Ian Ethell & Spring Competition

Ian Jam chuck to make a bowl When making a bowl... Peel side grain Slice across end grain Start by flattening the base of the bowl blank ( not making the rim even ) Then cut from base towards headcstock to even out rim Stops the tool bouncing Then turn rest at angle and slice to shape the bowl S shaped curve Steer with right hand only Left hand puts pressure on tool to stay on rest. If you push with left you get bouncing Can refine with flat negative rake scraper Fix jam chuck in chuck True up then widen with scraper until it accepts bowl tenon Carefully and slowly remove wood Tap in bowl until it runs true Bring up tailstock support At outer edge cut to establish thickness Refine rim with straight negative rake scraper Cut towards edge to remove wood then cut (peeling with the wing) Then cut towards centre (cutting end grain) Then debulk again with telling cut towards edge Refine bumps with Curved negative rake scraper. Supporting outside with fingers (holding shavings against outside if it gets too warm) Leave the central bulk in as long as possible. Then cut away at is as you go lower Sight along the Bevel to maintain constant thickness . measure with calipers Cut down mass in middle Careful with tool overhang Cut nub off wood central support Finish bottom with a bottom bowl gouge with s steep Bevel Stand back a bit If bowl comes off moisten the jam chuck and put it back in wedged with paper Check thickness Refine bottom with curved negative rake scraper Sand Off centre leg Cut pommel with gouge with 40 degree angle so you can introduce it square (easier than a skew) Rough gouge to round off lower leg using corner of gouge to get in close to the pommel Shape the foot Offset headstock half way between centres and a corner. Use ring centres to drive. Keep foot end on centre. Turn at 1200 rpm. Use roughing gouge (a continental if available) This creates the back curve of the leg. Then offset the foot about half the distance (on same diagonal as before) and return top end to centre. Cut lower portion then extend more lightly toward top Get the ankle slim Sand to soften edges of the offset cuts. Return to previous checking points and sand again to soften edges. Back on central axes, Deepen and lengthen cove in foot. See photos for Spring Competition entries. The woodturner of the year is David Yeomans