the spigot in the O'Donnell jaws. The end face was cleaned up and then faced to length. A 10 mm hole was drilled to depth via a Jacobs chuck held in the tailstock. The bowl was then hollowed with multiple cuts to achieve a less than 2 mm wall thickness. The base was left slightly thicker to provide the 'weight' for rocking. A negative rake, round nose scraper was used on the inside to remove any remaining ripples - and then sanded - using both hand and power sanding through the grits to 400 grit.
The bowl was removed from the 4-jaw chuck and re-mounted on a turned block, with several layers of paper towel for protection and tailstock support, to turn off the mounting spigot - and was blended into the outside shape of the bowl. The outside was fully sanded through the grits as before. The remaining stub on the base was carefully sanded off via a soft sanding pad held in a chuck.

Colwin's next demonstration was a masterclass in the use of the skew chisel. He started by mounting a 2" square by 12" long blank of redwood pine between centres. He then proceeded to show all of the classic skew cuts - starting with the square to round pommel cut, a number of planing/ smoothing cuts, 'vee' cuts and several beads. A spindle gouge was used to complete the coves. A bunch of "do's and don'ts" were explained along with demonstrations of where and why a catch or a run-back occurs. The tension in the room was palpable as the moment for the deliberate 'catch' approached! Colwin emphasised that the only way to become comfortable and competent with the skew was practice, practise and more practice.

A square edge, thin rim, winged bowl in boxwood was the subject of Colwin's third demonstration. A hole had been pre-drilled in the blank and this was mounted onto the pin jaws on a 4-jaw chuck. The base was turned to solid timber, a mounting spigot was cut and the bowl shape was roughed out. The underside of the rim was completed and blended into the finished bowl shape. The bowl was sanded through the grits and the underside of the rim was power sanded with the lathe stationary. The chuck was changed and the part was then held in the O'Donnell jaws on the turned spigot. The front face was turned to achieve the required rim thickness. The bowl was hollowed and sanded, along with the rim. A small turned block/ mounting dog was held in the chuck. Using a similar method to the first demonstration - the bowl was reverse turned to remove the spigot and leave a small foot.

Tonight, we were treated to a highly-skilled display of precise, expert tool control, techniques, hints and tips - distributed over three different and entertaining demonstrations.
Thank you, Colwin!

The Display Table was well supported and showed a number of items...

Phil Lawrence showed a 'disaster recovery' mahogany bowl that became a funnel when he cut through the base with just 'one more cut.' He glued an ash disk into the hole and save the bowl. Phil also showed two bowls made up from a 'board' - cut in a jig at 45, 55 and 60-degree angles, glued together and turned. Graham Furze presented a small flower vase in spalted beech, inspired by a similar shape in porcelain. Paul Kohn displayed two painted, 'smoking men' models - a shepherd and a fully-kitted out, woodworker - where the top of the figure can be removed to reveal a smoke capsule. Don Webster showed a small live edge, winged bowl in gorse timber, along with a small spalted beech bowl. Tim Mortimer presented a tall vase in burr oak - where he had filled the cracks with coloured resin and aluminium powder, with an oiled finish. Tim also showed a small thin wall dish in burr elm. Dave Branscombe displayed a small, off-centre turned, candle holder in yew - buffed and finished with wax. Frans Brown showed a shallow, thin wall, natural edge bowl in mulberry. Ron Carter showed a very dry elm bowl, decorated with a number of 'steps' on the outside. The remaining five items on the table were all presented by Martin Barrett, who had made a small laburnum pot as a thin wall practice piece. Plus, two, tall spiral stem goblets - one in walnut and the other in a 'mystery' timber - along with two wet-turned, thin goblets - one in laburnum and the other from a sycamore branch.