Please join us October 8th for returning demonstrator Stuart Kent, Director of the North Carolina Furniture School.
Stuart will be demonstrating what he calls "Built" Vessels, which are simply an assembly of individually turned components.
Stuart notes that in his work the components typically consist of spindle and face turnings. He frequently incorporates components from different materials like burl or solid hardwood as well as through a multiplicity of construction including: laminating, segmenting, bricklaying, and coopered stave construction.
In some cases Stuart will embellish finished turnings with a painted frieze, or with carvings, inlay, or cast bronze ormolu. These embellishments can be purely decorative or can be used to tell as story as typified by vessels from antiquity.
While the "Built" Vessel tends to be complex in finished form, it is simply a sum of parts created with intermediate turning and woodworking skills. Stuart likes to turn with a simple tool set consisting of: a large and small Irish-ground bowl gouge, a parting tool, and a square scraper or carbide tool. Additional tools can of course be included, but this is the basic kit he reachs for first and most frequently.
As far as sharpening is concerned, Stuart likes sharpen with a slow speed 8” grinder, friable wheels or CBN, and a Oneway Wolverine system with the Vari-grind jig.
The aim of this demonstration is to help woodturners, of varying skill levels, advance their work through careful technical skill with primary focus on design with intention and finished aesthetics.