Wood Lathe Tools For Burning Rings (ep70) FerryQuickBuild, Projects, Shop Projects, Simple Builds, Woodturning 10 Comments Not too long ago I finally got my wood lathe I wanted. I have been feverishly turning like some mad scientist. One thing that seemed to grab my attention is how a couple accent grooves could add the finishing touch to a project. Even more so if the grooves were burned. A wire garrote was one of the first accompanying items I made for my new lathe. In a matter of seconds a turned piece had more visual appeal. I used the wire burning tool on a few lathe tool handles as well as some turned pens and wooden bowls. But not soon after I started making platters. I wanted a way to add the burned embellishment to those as well. I hadn’t seen any tools that could accomplish that. What I came up with seemed to work out nicely. I used thick tempered wire as that is what I had on hand, but I’m sure I will be testing out some narrower tempered wire as time goes on. My friend April Wilkerson also was using a wire garrote this week for her project. Check out what she came up with as well. Below you can find links to the materials I had used. Enjoy! Supplies: Wire For The Wire Garrote Tempered Wire For Platter Tool CA Glue For Wire Woodturning Sandpaper Turning Tools Here are a few recent lathe projects using this method: Share this:FacebookTwitterTumblrPinterestReddit 10 Responses Dave (KSFWG) July 31, 2016 Just don’t accept a ride to the airport from Michael Corleone… 😉 Reply Nick July 31, 2016 Never! hahaha Reply Tom O'Brien July 31, 2016 Nice results, Nick. Thanks for showing the comparisons. I have used a different technique, with the freebie plastic laminate samples from the big box store. Put the edge in the groove with the lathe turning, press lightly until it starts smoking, It leaves some burnt laminate melted in the groove, and may need an overcoat of finish to protect that. The Formica-like laminate seems to work well. BTW the edge can get HOT…. just as the wire can. I haven’t tried the laminate on a platter’s face, but I bet it would work there. Just use a corner of the laminate sample. Reply Nick July 31, 2016 just a great idea – someone else suggested as well so it must be something I will have to try – thanks for the tip Tom!! Reply Mike Washburn August 2, 2016 Awesome!!! Where can I get the proper wire? It looks like you used two different sizes a smaller on the bowl and a thicker on the platter. I really enjoy watching your videos. I’m from southeast Wi (Racine County) and wouldn’t mind seeing your shop and meeting you in person. Reply Nick August 2, 2016 links are in the article to the two types of wire Reply Tom Pritchard August 3, 2016 Thanks for sharing your idea. I will be making one soon. Reply Nick August 4, 2016 no problem – you’ll have to let me know how it goes Reply Michael May 31, 2017 This is a great share. I’ve actually used a similar approach a few times. The only difference being that I was too lazy to attach the wire to handles and spun it around my palms instead. Both painful and hot! Reply Nick June 3, 2017 HOT for sure! Reply Leave a Reply to Nick Cancel reply
Tom O'Brien July 31, 2016 Nice results, Nick. Thanks for showing the comparisons. I have used a different technique, with the freebie plastic laminate samples from the big box store. Put the edge in the groove with the lathe turning, press lightly until it starts smoking, It leaves some burnt laminate melted in the groove, and may need an overcoat of finish to protect that. The Formica-like laminate seems to work well. BTW the edge can get HOT…. just as the wire can. I haven’t tried the laminate on a platter’s face, but I bet it would work there. Just use a corner of the laminate sample. Reply
Nick July 31, 2016 just a great idea – someone else suggested as well so it must be something I will have to try – thanks for the tip Tom!! Reply
Mike Washburn August 2, 2016 Awesome!!! Where can I get the proper wire? It looks like you used two different sizes a smaller on the bowl and a thicker on the platter. I really enjoy watching your videos. I’m from southeast Wi (Racine County) and wouldn’t mind seeing your shop and meeting you in person. Reply
Michael May 31, 2017 This is a great share. I’ve actually used a similar approach a few times. The only difference being that I was too lazy to attach the wire to handles and spun it around my palms instead. Both painful and hot! Reply