Making Test Tube Vases
from "Special" Scrap wood
Another idea for using all those saved up "treasures" Making Test Tube vases. Twice or thrice mounted.
By John D Williams
If you are a "normal" woodturner you will have saved a stack of small chunks of wood which are probably gathering dust in your workshop.
Here is an idea to use up some of that stash (and make room for more
of course.) The picture above shows my stash of "I just can't burn that" wood.
Cut chunks into triangular, rectangular, hexahedral or even pentahedral shapes on one end. Even half round tree sections work well too.
Friction mount on the lathe: There is a small piece of hard rubber between the point of the cup center and the wood. When mounting pieces that are flat on both sides I use a sandpaper covered faceplate on the drive end of the lathe. Turn the face leaving the piece under the rubber unturned of course. Once this is completed -and sanded - rotate the wood and mount between centers. Turn a tenon on the bottom. Mount the tenon in a chuck and turn the top partway. Drill to the size of a test tube (I have a variety of test tube sizes to choose from depending on the size of the wood.) Finish turn and sand the top.
Find a steel rod/pipe the size of the test tube and mount this in the chuck, push the vase onto the rod - if its loose wrap some tape around the rod to tighten it up - then turn the bottom with the tail stock center in place initially. Sand off the bottom.
The "nub" that was left unturned has been textured using a chainsaw wheel.
Texture the back or any other sides that you do not want to turn.
This piece (above) from some spalted tiger Maple. Both back and front were turned. And there you have it, you can empty out the huge stash of beautiful pieces of wood that you have been saving for a rainy day.
Copyright: By John D Williams Website: www.woodisfun.com