Woodturning a Large Sphere

In this video I create a large sphere from a portion of a pine column that a customer had me do as a commission. I also had end tables to do with the pine columns, but this will be covered in another video. The woodturning was challenging for two reasons. First, the piece was quite large (started at approx. 14" dia) and I could not use the normal cup method of making a sphere. Instead I used geometry to first make an octagon and then a 16 sided polygon to get very close to the sphere shape, finishing the rest by eye. The second challenge was that pine does not cut cleanly, so I had to really make sure my final cuts with a sharp spindle gouge left a good surface without tear out.
Instagram: / frankdidomizio_woodturner
Facebook: / frankdidomizio.woodtur...
Website: www.frankdidom...
Email: [e-mail]
Tools and I use in my videos and some product links:
Stihl 391 chainsaw
Robust American Beauty Lathe & tool rests - woodchuckers.com/ ,www.turnrobust....
Oneway hollowing system oneway.ca/prod...
Oneway scroll chucks woodchuckers.c..., oneway.ca/, oneway.ca/
Vicmarc scroll chucks, lathes, steady rests, etc. www.branchesto...
General Salad Bowl Finish woodchuckers.c... , www.amazon.ca/...
Sandpaper woodchuckers.c..., sandpaper.ca/h..., stockroomsuppl...
5/8” roughing bowl gouge - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Busy Bee
5/8” bottoming bowl gouge - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Busy Bee
1/2” finish cut bowl gouge - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Busy Bee
1” skew for shear scraping - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Busy Bee
Easy Wood carbide tools - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Amazon, Busy Bee
Coring System - Oneway, Woodchuckers woodchuckers.c...
Korpro carbide cutter tips from Hunter for the coring system branchestobowl...
Vicmarc steady rest branchestobowl...
Epoxy/Resin - Woodchuckers, Lee Valley, Amazon, resinate.ca/pr..., designerepoxy....,
Rangate Knot and Crack Filler - canada.rangate...
Andre Martel calipers martelhooktool....
CA glue - Stick Fast at woodchuckers.c... or Lee Valley
Woodburner - Razertip www.leevalley.... or Burnmaster at www.chippingaw...
Beading tool - d-waytools.com...
Respirator/faceshield: Sundstrom from Woodchuckers in Canada woodchuckers.c... or from Woodturning Wonders in the US woodturnerswon...
LED magnetic light - www.cindydrozda...
Veritas Carbide burnisher (for negative rake scrapers) www.leevalley....
This video is for entertainment purposes, woodturning can be dangerous, follow all safety precautions when using your tools and equipment and get proper instruction/training.

[@rroe5718]

Great job Frank!!!

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks Bob

[@sweetlandsheatingcooling9039]

Fantastic skills! Thanks for posting.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@georgheindl7347]

pretty work

[@frankdidomizio]

thanks

[@joeseb7510]

Very nice Frank, I was wondering what you were up to.

[@frankdidomizio]

Always trying something new 🙂

[@paulmelanson1527]

Nice video, great job. Where did you get the respirator?

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks, my respirator is a Sandstom unit, which is higher end and more costly than the trend units. In Canada you can get it at Woodchuckers and in the US you can get it at Woodturning Wonders . There is a link to their websites in my video notes.

[@jon4715]

How dangerous is this kind of work?

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks for your comment. Woodturning in general is not very dangerous at all provided you start with small projects and wear your face shield. when you are beginning it is also helpful to take a class on how to use the lathe tools properly.