Write up: Holm Miehlbradt
Club Meeting: 25 November 2020
Tonight Bruce demonstrated how to make turned rings.
First he explained and showed how to stabilize the wood blank using a vacuum chamber and “cactus juice”. This is a recommended start as the blanks will be turned very thin.
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5548-683x1024.jpeg)
The blank’s sides are then flattened and a hole is drilled using a horizontal borer. The hole diameter needs to be very accurate to fit the steel ring insert. And the insert vary in size by small increments (corresponding to the ring sizes).
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5554-1024x683.jpeg)
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5556-1024x683.jpeg)
The blank is then mounted on the insert (with medium superglue). The glued ring is held in a ring mandrel to turn the wood surface. Finally the ring is sanded, a finish is applied (Bruce used super thin superglue) and buffed with the Beall’s system.
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5560-1024x683.jpeg)
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5561-1024x683.jpeg)
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5566-1024x683.jpeg)
Bruce also showed how to use Paua shell bits with UV activated resin instead of a wood blank.
![](https://sawg.org.nz/sawg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IMG_5544-1024x683.jpeg)
Thanks Bruce for your demo, just in time for getting Christmas presents ready!.