Ed Schwalm Demonstration, June 22, 2010
Ed turns a form shaped like a flying saucer or a discus. He mentioned that the two sides do not have to be symmetrical,
but the center line could be at the 1/3-2/3 or Golden mean point.
Here are the steps in getting the outside smooth and in the proper shape. It is essential that both sides of the piece are spherical. When this is true, the piece will fit on the vacuum chuck with no leaks. After establishing the curve by eye, Ed checks by sliding a cylinder from the center out to the edge. For this he used a large cone from the Oneway live center and the outside cover from a roll of adhesive tape. The piece reversed in preparation for contouring the opposite side.
Ed has the piece mounted on a homemade vacuum chuck using the tailstock for support.
At this point Ed will start contouring the second side.
Picture on right shows the vessel mounted for hollowing. And mounts a board on the vacuum chuck. This board has a hole cut in the center and back hole is covered with some foam material. The vacuum holds both the board and the vessel on the lathe but allowed easier adjustment of the vessel position. Note the smaller centered hole and the larger off-center hole.
Hollowing through the off-center opening. At this point the inside will not be a uniform thickness.
Ed hollowing through the centered opening. This is not really an opening on the part of the larger open. As the wood spins, you can see a ghost image of this pseudo-opening.
Partially completed vessel. It did not attempt to finish this piece due to time constraints and the quality of the wood.
This was a very dry piece of Box Elder that cut like a stone!
Ed's other work. This guy is an excellent woodturner who enjoys experimenting and building fixtures and jigs.
