...DensWoodTurning.Co.Uk...

Tools I use

This is one of my best buys.

Initially I would not look at this machine, thinking it was overpriced, and whilst I am relatively new to woodturning, I have been using grinders all my working life, and I was convinced my tools were as sharp as you could get them. NOT SO !.

I received a free DVD with a woodturning magazine and I did not even bother looking at it, then a friend of mine asked if I had watched it, and a rainy day prompted me to do just that. I subsequently purchased one and it certainly lives up to the reputation that follows its name.

I get a better finish straight from the tools, therefore do not have so much sanding to do. The tools remain sharper longer. What a fool I was not to buy one sooner. If you have not seen the DVD look on their website http://www.tormek.com.

This is a wonderful tool, and I would not be without it. Bearing in mind the relatively short time I have been woodturning there could be far better machines out there, but for me, this is the best.

This table saw was given to me by an elderly gentleman, and I found it so quiet when running that I decided to readapt it, purely for segmented cutting.

The first lathe I had was the Axminster M900, and as I accquired more equipment I quickly realised my little workshop was too small. Having found that my passion was for bowls I did not need a long bed lathe. This short bed lathe is ideal for my purpose, and I do not have to swing the headstock for the size of bowls / vases that I make.

THIS IS MY HOME MADE DRUM SANDER - I made this drum sander purely and simply to flatten off my rings of segments before gluing together. I have showed it with the carrier I use for the segmented rings. If you make this you must make sure that the drum is rotating anti-clockwise, so as you push the carrier with the associated ring it does not snatch it from you and break. I made this myself because , yes I would like a commercial one, but cost is prohibitive.

I have had many people email me for plans of my drum sander. I got the plans from Southwest Segments http://www.southwestsegments.com. Sadly this website is no longer around. A second site worth looking at is

http://www.rockslide.org/drum sander.html

MITRE SAW - I used to cut most of my segments with this setup, it takes some setting up but once done it is a good tool for the job. But now I have a dedicated table saw for this job.

DISC SANDER - A really useful piece of kit.