Save time when doing several pieces by roughing all in a row on one long blank.  Pictured are four hollow form blanks with tenon for chucking individually after band sawing apart.

Lee Sky,  September 5,2005

If you have fresh cut wood that you can't turn right away & you want it free from checking (cracking) or spalting, or for spalting to not progress more, wrap it in tight plastic ,just as you food, and put it in the freezer until you can get to it. Thawed, it will turn like fresh wood.     Also freeze it for a few days if a piece of wood has insects in it to kill bugs deep inside.

Lee Sky,  September 5,2005

Everyone recognizes a turner..Their hands invariably have a black residue that is almost impossible to remove with soap. The trick is to keep a cheap bottle of lemon juice near your lathe and rinse your hands with this, prior to washing them with soap. Careful of open cuts as this makes it a little more lively and less enjoyable process.

Rick Pixley,  August 14,2005

I am not sure where I saw this technique, but I have been using it with great success and saving time.  Rather than turning a chuck when It is time to turn the bottom of a bowl, I use a short length of PVC pipe with some rubber glued on.  The pipe fits over the jaws of my chuck.  The rubber prevents the pipe from marking the bottom and it provides friction to drive the bowl.  I use the cup end in the live center and after a try or two the bowl spins true.

 I use mine with the chuck jaws inside but it could be either way.
 

I have a small lathe so ones made out of 2 and 3 inch PVC schedule 40 pipe work good for me.

When I cut the pipe, I true up the ends in the lathe.  The wall thickness varies, but if the end is square this will work.  I use contact cement or Silicone RTV adhesive to glue on the rubber disk.  I suspect carpet pad would also work for the disk.
 

David Kerzel,  July 4,2005

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