For our entertainment this evening, we were lucky to have the excellent Emma Cook as our pro-turner with the memorable projects that she comes up with.

Emma is better known as the Tiny Turner, which she has used as her brand name since 2013, she also continues to move forward and develop her skills in her unique way.

It was with great regret that we were unable to have Emma’s demonstration at our meeting last month due to an electrical problem within the college itself. We were very lucky to be able to Re-book Emma straight away for this month, thankfully she was not booked for the evening.

We had a good start to the evening, with Emma being stuck on the M6 in slow traffic, therefore the evening demonstration was delayed due to this, but only for a short time. Over the last three times that Emma was booked for a demo to the club, the first was cancelled due to Covid, and the second last month for electrical reasons, so now she can attend our meeting tonight.

Project 1

Emma started with a platter made out of Sycamore and explained the relevant process for developing her chucking point for the platter after first mounting the blank between centres. 

When mounted within a chuck an ogee shape was produced for the outside of the platter in addition to a dome and raised ring within the area for a decorative aspect of the foot.  This was then sanded for a smooth finish with Emma stating that she started at 240 grit.

From this point sanding sealer was used first, this was then followed by True Grit Woodturners Abrasive Paste from Taylorsmirfield, both having one coat. This was then followed up with a microcrystalline wax as a polish, again with one coat.

Whilst mounted in reverse the outer edge was removed and this was then smoothed down,  this edge was then painted over the edge part with gold and the other part left as a plain area, this was then covered in the crackle effect followed by a layer of black, this was then covered in the final layer of crackle effect which was the second bottle.  All layers were applied evenly utilizing a brush, at this point, the platter was left to dry, the drying process for this effect takes about 48 hours which should be taken otherwise the first effect layer could cause the top layer to slide a touch. 

At this point, Emma moved on to her second project, but I will carry on with the first.  At the end of the evening, Emma returned to this project and mounted the platter to remove the centre.  At this point the crackle effect had taken place but whilst on the lathe it just started to slip,  When taken off the lathe Emma used an acrylic lacquer to cover the affected area.

Project 2

The second project was a textured banded bowl, which was again mounted between centres and mounting point produced, this was then turned to a curved rounded shape, sanded and finished.  Emma then cut two groves around the bowl.

The area within the two bands was then cut out with a carving chisel 3F/12, 3 is the shape of the curve on the chisel,  F states the shape of the chisel which is a fishtail and the final 12 is the width of the chisel.  Before starting the carving, Emma explained the problems of cutting across the crown at 45 degrees so this is cut at 90 degrees.  Emma started across the bowl after the crown and she continued all around the bowl with neat clean cuts.  

A sealer was then applied around the textured area before a layer of black gesso was applied around the band area and then allowed to dry.  When dry a size was applied ready for a metallic flake effect to be applied, these flakes are brushed on and rubbed into the size.  When complete this then becomes the finished effect with no spray being applied over the flaked area.  The bowl was then reversed and the centre was taken out, Emma also explained how she went about turning within bowls due to her size.  When complete a 2mm diameter leather band was applied to the cut groves of the bowl, this was applied with a 45-degree cut on the end of the leather and laid into a layer of Fabritec glue, when coming back to the start another 45-degree angle was cut to line up with the original first cut.

Project 3

For a third project, Emma finished off a piece that she had with her, it had a dry layer of black lacquer applied on the inside of the bowl, She then used a Jo Sonia colour which she mixed with a flow medium of about 50 – 50 mix.  This was then applied to the inner edge of the bowl and then mounted back onto the lathe and covered by cardboard before spinning up to speed, this produced a radiating shape around the edge of the bowl.  

When dry a layer of size was also put around the inner edge of the bowl and allowed to spin.  This was then taken off the lathe and a metallic powder was applied, this being brushed on in the same direction of the flow, this is to prevent the crossover of the powder and take it away from the centre.

We also had a very good turnout of the member’s work which was out on display for all to see, well done all who took part in this section.

Thanks go out to all club members who undertook the setting up and breaking down of the equipment, also to Rob for the technical backup, Steve for looking after the raffle and Barrie for this report and Photos.  And special thanks to Chris who got down on his knees for Emma, to remove the flying dust.

Thankfully we got through the night without needing the lights in the college rooms as they were not working.