Getting the Jump on Lent
Getting the Jump on Lent -
Lent, an Old English word meaning "spring," the time of lengthening days, is that season of the Church between Ash Wednesday and Easter. During the season of Lent, many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penance. There is however another school of thought, one of taking on or adding a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw oneself nearer to God.
If you recall, my 2016 Lenten discipline was one of an Arts and Craft Style Prie Dieu for the Assistant Rector of St. Bede's Episcopal Church, and in 2015 a Folding Prie Dieu for the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. I will be taking on a similar discipline this Lent, building a Prie Dieu based on a William & Mary desk on frame, for the Director of The Julian of Norwich Center, Atlanta.
So, with an empty bench, an idle lathe, the lengthening of days, and a clear 7/4 cherry board … I've decided to get the jump on Lent!
First up, I need to trim a bit off the 7/4 cherry board so I can …
... cut out four turning blanks!
1-3/4×1-3/4 … keeping the sawing square makes for easy plane work later!
Once cut out and smoothed, I use my shop made center finder and mark the center of each blank.
Then … from each corner, I strike an arc, passing through the center point …
... and set my marking gauge for where these arcs meet the sides. If the blank is square this distance will be the same all the way around!
I then carry this line all along the side of the blank where I'll be turning. These legs will be square at the top and bottom for about 5-1/2".
I connect the scribe lines with a series of perpendicular saw kerfs …
... and begin forming an octagon by removing the waste, with a chisel, from the corners down to the scribe lines.
With the octagon formed … it's off to the lathe!
My lathe is of the spring pole variety; shop built about 19 years ago from yellow pine timbers. The spring pole is a hickory sapling, the spring arm is hackberry, and the tool rest is cherry. I used metal weaving shuttle tips for the centers. See more photos of the lathe HERE on its project page.
Having roughed out the octagon to a more presentable cylinder I started cutting in the details.
Using turning tools, chisels, files, and sandpaper …
With sharp tools ... the cherry cuts like butter!
Just three more to go …
... will have to start up again tomorrow … it's getting dark and my leg's tired!
Thanks for looking … all comments and/or questions welcomed!
Follow my progress with the links below:
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #1: Getting the Jump on Lent
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #2: Replication in a Cold Dark Shop
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #3: Rip Saw Tune-up and Frame Members
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #4: Mortise and Tenon Joints
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #5: Hollows and Rounds
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #6: Slight Detour
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #7: All the Single Pieces
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #8: The Kneeling Platform
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #9: Mitred Breadboards
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #10: Dovetails
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #11: Edge Moulding
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #12: Three in One
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #13: It Is Finish
Getting the Jump on Lent -
Lent, an Old English word meaning "spring," the time of lengthening days, is that season of the Church between Ash Wednesday and Easter. During the season of Lent, many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penance. There is however another school of thought, one of taking on or adding a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw oneself nearer to God.
If you recall, my 2016 Lenten discipline was one of an Arts and Craft Style Prie Dieu for the Assistant Rector of St. Bede's Episcopal Church, and in 2015 a Folding Prie Dieu for the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. I will be taking on a similar discipline this Lent, building a Prie Dieu based on a William & Mary desk on frame, for the Director of The Julian of Norwich Center, Atlanta.
So, with an empty bench, an idle lathe, the lengthening of days, and a clear 7/4 cherry board … I've decided to get the jump on Lent!
First up, I need to trim a bit off the 7/4 cherry board so I can …
... cut out four turning blanks!
1-3/4×1-3/4 … keeping the sawing square makes for easy plane work later!
Once cut out and smoothed, I use my shop made center finder and mark the center of each blank.
Then … from each corner, I strike an arc, passing through the center point …
... and set my marking gauge for where these arcs meet the sides. If the blank is square this distance will be the same all the way around!
I then carry this line all along the side of the blank where I'll be turning. These legs will be square at the top and bottom for about 5-1/2".
I connect the scribe lines with a series of perpendicular saw kerfs …
... and begin forming an octagon by removing the waste, with a chisel, from the corners down to the scribe lines.
With the octagon formed … it's off to the lathe!
My lathe is of the spring pole variety; shop built about 19 years ago from yellow pine timbers. The spring pole is a hickory sapling, the spring arm is hackberry, and the tool rest is cherry. I used metal weaving shuttle tips for the centers. See more photos of the lathe HERE on its project page.
Having roughed out the octagon to a more presentable cylinder I started cutting in the details.
Using turning tools, chisels, files, and sandpaper …
With sharp tools ... the cherry cuts like butter!
Just three more to go …
... will have to start up again tomorrow … it's getting dark and my leg's tired!
Thanks for looking … all comments and/or questions welcomed!
Follow my progress with the links below:
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #1: Getting the Jump on Lent
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #2: Replication in a Cold Dark Shop
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #3: Rip Saw Tune-up and Frame Members
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #4: Mortise and Tenon Joints
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #5: Hollows and Rounds
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #6: Slight Detour
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #7: All the Single Pieces
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #8: The Kneeling Platform
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #9: Mitred Breadboards
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #10: Dovetails
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #11: Edge Moulding
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #12: Three in One
Lynnsay's Prie Dieu #13: It Is Finish