ready for some football?

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:31 pm

I was visiting a fellow member of our woodworking club, "The Plantation Woodworkers" here in Leesburg and he showed me one of his turnings. His name is Bernie Otten so I can't take credit for any of the work but he did say that when he does another one he would let me take some pictures during the process.
The project starts out as a billet of poplar consisting of four parts that are bolted together.
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Here is the view of the end of the billet showing the bolt pattern
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And here is the finished product. Don't try to throw one of these things, it weighs about 8 pounds!!:eek:
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Bernie has a complete Shopsmith equipped shop including a 520 and all SPT's.
A real talented guy.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?:D
Bill V

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:20 am

What a cool project! I'm impressed. Please pass my compliments to your friend.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:40 am

curious why does he bolt them together and not just glue them?
Does the four section come apart after he makes the football?

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:51 pm

Ed
He uses the bolts cause using glue would prevent the pieces from coming apart after turning. After he turns the football he parts the waste off on the bandsaw and feehand shapes the tips of the ball on the belt sander. The main sections of the ball are double sided taped together so they can be separated and then run on the router table to highlight the seams.
Early versions that were only glued at the ends(where the bolts are) had a tendency to separate while turning
Bill V

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:34 pm

Methinks they are bolted instead of glued so after turning the edges can be chamfered to make them look more like real football seems then glued.

swampgator · Post by **swampgator** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:49 pm

Wow! Awesome!