What a load of Balls!!

[Richard Findley]

Hi all,

Yesterday's job: Turn 10x Tulipwood balls to 90mm diameter:

An interesting challenge but they came out well in the end

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Jenx]

Excellent Richard !
Can i ask you ... what are they for ?

brilliant bit of 'repitition-turning' .. very impressive !.


When I was a young apprentice, we used to have big ones on a rope, to pull through the lead soil-pipes, to 're-round' the bores.
That was a while ago ! 8) 8) :lol:

Seeing those reminded me of them.

Great work. 8) 8) 8)

 

[Turn It In]

Hi Richard,
Thats a fine set of balls you've got there. Can you juggle??
Are they made to a template by hand and eye or by a ball turning tool?
Hansom!
Regards,
Ian

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Jenx,

I must admit I'm not entirly sure what they're for although I believe they are part of a shop fitting display. I didn't get the chance to have a good chat with the client as it was a bit of a rush job (you know the sort, phone call Monday afternoon - must have them for first thing Wednesday :roll: )

I've done similar work for them before, although they had holes in them :shock: :

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Ian,

They were turned between centres as best I could to an MDF template, I then cut off the remaining stubs and remounted between a concave block in the chuck and a blunt type of ring centre with a pad of tissue. This brought them pretty much fully round. A bit of sanding and rotation of the ball between centres got them looking good.

I checked them all against the template and by rolling them along the bench to check for unwanted lumps and bumps.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Bodrighy]

Doing one ball is impressive, doing that many is.....can't think of the word I want.

Pete

 

[greggy]

richard, to make all them,,,



you must have balls :lol: :lol: well done. great job.

 

[cornucopia]

great work richard =D>

 

[TEP]

Top work Richard, not easy to do, I know. Personally I would have thought the ones with holes the hardest?

I made four just over a year ago and they wanted them the same size. Not confident in my ability to turn them free hand to the dimensions, I finished them off with a pipe made from a old round hole saw. Worked a treat, and since then I always look to see if I have a piece of pipe around when balls come up. :lol:

 

[wizer]

Very nice Richard. I'd really like to make some varying sized balls one day.

I finished them off with a pipe made from a old round hole saw. Worked a treat, and since then I always look to see if I have a piece of pipe around when balls come up. :lol:

Can you explain that a bit more :?

 

[stevebuk]

Thats impressive, they look a treat. If i am not mistaken i think Bobham has a video on turning balls..

 

[Paul.J]

:shock:...... Very nice looking balls Richard.
Rather you than me :roll:

 

[boysie39]

Nice job Richard. it aint easy, tried to make one about 6mths. ago not good left it out in the rain to see would it find the right shape no go. Put it into the Hot press no go. Why is it that when you dont want wood to move it will.
Reminds me of an ould saying over here about the Stone Outside Dan Murphys door Someone put another one on the far side and made a Balls out of it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: .

 

[RATWOOD]

Will you lot stop looking at another man's ball's

 

[DaveL]

Well this proves in my book just how good Richard is, they all look the same size and round. =D> 8)

 

[Richard Findley]

Thank you all for your kind words and comments

TAM, After turning both sorts - that is with and without holes - I think that actually they were easier with holes!!! This is because I had to turn less of a complete sphere, and only on a single axsis. Either way, they pay the bills :wink: !

I've turned balls using a length of tubing (not tried the hole-saw version of the method) and find it works really well upto about a 35mm ball. I tried a 50mm (ish) ball once with some 50mm brass tubing and I succeeded in producing a lot of dust and smoke and a slightly blackened bit of wood, but not really a ball :twisted: !

Thanks again,

Richard

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Very impressive Richard

I have a 'commission' (FOC!) to make new 2" balls for the coconut shy for our local summer village show. As I man the stall I got rather suckered into saying I could do it.

8 months later I haven't started yet Are there any good books / videos on ball turning?

Someone also mentioned that he'd like me to make croquet balls, which are made from Beech. I didn't say yes or no, depending on how the coconut shy balls turn out. He said he can't get them for love nor money. So if anyone fancies a nice little business opportunity, croquet balls might be worth investigating

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Steve,

Come and see me at Woodex (on the Tudor Rose Woodturner's stand) and I'll do you a demo

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Thanks Richard - I have been to the last couple of woodexes so I hope to be at this one as well. It's in about three weeks if my memory serves me well.

I note Woodex has gone back to charging an entry fee - albeit a nominal £2.50. Hopefully there will be a few more trade stands this time - a bit thin on the ground in the Autumn.

See you then - you'll be wishing you hadn't offered the demo - I can be a bit slow on the uptake

Steve