Dave Hout comes to us from Ohio. He was a member of the faculty at Coventry High School in Akron, Ohio for 30 years. He spent 20 years in the classroom as an industrial arts instructor. He then served as an assistant principal and high school principal. Well respected in the woodworking field, Dave has led many workshops and seminars on woodworking with an emphasis on woodturning. He has taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN and the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. He is a founding member of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) and is currently serving on the board of directors of AAW. The demonstration began with metal spinning which dates back to the Egyptians. Lead was the initial metal used. In the 1800's the technique was introduced to America. In Europe metal spinning has been a closed guild - techniques and procedures have been quite guarded under a cloak of secrecy.

Dave uses nonferrous metals. Pewter is used primarily. Aluminum, brass and copper are also used but they harden readily when spun. This hardening is at the atomic level. Nonferrous metals have to be annealed in stages in order to complete the forming process. Lathe centers have to be aligned perfectly. A form to shape the metal over is made from wood. Dense woods such as maple are preferable. Oak and ash may leave their grain patterns in the metal piece after spinning. The tool used to form the piece is made of mild steel (cold rolled) and is spoon-shaped. Hardened steel is not necessary. The tool surface must be extremely smooth with no imperfections. Any imperfection will be magnified in the work piece. The tool has a three quarter inch diameter.

The tool rest was then discussed showing the multiple pin positions at one inch intervals. The second tool discussed was a section of a broom handle about 15 inches long. It had a long taper at one end and a short taper at the other. A follow block was used in the tailstock. The surface of the follow block is either flat or slightly convex. This gives a concave bottom to the piece. The pewter used to form the piece contains antimony which replaced the lead previously used. The pewter was purchased as round discs. The piece was lubricated with German Brown Soap which has a vegetable oil base. Cut-Ease Stick Lubricant can also be used and is readily available.

The piece was then placed between the follow block and the molding form in the headstock. It was held in place purely by pressure - a slow speed was used initially. The piece was then centered by rotating it against the wooden tool and was then lubricated. The tool rest was placed below center and the tool was used below center. The piece was worked in both directions to maintain an even thickness. The edge was then trued with a bowl gouge.

A rolled edge was then formed on the piece giving strength to the edge. The long tapered wooden tool was used in conjunction with the steel tool to start the rolled edge. The other end of the wooden tool was used to complete the edge. The piece was then removed from the lathe and washed in water to remove the German Brown Soap. The piece was placed back on the lathe and polished with ScotchBrite Pads. It was then buffed with red rouge and white diamond pads.

A second piece was then spun at production speed. This took about 30 seconds. It was work hardened and then annealed using a propane torch. The piece was heated to about 650 degrees. This temperature was confirmed by using a piece of pine which was rubbed across the heated piece. The pine produced a black mark at about 650 degrees. The piece was then quenched in water which softened the nonferrous metal. With ferrous metals this same procedure would have been a hardening process. Closed forms were then discussed with a detailed discussion of the quite complicated construction of the needed chuck. This completed the morning demonstration.

The afternoon session began with the turning of a cross-grain open cherry bowl. The piece was mounted between centers. The exterior was rough turned and a foot made for chucking. Dave discussed the sharpening angle of the gouge. This angle is determined by several factors: how tall you are, the level of the lathe centers and what position is most comfortable for you to work. Dave turned from the bottom of the piece to the top so that underlying fibers supported the ones being cut. That prevented tear-out.

At this point in the demonstration the tailstock jammed so we entered into "Lathe Repair 101." The trimming tailstock was dismantled -- the brass pin filed to round -- then reassembled. It worked! Then demonstration continued. The outer aspect of the piece was completed and the foot formed to accept the chuck. As a general rule, on a side grain bowl you turn from the foot to the top of the piece. Dave finished the outside with the gouge upside down to produce a shear or skew type cut. The piece was then reversed and the base placed in the chuck. The top was trued and an opening made. A portion of the interior was formed. Dave's own tool was then demonstrated for finishing the interior of the piece. This produced a surface that needed little or no sanding. A one-on-one demonstration took place with each member of our club present having a chance to use Dave's "skew gouge." It proved to be quite effective. Next discussed was platter turning including design shape. The base of a platter should be about one-half of the total diameter. The inner aspect of the platter was turned so that the edge became more prominent. The rim was cleaned up and a bead formed on the outer edge with a spindle gouge. A second bead was formed. The rim of a platter can be considered a frame. Because of this, many ideas can be obtained by visiting a gallery or frame shop. Several other beads were formed as was a cove. With each change of the rim of the piece the depth seemed to vary. Chucking of the platter to form the foot or base was then discussed: i.e. jam chucks and vacuum chucks. This completed an excellent demonstration. Details will be available on video tape in March 2003 in the club library.

--Bob Gunther

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