Click on thumbnails for the complete image

We spent the evening
of January 16th with
Peter Asselyn who showed
us how to turn an
extremely thin lampshade
with nothing more than a skew and a bowl gouge.

Prior to the demo he prepped the piece of end grain poplar between centers to get it “mostly round”, tenoned,
and mounted onto his
four jawed chuck.

And he wasted no time at all in sending the shavings flying, making a huge mess.

What could be better?

Our Sky Cam provides a different perspective on
the proceedings.

He made quick work of getting the form “just so” and was careful to leave plenty of meat towards the top of the shade.

So Peter.

No meatballs with
that fettucini?

Peter says that it helps to sing show tunes while turning

The evening comes to a screeching pause while Peter poses for Mike Treadwell.

But he got right back
to putting out some
very nice shavings.

Very nice!

It was now time to focus on hollowing out the shade with
a 5/8” bowl gouge.

All photos this page
by Andy Hoyt

Page last updated
January 20, 2008

Click on thumbnails for the complete image

Instead of using calipers to determine wall thickness, he simply uses a light.

When it shines through
the wall in a consistent tone,
he knows that he’s at the needed thickness

But he does this incrementally by working in steps towards
the top of the shade
of about 3/4” at a time.

Once he gets it where he
wants it, he does not go back to tweak it ever again.

The reason for the extra stock at the top of the shade becomes apparent - strength.

He’s now turning beyond that point to ensure wall consistency

Lots of carefully controlled cuts. He’s using a purpose-built tool rest that goes straight into the form quite far and then curves in toward the center.

But it’s not as easy as it looks.

His right hand is nowhere near the control point at the tool rest and this mandates a very controlled approach.

Peter now deploys his secret weapon. He’s got another
chuck mounted on the tailstock that’s holding a nicely rounded piece of wood. And to that,
he’s glued some foam. This serves to cushion and hold the highly delicate shade when
he parts it off.

And he does that with the pointy end of a small skew. His holder allows him to focus on that cut without having to worry about what happens to it once severed from the waste wood.

The tension mounts as we arrive at the crucial moment.

Success!

Although Peter doesn’t seem too surprised by that

Sorry Sandra,

I couldn’t resist it.

Click here for a pdf file containing some easy to follow steps that Peter wrote to help you in creating a shade of your own.