Woodturning an olive wood live edge planter

 

Tools and materials I propose:

Lathe

Buffing kit

Wood turning tools set

Chuck kit

Tormek T8 Sharpening System

Tormek Woodturner’s Kit

Cordless Chainsaw

Forstner bit set

PROXXON Longneck Angle Grinder

Foredom Woodcarving Kit

In this video I make a planter on the lathe out of olive wood. I finished it with epoxy to make it water proof. It was a pretty challenging project for me, but I think it came out really nice. 

I begun by cutting my wood roughly to a circular piece using my chainsaw. 

I then planed one side flat so I could mount it on my face plate. 

I then urned the exterior using a bowl gouge. 

Next I hollowed the planter as much as I could. I filled all the cracks with dust and glue and sanded the piece. 

I used my carving grinder to carve four legs on the bottom  of the planter. These would help water evaporate a little better. 

I then turned a small platter to act as water collector. 

I finished everything with a coat of epoxy. I sanded the outer surfaces from 400 to 1000grit. And then I buffed them to make a nice satin finish. That’s because epoxy is pretty glossy and I don’t like that. 

This was a lot of work for a small planter but it came out really really nice. But that was it, see you soon with a new project video. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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How to make a DIY marking knife

 

Tools and materials I propose:

Belt sander

Table saw

Trim router

Block plane

Foredom Woodcarving Kit

Tormek  honing compound

Buffing kit

Tormek T8 Sharpening System

In this video I use an old kitchen knife and a piece of mahogany wood, to make a marking tool for woodworking.  

I begun by applying layout fluid on an old kitchen knife blade. After drawing my design I cut it using my rotary tool. 

I then used a belt sander to establish my knife’s bevel. I decided to make a skew knife. Every now and then I dipped the knife in water to cool it down. 

I then buffed the knife with small buffing wheels and honing compound. 

Next I cut a piece of mahogany to size and used the router to make a pocket for the blade. 

I then epoxied the handle with the blade together. 

Finally I shaped the handle using my belt sander, a hand plane and hand sanding. 

I buffed the handle on my buffing wheel with carnauba wax. 

Finally I gave the knife a final sharpening on my Tormek system. 

And my little knife come out razor sharp and works really fine. But that was it. See you soon with a new project video. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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How to make a deer antler begleri on a woodturning lathe

 

Tools and materials I propose:

Lathe

Wood turning tools set

Chuck kit

Buffing kit

Micro mesh sanding pads

Bandsaw

Deer antler dog chews

In this video I make a begleri using deer antler. This is a classic anti-stress accessory used in Greek and other eastern mediterranean cultures. You can find deer antler in a pet shop as a dog chew.

I begun by cutting the horn on the bandsaw. I drilled a pilot hole for my screw chuck. 

I then started turning it. Scrapers worked really nicely on this material. 

I sanded from 100 to 1000 and then I polished it with micro mesh pads. 

The material is pretty hard and can achieve a pretty cool shine. Especially the exterior of the bone. The core has pores which give the piece a really cool texture.

My little begleri was now ready. But that was it. See you soon with a new project video. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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How to make a woodturner wooden toy

 

Tools and materials I propose:

Silver solder

Belt sander

Flux

Propane torch

Tormek  honing compound

Foredom Woodcarving Kit

Lathe

Wood turning tools set

Chuck kit

Table saw

Drill press

Bandsaw

Angle grinder

Dowel center pin

Air compressor, nail and staple gun kit

Tormek T8 Sharpening System

Tormek Woodturner’s Kit

In this video I make a woodturner miniature toy, out of 15mm plywood, basswood and a few metal parts. 

First of all I cut the base’s parts on the table saw. I glued and nailed them together. 

To make the tailstock and the head of the lathe I cut all the pieces at once using carpet tape. 

I epoxied a couple of threaded rods in place. 

I then turned the pulleys of  the lathe.

I made a few other metal parts using a threaded rod, the angle grinder and silver solder. 

Next I made the tool rest. 

Using a small piece of zebrano wood I turned a test piece for the lathe. 

As a belt for the pulleys I used a piece of sandpaper. 

Next I shaped the woodturner on the lathe. This was mostly skew chisel work. I did the rest of shaping on the belt sander. I connected the leg and arm parts with 6mm dowels. 

I then turned a small roughing gouge for my turner. 

I assembled the turned with rubber bands. 

Finally I painted everything and did the final assembly of the piece. 

And that was it. My woodturner model toy was ready. I hope you liked it. See you soon with a new project video.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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The Hidden Talents of Nasturtiums

 Nasturtiums 

with Corinne Mossati

Quite often we gardener have flowering plants in the garden but never think about bringing them into the kitchen to make something.
They may be just fillers or self-seeders, but in this case, the nasturtium, has so many extra uses other than ornamental, you’ll be inspired to do something.

Germinating  Nasturtium Seeds.

Plant the seeds in moist well drained soil, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Corrine find germination takes between 14-21 days.

Why not try the Alaska variety with variegated leaves, or 'Black Velvet' with deep red flowers and dark leaves.

The one pictured is growing in my garden, is 'Cherry Rose.'

Eating Nasturtiums-Corinnes'tips:

Leaves taste peppery and are great for adding with other greens to salads.

Why no try drying the leaves and grind them to a powder. 

When combined with salt you have a condiment to flavour food or crust the rim of your margeurita cocktail glass!

Nasturtium flowers are edible too.

Use them as you would zucchini flowers.

Nasturtium seeds are edible, often referred to as 'poor man's capers.'

Let’s find out more, listen to the podcast.

I'm speaking with Corinne Mossati, drinks writer and founder of The Gourmantic Garden: http://www.thegourmanticgarden.com
and Cocktails & Bars: http://www.cocktailsandbars.com

Her website tagline & hashtag “Grow It. Eat It. Drink It.” sums up Corinne’s garden and we look forward to more segments with Corinne.

If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

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Therapeutic Gardening-All You Need To Know

 GARDEN AS THERAPY

Therapeutic Horticulture part 1

• What makes a garden therapeutic? What is therapeutic gardening?
• Are these two things connected or are they separate?

You would think that yes gardening is therapy, so doing a bit of gardening would amount to therapeutic horticulture but you would be wrong.

• To understand therapeutic horticulture, you have to be across two areas:-health and well-being and horticulture. You can start from the health sector and then gain some qualifications in horticulture or vice versa..
• Therapeutic horticulture then means using gardening as an activity to improve people's health and well being through the use of plants . 
•  There are lots of courses that can assist you with training to be a therapeutic horticulturist.
• The next step is to gain some hours through volunteering with an organisation, eg aged care, through NDIS, and disability sector.
• It's also a good idea to join THA or Therapeutic Horticulture Australia https://tha.org.au.

photo M Cannon

Let’s find out more
I'm talking with Cath Manuel, Therapeutic Horticulture Specialist. Listen to the podcast.
Cath Manuel is the founder of Soil to Supper website and a specialist in therapeutic horticulture and kitchen gardens. https://soiltosupper.com

If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

Therapeutic Horticulture part 2

The next part of my interview with specialist Cath Manuel,  is more about how anyone interested in this field can get started plus the actual benefits for participants.

• Cath was asked what kind of activities she creates or devises?  

Cath uses basic gardening skills and/or tasks but the activity is very much person centred. 

For example, someone with  low confidence and low self-esteem who is unable to participate in a community garden, perhaps on the NDIS then simple tasks such as sowing seeds, simple propagating, growing crops and fruit, watering.

• Corporate sponsorship for organisations is very important because it can provide materials such as plants, gloves, potting mix, and other garden related products.

  

  photo M Cannon

Observations

Cath has seen a lot of successes over the years, one she mentions in particular is when she works with the 'Memory Support Unit' for dementia patients.

Patients within a few minutes of being in the garden, are suddenly transported to being the gardener they once were. They are happier, often start talking to others and communicating better.

Training-How to Get Started

• For anyone that wants to train in therapeutic horticulture, there is training online with  https://soiltosupper.com

There are two programs, one for individuals and one for those wishing to train in therapeutic horticulture.

Support is provided by Cath Manuel

Let’s find out more
I'm talking with Cath Manuel, Therapeutic Horticulture Specialist . Listen to the podcast.


Cath Manuel is the founder of Soil to Supper website and a specialist in therapeutic horticulture and kitchen gardens. https://soiltosupper.com

If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

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Wood and resin cross - woodturning

 

Tools and materials I propose:

Lathe

Wood turning tools set

Chuck kit

Vacuum chamber kit

Resin colors

Buffing kit

Micro mesh sanding pads

Foredom Woodcarving Kit

In this video I make a wooden cross out of epoxy resin and almond wood. It was a nice woodturning project. 

I first turned the piece roughly. Then I split it in half with an axe. 

Next I mixed some epoxy resin and poured it into the mold. I de-gassed in the vacuum chamber. 

After cleaning up the edges I epoxied the blank on a glue chuck. 

I then started turning the blank.

Then I started shaping the cross. I removed some material with a saw and then I finished shaping with sanding. 

I sanded, then wet sanded and then I polished with micro mesh and polishing mops. 

Finally I parted the piece off the lathe and cleaned the bottom

And my cross was ready. But that was it, see you soon with a new project video. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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