The Fundamentals of Segmented Woodturning: Projects, Techniques & Innovations for Today’s Woodturner

By James Rodgers

In The Fundamentals of Segmented Woodturning, professional woodturner and woodturning instructor Jim Rodgers provides the most up-to-date guide for any woodturner trying his hand at segmented woodturning. With an emphasis on visual instruction, The Fundamentals of Segmented Woodturning offers the new segmenter with a simple, accessible introduction to the established practices while providing advanced segmenters with all the new techniques that have emerged due to the growing popularity of the craft.

Starting with the basics, The Fundamentals of Segmented Woodturning covers the essentials of tools, the steps of construction, and critical technique of accurate segment cutting before moving on to ring segmented and open segmented turning. Also covered for today’s segmented woodturners are simple design enhancements to dress up any project, a bowl-from-a-board project that utilizes lamination to create mind-blowing designs, and fun techniques for simple and fast segmented pens and vessels that utilize scrap wood and can be completed in a small amount of spare time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linden Publishing
• Release date: Oct 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781610353007

Book preview

Preface

Drawings

In the book the author has used drawings of half bowls and vessels to illustrate the measurements and calculations. Many turners prefer to make half form drawings as it is easier. The calculations are exactly the same whether you work from diameter or radii.

Measurements

Measurements are in fractional inches, the most commonly used measurement system in the United States and woodturning in particular. Unfortunately, the process of converting fractions to decimal inches, multiplying by another decimal (usually π or 3.14) then estimating the conversion back to fractions is tedious. The simplest measurement system to use is the metric system where no conversions are required and division of a measurement is straight forward. I encourage you to consider conversion to metric.

All commercial software used in segmented turning can be set to fractional inches, decimal inches, or metric measurements. When building your fixtures consider adding measuring tapes with metric measurements.

Theory and Practice

Each chapter consists of two parts: the explanation of the concept and an example to make in practice. The author has used graphics in the initial theory, and assembly pictures in the second section to further aid in clarity.

Information on specific accessories and fixture construction plans can be found at the web sites referenced in the appendix.

Cautions: Remember that woodturning can be dangerous if safety precautions are not observed including wearing eye and face protection, keeping your tools sharp and following all manufacturer’s safety precautions. The techniques and power tools usage presented in this book are the ones most used by the author over many years of teaching segmentation techniques and which he finds the easiest to initially assimilate.

Introduction

The emphasis on segmentation has grown, expanding in new directions and adding new processes. This book gives the new segmenter a simple introduction, new avenues to explore, and techniques to try. The approach of this book is intended to be more visual than written where possible.

Ring segmented vessel

Why Segmented Woodturning?

With segmented techniques many unique vessels can be created by selection of wood, design and assembly techniques. The choices in designs are limitless. You can find a great board at the local woodworking dealer and know that you can make a bowl or vessel without spending a small fortune for the materials. You use standard woodworking techniques to create cuts with precision and woodturning techniques to complete your projects.

What is Segmented Woodturning?

Segmented wood turning is the process of building from flat stock by cutting, arranging and gluing interesting woods into more complex, and beautiful projects.

Ring segmented turning is the process of building segmented rings, stacking them into bowls or vessels, and turning the shape by traditional methods. By choosing wood species of various colors and textures elaborate designs can be developed and woven into the fabric of the vessel.

Open segment turning requires space between the individual segments. Indexing is required to get the proper spacing between the segments. This technique requires less precise cutting but more care in the assembly of the project.

Bowls from a board assemblies start with a laminated, multicolored board. They are then sliced into rings, stacked, rotated and turned. The beauty is in the apparent complexity. While the assembly is not complicated more attention is given to designing and planning of the project.

Open segment vessel

Bowl from a board

Stave segmented vessel

Stave segmented turning is dealing with very tall segmented rings or staves. The tall stave segments can be cut the length of the planned project or at compound angles to reduce material usage. This technique will not be covered in this book.

Layout of this book

This book covers the basics of each technique, enough to get you started.

Chapter 1, Getting Started—How It’s Done covers the steps of a construction where you will learn the basics.

Chapter 2, Cutting Segments Accurately presents four different segment cutting techniques and where they may be applied.

Chapter 3, Building a Hollow Vessel takes you another step forward with a process for working with closed containers using a two face plate method. A few more tips on the basics are also included.

Chapter 4, Simple Design Enhancements adds some enhancements that will dress up any project with little additional effort.

Chapter 5, Techniques for Making Feature Rings presents you with techniques that can be used to create more complex designs using cutting, sanding and glue up procedures. With these techniques you can attain very complex patterns of your own design.

Chapter 6, Setting Up and Building an Open Segment Vessel introduces you to techniques and fixtures required to place individual segments in projects where ring techniques won’t work.

Chapter 7, Bowl from a Board presents lamination, cutting and re-assembly techniques for building mind blowing dizzy bowl projects.

Chapters 8 and 9, Segmented Pens