B.Light Design

Turned footstool, the top is birch plywood and the legs are some nice figured walnut.

I turned a few lamps out of oak and got some finish on them. I experimented with stain (I rarely use stain, but when I do it is usually on oak) and tung oil on one and the other two got some Danish oil. I like how the Danish oil brought out the contrast between light sap wood and the darker inner oak.

It’s been awhile since I’ve turned a lamp at the lake, feels good. This hunk of oak was rough turned about two years ago and left to dry. This week I put the final shape on it and now it’s time for the finish.

Yup.

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A post shared by Ben Light (@blight_design) on Dec 31, 2019 at 11:35am PST

I had some scrap brass and walnut (?) lying around and figured I’d try making a brass headed hammer. I did all of the work on a wood lathe. Brass can be worked with wood turning chisels, kind of amazing.

I recently received a Oneway Drill Wizard jig. Problem was the post was for a 1″ diam tool rest base, luckily, it is removable. So I turned an aluminum post 5/8″ diam for my smaller lathe. Works great.

Pine wood was pretty much the first “serious” material I ever really worked with. But I haven’t done anything with pine for years. I got my hands on some large logs of pine, from a tree that fell during Sandy, and figured I’d turn some lamps.

The pine is very soft and had a lot of tear out, but I really liked the grain patterns. I think a finish is really going to make it pop.

I recently made some more Jar Lamps, only this time the bases are made from glued up bourbon barrel staves (parts of the barrel).

I made a bud vase from some scrap plywood and a test tube. I really liked how the plys looked after oiling and waxing.

I recently had to replace some handles (and this one) on a lathe I’ve had for over 13 years. My very first lathe as a matter of fact.

I’ve now replaced the belt, 3 tool rests, the power switch, the drive center, and now these handles. Feels good to keep the old girl running.