Vacuum Chuck

Just completed work on a vacuum chucking system. The chuck itself came from eBay, it's aluminum, with a sealed bearing and 3/8" tubing that extends through the headstock. Much simpler than the rotary coupler on most systems, but not as versatile. The vacuum pump came from Craft Supplies. The platform/backboard is attached to a small hand truck for portability. As it sits I can pull maximum vacuum of 24 inHg.

Vicmarc VL100 Lathe

A couple of years ago I purchased a bench mount Vicmarc VL100 wood lathe from Craig's List. It had an AC motor mounted on the bench behind it, and speeds were changed with a 6-step pulley. I had wanted to put a variable speed motor on the unit, and make it more self-contained. This is the result of many hours of planning, designing and building. It uses a Baldor 1 hp 3 phase motor, a Westinghouse inverter, and a homemade control panel. I bolted it to a Rikon universal stand, which had to be shortened by about 5 inches.

Hollow Globe Ornament

Hollow Globe Ornament, a photo by alanva73 on Flickr.

Black Gum Top and bottom finials, Ironwood globe, Applewood intermediate lower finial.

Sharpening Station

Newly built sharpening station for woodturning tools.

Owl Nest Box

Nest box for use on trees. Design courtesy The Barn Owl Trust.

Maple Picture Frame with Walnut Accents

The picture in the frame is a copy of a post card of an old stocking factory from 1910 in Milroy, PA. The mat was made using a scan of the reverse side of the post card, including the stamp, post mark, and address, laid over itself many times in a collage.

Oak Playing Card Holder with COOP Playing Cards

New KeyFobs

Arts and Crafts Hall Mirror

Oak Hall Mirror made in the Arts and Crafts style. Mortise and tenon joinery featuring through tenons. Made to fit an antique beveled mirror, this piece is about half the length of more traditional hall mirrors. Perfect for our small bungalow.

Oak Mat Cutter Case - Update

I've made the finishing touches to the Oak Mat Cutter Box. I completed the dividers, and I found some blue polyurethane foam that looks pretty nice. I might have preferred charcoal or black, but the price was right... free.

Oak Mat Cutter Case

This case was made to house my Logan Mat Cutter. I'll be adding dividers for all of the accessories and spare blades. Perhaps I'll post new pics once they are complete and I have gotten some foam padding to make it complete.

Barn Shelf

Sort of a contract job I did for a friend. It was his concept, except for the design tweaks I made during the build. It's supposed to provoke images of 'chunky barn parts'. Functionally, it is supposed to be a display shelf for antique hand-cranked clamp-on sharpening stones. A distressed finish will be applied. So far all that have seen it agree that it looks like wooden 'hand screw' clamps that woodworkers use. That's still a good thing, IMHO.

Hillsborough Middle School Energy Drink Ban

7 Inch Birch Bowl

This is a bowl I made as a gift. It's made from some White Birch that I picked up some time ago. 7 inches in diameter and finished with laquer.

Bocote Deer Grunt Call

Misch-Matches!

Various species turned handles for mischmetal fire starter rods.

Small potpourri bowl

3.5 inch oak potpourri bowl.

Maple/Walnut Fire Piston with Nutmeg and Lanyard

Maple cylinder with walnut ferrule and inlay. Nutmeg inlay near bottom with paracord lanyard. Walnut plunger and plunger knob.

Maple Fire Piston with Walnut Accents

Maple cylinder, walnut ferrule, walnut inlay, walnut plunger and plunger knob.

Yellowheart Fire Piston with Padauk stripes and ferrule

I'm very proud of this pair of Fire Pistons. The Yellowheart cylinder is really set off by the Padauk inlay and matching ferrule. Capped off by a Padauk piston knob.