Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa - now with finished pictures

[eyekode]

It is that time of year again. Time for Dirty Santa with my extended family . For the last couple years I have been bringing something I made.

This year I want to finish up a platter:

(Please excuse the incorrect white balance on this one)

This is a fun piece of hickory that Joe Bradshaw helped me carve up with a chainsaw last year. I rough turned it Nov 2010.

I really like how the form turned out but I didn't have any good way to remove the foot I had used with the chuck.

After a little googling I found this: http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=turning&file=articles_123.shtml

I mostly followed the instructions but I could not find the buttons at Lowes he was talking about. So I am currently using "1/2 Beveled Washers" from the faucet repair section. They work pretty well but I would like to find some taller ones eventually.



The chuck works well. And I am only out 2.11$ (scrap ply and drywall screws are free right?).

Here is a picture of the bowl reverse chucked:


I will post some better pictures of the finished product after I buff it out.
Thanks for reading!
Salem

 

[Mark Stewart]

Re: Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa

Nice work. I have a small set of jaws but I need a set that is a bit bigger. I bought extra buttons for the wood river cole jaws I have I wonder if they will work? how are you holding the "buttons" on?

Thanks
Mark

 

[eyekode]

Re: Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa

Mark, my first thought was to use replacement buttons from Nova. But Woodcraft was out and I have to finish by Saturday. I read of other people using nova buttons and T-nuts on their homemade cole jaws so my guess is the WoodRiver would work fine too.

I am using drywall screws. I predrilled 1/8" holes in the ply. The buttons already had a nice centered hole. I was concerned it would not be strong enough but it seems fine. If they strip out from over use I may switch to machine screws and T-nuts.

Salem

 

[erasmussen]

Re: Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa

Good solution, now you need more hole for different sizes.

 

[eyekode]

Re: Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa

Good eyes! I have not drilled them yet. Wanted to make sure the first ones worked .
Salem

 

[eyekode]

Re: Cole Jaws for Dirty Santa

Finished the bowl up last night. Here are some pics:





Joe Bradshaw has the other half of this hickory crotch. I wonder if he ever turned it?

Salem

 

[KenOfCary]

That is some great looking wood. Nice turning and finish also. - Ken.