Master Class with Les Thorne - November 2005

Being almost the last to turn up I was lucky to find a place to park. I entered a very busy room and found a seat at centre back. This suits me so I can settle down with my note pad, camera and box of odd bits I need for the day. I made myself a cup of tea and found myself in the thick of things with guys chatting about various club issues. The lathe was already set up and after a few words from Don it was over to Les.

Les explained what he expected to do today and that we were to ask the questions as we go and that they're where no stupid questions, I was to prove him wrong later on. He explained that he was going to repeat the demo he gave on our club night back in May this year but obviously he had more time today. First was basic spindle work showing the three basic shapes that can be found in any turned work, that's the bead, cove and V cut. It was turned on a 50mm square piece of Pine and was past around, the tooled finish was perfect. We had all the info along the way explaining winter growth, skew angles, fizz, run back, and skating. I can't remember what skating was so I'll have to ask again at Hampshire next month.

Next was an egg on a pedestal, again on Pine, This was to show the basic cuts on one piece. Les showed us what he called a fire brake; this is a parting tool cut close to the chuck to prevent slipping into the chuck on short pieces of wood. We also saw the half skew in action, very handy tool in tight situations.

Then he had an 8" Beech bowl blank, this was turned with a wide rim for texturing and colouring. Again, a lot of useful information about balance, oils, paint, grits and power sanding. It was the textured finish that separated the various colours and gave a good effect. The contrast between the oiled Beech bowl and the dark paint wasn't enough, it really wanted a piece of Ash as its lighter, Les pointed this out as soon as it was finished, good point to remember, now having seen it the guys will remember it. I always find this is a good way to remember things, never the less it was a very nice piece of turning. Various grinding jigs where used and discussed with a number of interesting questions being answered.

Lunch was served half way through the textured bowl; this gave the paint time to dry. The lunch as always was excellent, a good first coarse followed by a sweet then tea and coffee, Our thanks go to Don's wife and daughter for preparing the lunch and of coarse Don who helped wait at the tables. That's helped bring the plates of food in, not wait as in just stood doing nothing. Well somebody was going to ask weren't they!

A natural edged bowl was next from a 7" wet beech blank. This was quite amazing to watch as it looks so easy, the aid of a light bulb helped to keep an eye on the thickness, if you haven't seen it before it makes for very spectacular demonstration. A steb centre is useful with the bowl blank being chainsaw cut more than likely out of square. The finished item was very thin. Within minutes you could see it was already drying out, more than 50% looked dry. This will of coarse distort as it stabilises but it will make it a more interesting piece.

Something I doubt many of us do is prepare green timber for future use. Our next demonstration showed just how easy it is. You must of coarse be patient and let it season properly, that's the hard bit. As always there was plenty of tips about thickness, odd shape when seasoned, mark the centre point and of coarse the Olive ash will distort probably more than the others.

Last of all was a Green Beech bowl with a square natural edge collar. This was turned as was the others to a very good standard. The bowl was undercut to give the effect of a 6mm thick square collar with the bowl pushed through it. The natural edge only being on the two opposite edges of the collar obviously. This was I think a stunning little piece, you have a bowl, a square collar, natural edge, close grain, and as it had no foot it lay on one side, what I call a busy piece.

That was it for Les, he did us proud, considering it was a repeat of an evening demo earlier this year he managed to keep it as fresh as ever. He obviously understands that we the audience can only take in so much, I make notes for this article and put as much on paper as I can but you still only pick up a small percentage of detail. I will be seeing this log demo again in early December, I'm sure I will still find it interesting. I may even have enough then turn one of the projects, just as long as I don't use bits from each project on the same piece!

Don thanked Les for an excellent master class and was followed by a good round of applause. The team then went into action and with two vacuums going the hall was tidied with chairs and tables stacked. We had a good look at the alterations to the hall and it was time to go, and there goes another good Master Class.

Boots, November 2005