wHAT SIZE BLANKS

[boysie39]

Hi All, Ilove looking at the pieces you boys turn out,and have asperations of turning something simelar. However I find it hard to guess what size blank I would need to begin with. Most turners post the name of the timber they have used, as a begineer I may not use the same timber (not yet anyway) but hopefully with practice I will.
What would really help is for the poster to say what was the size of the blank when he started. Some of the pictures (to me) look to be 5/6" thick untill I see it at a different angle. So to help a serious old beginner please tell what size you made your masterpiece from. Regards and best wishes for a Happy Easter Boysie, Slan Leat.

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Boysie.
Do you mean something likethis Third post down the page.
For me,been a newbie and still learning,the size of the blank doesn't matter.
I just try and save as much of the log as i can,then cut it to it's biggest diameter size for a bowl for instance,even then it will change when you start turning it,through mistakes flaws in the wood etc.Unless you have a specific requirement.
Just a case of turn it and see.
HTH.

 

[CHJ]

Well if you look at my gallery of basic turning, the diameter dimensions quoted in most cases reflect the item being turned from a blank whose size encompasses somewhere in the region of a 5-10mm diameter bigger roughed and trued cylinder.
The thickness may be judged by scaling the picture, likewise I allow 5-10mm for trueing dependant on blank quality.


Having said all that I have never yet started on a piece with set target finished dimensions so actual size of the blank is immaterial, (pens and things like toothpick holders excepted) and indeed sometimes a piece ends up a fraction of the original blank dimensions due to wood faults or poor turning technique.

 

[boysie39]

Thanks to Paul J and Chas, You have given me an insight as to what to look for . I have been kinda sticking to DVDs for what I try to attempt and most times fall short of my target.
From now on I'm just going to pick up a piece of timber and say " I can scale this to any size I want and get on with it. I feel very confident with the tools and usually dont have much sanding to do ,so from now on "I'll give it a lash" as Jack Charlton used to say . Thanks again Boys.Regards Boysie.

 

[CHJ]

......I have been kinda sticking to DVDs for what I try to attempt and most times fall short of my target.
....

You might even try just picking up a piece of wood and see if a shape or idea springs out at you without reference to any pre conceived design, this will then dictate how you mount it on the lathe and just go with the flow as you start to cut, I often follow the grain pattern and let it dictate the final form as far as possible to get maximum effect, in my opinion the most beautiful piece of wood in the world is of no interest to anybody if it is just reduced to a pile of shavings on the shed floor chasing a finite shape.

 

[Paul.J]

Boysie wrote
From now on I'm just going to pick up a piece of timber and say " I can scale this to any size I want and get on with it.
That's the idea Boysie,just enjoy doing with what you have got