Project Tutorials

Textured and colored egg

Click on image for larger view

Use the folded edge of the sand paper in the grooves.

It is now time to do the texturing. Before starting the lathe, make sure the wheel will clear the tool rest. Also, make sure you keep your fingers away from the wheel while it is spinning. Present the wheel to the wood vertical. If you angle the wheel, you will get a rough spiral scratch pattern. Set the lathe speed to around 500 rpm’s for a small spindle like this one.

The wheel presented perpendicular to the wood surface. You can use the tool rest to pivot the shaft on in a small arc for this narrow band. When texturing larger areas slide the shaft back and forth along the tool rest. Push the wheel into the wood and remove several times to get a good random pattern.

Close up view of the texture created. The compressing action of the wheel tears the wood fibers. You can lightly sand the textured areas with a fine grit sand paper or take a light cut with the skew to remove the torn grain before coloring.

I used Crayola Brush Tip markers after learning of them from some of my fellow turners. Crayola decided to quit make these markers but any fine tip marker will work. The wood will wear the tips out quickly if you press too hard.

With the lathe spinning the egg just hold the marker against the wood to color the textured areas.

I use the fine tip to make rings of different colors outside the textured bands. When I am doing this as a demonstration for children I let them pick the colors they want.

I am about to cut a cove in the base section so I use the gouge here to reduce the wood for the base section. Not switching tools unless necessary will save a little turning time on each project.