April Demonstrator – John Beaver

While the focus of my demonstration is on my unique “wave” technique, my goal is for the audience to see a lot of tips and tricks that can be applied to their own designs. The genesis of my work comes from the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a turned vessel in a number of different ways while maintaining grain and wall alignment. The advantage of my technique is it allows the turner to begin with wet logs and still build constructed turnings.

1. Introduction

Powerpoint presentation showing the evolution of my work and talk about design.

2. Creating The Wave

From a small block of dry wood I show the basic technique behind my “wave” design. I mark and freehand cut the block on a bandsaw, glue one layer “wave” into it, and then turn it into a bowl.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

• steam bending with a microwave
• tips for keeping the block aligned when reassembling
• importance of grain direction

3. Protruding Wave

From a rough turned and dried bowl, I show the jig I made and demonstrate the steps I use to turn a bowl with a protruding wave from one piece of wood. The jig can also be used for many other applications that might not include my wave design. This is followed by discussion on how I accomplish some of the other implementations of my “wave” design.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

• how to keep a deconstructed bowl aligned for reassembling
• how to set depth stops for turning part of a bowl smaller
• how to clamp and glue a deconstructed bowl back together
• cleaning up glue squeeze out
• cutting curves in non backed veneer with no splitting

4. Flying Rib Vase

From a rough turned end grain vase, I show how I use my jig to cut the vase apart, add the protruding ribs and reassemble the vase.

Additional Tips and Tricks.

• clamping and gluing a round object
• how to achieve perfect joints for gluing

To see photos of my work, please visit www.johnbeaver.net