Turning a Mini Disk
By Curtis Turner
Round Rock, TX

This project is an excellent way to take a break from turning the same old pens and bowls. This easy project can be accomplished on a mini lathe, and requires only a small block of wood. A mini disk is a good way to display an interesting wood and show off your turning skills.

CLICK HERE to learn how to
make your own mini disk:

How to Inlay Stone Into Wood
By Tim Carter
Delray Beach, FL

Want to take a plain project and make it really spectacular? One way to do it is to inlay semi-precious stone into the wood! The inlay can create an amazing contrast of colors and shapes that will draw people to it!

I’m a woodturner and use this process a lot on bowls, platters, hollow forms and Lazy Susans that I turn. However, the process can be used on any type of wood working project.

CLICK HERE to learn Tim's process for inlaying stone into wood:

End Grain Sealer

Woodturner's 3/8" Bandsaw Blade

Our 3/8" wide WoodTurner's Bandsaw Blade, with 3 TPI, alternate set with raker tooth pattern and stout band thickness of .032", is the blade you are looking for if you want to create bowl blanks from green wood on the bandsaw. The significant tooth set of this blade provides ample room to keep the blade moving through dripping wet, kerf-closing, growth-tensioned logs.

CLICK HERE for more details on this workhorse blade:

This month's column features a wide variety of creative and beautiful woodturnings made by Richard Mialki.

Take a closer look at this adorable duck family and many more!

A Phil's Tips Classic: A Time-Saving
Turning Tip

If necessity is the mother of invention, laziness is most likely the father.

I was in my shop one evening roughing out bowls. After roughing out the first bowl, with the chuck still on the lathe, I thought "Why not just put the #2 drive center in the chuck and tighten it up and save some time?"

I did it and turned the lathe on to see how well it centered.

How did it all work out?