Creative Woodworks & crafts-111-2005-Holiday, страница 74

_w * Wand Kaleidoscopes

by Kathy and Scott Griffith

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SUPPLIES

C'arbti-Tec lathe, CT-Lathe-1

Three-piece turning too! set, PK10I0

Ijithe mandrel set, PKiOO!

Drill center vise, FK1301

13/16" forstner drill bit

Staburlized^IM kaleidoscope blank, 1/1-2"

to 2" square x 2-3/16" long Shellawax cream, PKI009 abrasive rolls, PKS276 \bralon finishing kit, PFK-2 Two craft sticks

All of the supplies above are available I'orn Steebarat: www.steebar.com

Introduction

Scott and ! would like to thank everyone for all the letters, e-mails. and phone calls we've received in response to our mini-lathe series. It's been wonderful hearing from you, and we are making every effort to answer each inquiry. Remember, we do live in a rural area of southern Lancaster County, PA, where, in order to access our e-mail, we need to take a trip into town to visit our beautiful library! Because of this, and frequent power outages, some things from time to time may get lost. If we fail to answer a question, please contact us again.

A pleasant and unexpected outcome of this series has been the visits from a number of folks who have stopped by our displays at woodcarving and art shows and at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair in Swashbucklers Grove. All this response has fueled our continuing effort to share the rewards of creativity, especially with children. Special congratulations are sent out to all the Scout troop leaders, students, teachers, and parents who have been sharing this hobby and are using their skills to reach out to others.

Scott and I have been part of each other's lives for almost 30 years and have learned the importance of positive support, humor, respcct, and creative freedom. We hope to continue hearing from all of you because that is what inspires us to reach higher. Keep up the good work and, most of all, keep smiling—it is the best advertisement for an activity that makes you happy!

Getting started

Do you remember the first time you peered into a kaleidoscope and experienced the wonder of the continually changing fireworks you held in your hand and lasted as long as you could hold your arm up? In this article, we will demonstrate how to make your own kaleidoscope. A unique feature about these kaleidoscopes is the dyed Staburlized burl which will be turned for the kaleidoscope body. The figure and grain pattern highlighted by the dye will work like a teaser for what viewers will see once they peck into the magical world wc will create.

The wand kaleidoscope makes a great project for turners who want to be a little more creative. The large wood body, provides the opportunity to try some different turning techniques. Each end of the wood will need to transition smoothly to the bushings in order to get the proper look at assembly, hut the majority of the wood is available for some creativity. These kits are especially nice for the newer turner who hasn't dared to stray from straight-line turning. Using Staburlized blanks reduces the risks involved in using untreated dried burl blanks. There may still be bark inclusions and other faults, but the pressurized cpoxy-treated blank allows us to correct these problems. (For more information on filling voids, see our mini-lathe article in the March, 2005 issue of Creative Woodworks & Crafts®.)

74 • Creative Woodworks & Crafts Holiday 2005