Mastering the craft of finial turning: A beginner's guide
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Finials are used in furniture, tops of vessels and ornaments. Let’s learn about turning them. If you find my videos helpful, you can buy me a virtual cup of coffee with this link. www.buymeacoff...
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You can download demonstration handouts, downloadable copies of articles I have published, and other useful woodturning information available on my website www.mikepeacew...
The main thing that I think about when I make my fancy finials is to make sure the visual weight is towards the bottom. It never looks good if it looks top heavy.
Totally agree. Start turning a cone helps that happen.
thanks for all that, i just finished my first finial , i am inspired to try more , Bryan McCabe, aka,woodbutcher !!
You got this!
I like your comments about simpler designs being more visually appealing than busy finials. Thanks for a very informative video.
Thanks for watching!
Love the wrench idea for sizing
I’m trying to make some finiels for Christmas ornaments having trouble you helped me a lot
Good to learn the type of timbers that might work. Thanks for the demo.
The tip about using the crescent wrench for sizing diameter was super useful. That's going to cut some significant time off of making tenons!
Glad it was helpful. You can even sharpen the top side. I only do this on a 3/4" wrench.
I picked up this tip from Mike a few years ago, and bought a cheap set, that lives in a drawer close to the lathe. They get used a lot.
Excellent tutorial Mike. I learn something from everyone of your videos. This one was full of useful information. Typically I am not doing finials when turning, but I will start turning a few just to follow your instruction and add this to what I can do. Much appreciated.
Great to hear!
Thanks Mike. I just finished a box with a lose lid and couldn't think of a suitable finial design- you sorted that out for pretty guick! Thanks.
Excellent!
Great video Mike! One piece of advice I got from an early mentor was that finials gain weight when you take them off the lathe. I realized he was right that they look smaller than they are, so when I it's getting there I go smaller and thinner.
Great tip! I have found beads get heavier on a box taking off the lathe as well. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mike, this was a great video I picked up a few more tips watching this. Thanks for sharing.
Great to hear!
Mike -- There is a lot of good information here. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice summary of finial construction. Another thing I need to spend some more time working to improve my technique -- this video was quite helpful. Especially appreciated the illustration of how the rule of thirds (or golden section) for separation makes a more visually pleasing finial
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Mike, this was a great video and great timing. I am getting to start Xmas ornaments.
Happy holidays!
This is an excellent tutorial Mike. Especially the beginning where you discuss what makes a good finial design. I agree, simple usually beats too many elements. After you have a good design then it's practice, practice, practice. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
Glad it was helpful, Glen! Thanks for always keeping it real with your comments.
Thanks for the informative video Mike. Always a pleasure watching and listening, and definitely has had a positive impact on my turning journey.
Great to hear!
I have tried many designs, according to the vessel below, but for satisfaction a shape derived from the basic chemist's carboy takes me a long way. Thanks; Bernard.
Interesting!
I really enjoyed the video and learned a lot! Thanks Mike!
Glad to hear it!
Thanks for the excellent tutorial Mike.
Very welcome
Very nice Mike. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Very informative. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Patience it takes a lot
Patience is a virtue!
My only comment is.. as a new turner, I hope to get to your level with these finial's one day.. but .. I'm 65, who knows lol
You are just a youngster! It is not hope but standing at a lathe that will get you there!
Very interesting. Not an expert turner but I did stay at a renowned motel once. I don't have a spindle gouge of any width but I'm thinking (scary, isn't it?) that my 3/4 inch skew might work. 3/8 inch bowl gouge? Also, I made a Bedan tool and have an extra piece of square stock that could be the double angled tool; can't remember what you called it. One more project! Thanks.
Certainly a skew would work if you are experienced with it. You coud turn beads with a BG if you have to but perhaps it is time to think about buying a spindle gouge?
@@MikePeaceWoodturning My skew is 1/2 inch. I'll get a spindle gouge for the wife's Christmas present. Won't she be surprised! Will check on a SG. Thanks.
I’ve found that when making finials you have to know when to to stop. In other words, don’t continue to refine until the element breaks off.
True that!