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I have made some quite tall doors (about 5 foot) by Jasons method. I used 12mm MDF and 12mm softwood "frames" glued and pinned ontop. It made a considerable difference to their stiffness with a small increase in weight. I used 2 doors both a bit more than a foot wide to fil the opening. I...

Bulrush, I have a copy of Wood - Identification and use by Terry Porter. I got it free for some reason, and recall that if I'd had to pay for it then I wouldn't have got it. That said, I've pondered its pages on many an occasion and suspect that its probably worth whatever the asking price...

G, I say go for it, I am firmly of the belief that I/you/we can do anything that we put our minds to. Look at it this way, the chap in the posh upholstery factory thats doing those fantastic sofas etc. is most likely just like yourself (i.e. a human being), he's just a bit better practiced...

Out of off-cuts from the flooring?

Chris, I've used a little bit of hawthorn, it had much more sapwood and it had rather less of the purple colouration, although it does have a few hints of purple. The log was a pretty uneven shape and probably no more than 8 inches in diameter, and I've only made one bowl out of it so far. It...

I've used 12mm MDF for some drawer sides (and fronts and backs, they had lay-on fronts) and have joined by both glue and screws or glue and biscuits. Whilst neither seem desperately pretty they both seem to work OK. Cheers, Dod

Although genuine English Poplar is available for free, it tends to be in sizes better suited to turning, and also require quite some patience for the drying. I think that it is probably locally known as Timbrus Combustibulus Cheers, Dod :D

Ouch :shock:

Paul, A slightly different situation perhaps, but in fixing battons to solid walls I have at times cheated and stuck them there with no-nails type glue, taking care that they are correctly placed. then gone back the next day and drilled and fixed them to the wall with some of those bash in...

Andy, I'd go with Steve's suggestion on this. I wonder if making the sides in 1 piece will be as strong as in two pieces. Since you are using ply wood one of the "arms" of the "7" will presumably not have any long grain (although whether or not this means that it won't be strong enough is...

I have a set of Record Power tools, and they certainly work, but also have a couple of Sorby tools, and find that they seem to hold a rather better edge for longer, they are more expensive though. Cheers, Dod

Just to chip in my thoughts, for approximate distances I use metric and imperial measurements interchangeably, because errors from approximate conversions don't matter. If I want to make something a particular size then I will use metric. I like the way you can use the same units for very...

I'm with Graham as composting being the best option, very good for dilution of grass clippings. If you have a local compost/green waste collection they ought to take it, but as Duncan found out, might not. An alternative might be to find an old metal bin and burn them, it would certainly make...

Yikes, thats a busy workshop, but it still looks quite organised. Cheers, Dod

Gabriele, I use a 6 inch grinder to sharpen my turning tools, I do this free hand and can end up with a fairly straight bevel (i.e. not concave from the shape of the stone). If I use the grinder with a jig to do my chisels though I do get quite a concave face, so I suppose that the sharpening...

And a good job it is too JFC. Great to see one in the making. Cheers, Dod

Paul, A post in the turning forum might turn :shock: up somebody who could help you out here. Cheers, Dod

But if you plan to heat it at all (or if th einsulation means that you can avoid having to heat it) then that could be a very cost effective option. What sort of insulation was it for?

Have you considered a piece of fairly hard rubber between the lathe and the bench? No idea where you'll find such a piece, although Rowley seems to recommend a piece about 6mm thick in his "Foundation Course". Cheers, Dod

The only piece of Record equipment that I have is one of their cheap lathes. I have to admit to having had a spot of bother with it - it stopped working intermittently. I took the headstock back to the dealer and he swaped it for another no questions asked. Personally I can't fault their...