Open segment bowl construction is one of the several different types of segmented bowl construction. The vase below is my first try at open segmented construction. This is the completed open segment vase. It has 495 pieces and took about a week total to assemble and turn. The open segment rings are composed of 24 segments. The closed segment rings were made 12-sided. I used Titebond II wood glue. The outside was finished using Behlen's Jet Spray lacquer.

Segment Wood Turnings Project Plans

Use these free sample segmented project plan sheets to make your own turnings. These are some of the plans for my projects that you can view, print, and use as you like. All of these plans were created using my Segmented Project Planner. It has been a tremendous help in making my projects go faster and smoother. Although these plans are based on the inch as the unit of length, you can convert them to use millimeters using the Segmented Project Planner.

Basic Frame-Miter Segmented Bowl Construction

The bowl that was designed in the "Designing a Bowl" and "Designing a Bowl Using a PC" web pages is shown below. This web page is intended for the beginning segmented woodturner. I have attempted to show the photographic sequence of bowl construction steps with descriptions. There are many different techniques for constructing and turning a segmented bowl.

The Hexagonal Plan

Sometimes people think I just glue up any old scraps I have handy to make these pieces. Not so. I have in mind an overall effect from the beginning. The early pieces (of which this is one) were made largely of small scraps and as I ran out of small scraps I used larger and larger pieces of wood to start.

A Lidded Box from Beginning to End

Lidded Boxes are as far as I know, turned containers (with lids), turned parallel to the end grain so that the top and bottom surfaces of the box are end grain. I guess if they were turned across grain, then they would be lidded bowls. I prefer to turn my entire box from a single piece of wood, so that the grain in the lid and the base of the box match.

Scrap' Mallet

One of the by products of many chuck-based turning processes is a cut-off tenon, sometimes called a spigot. When I first started using my lathe I threw these remnants in the trash, but lately began keeping the better ones as it occurred to me I could glue them up to make something useful.

Wood Turning Intermediate and Advanced Projects for your Woodturning Pleasure

My intention here is to add a wood turning project from time to time based on what I happen to be turning or upon what people ask. My ranking of beginner, intermediate or advanced is so subjective as to be meaningless except to me, but this is my page so I will do it anyway. Have fun.

Micro Turning

Over time, I've turned various small items for use on scale models. Some of the pieces I turn are 1/8" in diameter, and I've found it difficult to secure the tiny wooden blanks in my lathe. Even if I use my chuck's smallest jaws, the dowel needs to be at least 1/4" in diameter to ensure a secure hold. Typically, I use a larger piece of wood that clamps securely in the chuck. I then turn the ends down to make the size of piece I want. This is fine for making one or two items, but not for making several of something.

Photographing Your Work - A Tutorial

For many woodturners photography quickly becomes yet another tool of the craft. We spend hours creating works of beauty so we naturally want to showcase our work at its best. Acceptance to exhibitions or judged events often requires us to be somewhat proficient in photography. For those of us who share our work on the net, images are our primary means of communication. Yet photography can be daunting to those who are new to the subject.