Les is a Registered Professional Turner and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Turners. He has spent the whole of his life involved in the timber industry in a range of capacities. He is internationally sought after as a presenter and the club was very appreciative of his demonstration.
Les commented that he had experimented with colouring for a while in line with a big increase in decorated turnings but was currently concentrating more on tooling techniques, on which he wanted to focus for the demonstration. He pointed out that colouring/decoration can’t be used as a cover-up for poor tooling, although he often saw examples to which this applied. He advised that the better you get at tooling, the more satisfying are the outcomes and process.
Les turned three pieces, illustrating the use of a range of tools, whilst always emphasising safety.
A Completely Useless Hollow Boxy...
This started on a cheery note with Les declaring that he wanted to show us how he could turn a “completely useless hollow boxy formy thing with an equally pointless finial with a point.”
For a full report on this piece can be read on a separate post “A Completely Useless… by Les Thorne“.
Box with Double Finial
Les used this piece to talk about finials, and how they should neither disappear nor overpower the piece. He used three pieces of wood to reduce wastage.
More information on this project can be found on the post “Box with Reversible Finial“.
Round Bottomed Box
Les used this piece as an example of starting the blank on a screw chuck. He turned this piece, which spins wonderfully, in just 36 minutes.
To find out more, see the post “Round Bottomed Box“.
