Thank you it was a pleasure watching I sincerely mean that. And keep up the good work from Doug PS I didn't say anything on the video I should have but I really liked your little Christmas trees too they look real cute.
Just a thought do a Christmas tree with a wider base and put a sharp point on the bottom of it so you make a kids spindletop out of it. Might be a good idea. And thank you so much from Doug I got to get back in the shop now I'm working on a large peacock wall hanging
They are great fun Paul, even messing around with the hats is great crack. Snowman society is defined by hats, the bigger the hats the more important the snowman is, then you have those rebels in the bowlers and beanies who are just plain nuts. We don't mention the cowboys as they can become quite sour if you talk about their hats 😁😁😁
Really nice job. Came out looking much better than anticipated. When you said you weren’t going to finish them, I thought you were going to leave them “raw”. But they turned out…Perfect!!!
The burnish gives a nice sheen Mark but also leaves the option for who ever buys it to paint or decorate it if they want. I used to put a finish on them but people seem to prefer this way. Shay
I’m with you on the impulse buy idea. Snowmen just before Christmas are the perfect example. I turn small ones out of branches that have fallen out of the trees, free wood. They sell like hot cakes. Enjoyed seeing your process.
They do sell like hotcakes Doug, I am lucky enough to sell them all year round due to the location of the market I go to. Last year I ran out of them and had a market two days later. A long night and 50 snowmen later I was ready again.
“Pick HIS nose, not YOUR nose!” LOL That was great Shay! Thanks for making this video. I love seeing the different nuances your production process. It meant a lot that you took the time to share your kiln as well!!! I’m definitely on the hunt for an old fridge/freezer to make a kiln for myself! Seth
I get them at a local upholstery supplier, anytime he does not have them I just do a search on Ebay for dome head upholstery tacks 10mm and they come up. Shay
I did the first snowman then transferred the measurements over to a piece of board. Hammered nails in at the measurement points then sharpened the head of each nail on the grinder. Shay
Great tutorial! Thanks for all the little tips. Kiln looks good. I've seen more on YT where they have humidistats to check the humidity for dryness. Am I missing something with yours? Or are you adding humidity to crack your bowls? Do you check your pieces with a moisture meter when you think they are done? Sorry, didn't mean to go on like I have with questions.
No problem with the questions, ask away and I will try and answer. I add the water (humidity) to stop the bowls cracking, if I want to deliberately cause cracking I don't put a container of water in the kiln and only put one bowl in on its own at the start of the process. Dropping humidity too fast or not enough humidity is one of the main causes of cracking in a kiln. I had the opportunity to have a tour of a professional wood drying service some time ago. For the first month the wood goes into a sauna then into the kiln so I followed that method, roughly. I don't have a humidity stat in the kiln or a temperature stat, to be honest I have not found the need for them. I just check the kiln every day. Maybe I have just been lucky this far. Yes I check the pieces with a moisture meter when I think they are done. If it reads below about 8% I will remove them from the kiln and leave them on a shelf in the workshop for a week or so to normalise. Normal moisture here for dry wood is around 9 or 10%.
Find a local upholstery supplier Stuart. What you are looking for is 10 or 11 mm dome top upholstery pins/nails, preferably black but brown also works. If there is a woodies near you they have them but they are very expensive for them. I normally order them online early in the year. Shay.
I am curious as to how much people charge for impulse items like these? Any volunteers? I only ask because if the price is too high the impulsiveness drops. Thanks.
That is a very wide ranging question, basically how long is a piece of string. The answer depends on location. Something that would be classed as inexpensive in say Beverly Hills would be classed as very expensive in a small town in Co Cork. How I do it is the same way I price everything, cost to me plus an hourly rate which is why I keep saying that speed is the key. Cost to me does not change but the time it takes can either go up or down. The quicker something is done the less I can charge for it but sticking to the rule that only quality comes out of the workshop. I know that is not a direct straight answer but as I said there is no one answer. Shay
If you use India Ink for the hat it dries really fast and there will be no shine. If you want it to shine a quick coat of super glue thin...and there you go. No drying time to speak of.
The paint I use has a ten minute drying time and I normally batch these snowmen out so by the time I have finished a batch the first few are dry. I like the India ink idea though. Shay
Brilliant video good down to earth advice many thanks
Thanks Brian.
Shay
Excellent. Thank You
Cheers William and you are welcome.
Shay
GREAT VIDEO LOVE THE SNOW MAN JUST AWESOM FROM DOUG
Thank you Doug,
Shay
Thank you it was a pleasure watching I sincerely mean that. And keep up the good work from Doug PS I didn't say anything on the video I should have but I really liked your little Christmas trees too they look real cute.
The trees are fun to do, thank you Doug.
Just a thought do a Christmas tree with a wider base and put a sharp point on the bottom of it so you make a kids spindletop out of it. Might be a good idea. And thank you so much from Doug I got to get back in the shop now I'm working on a large peacock wall hanging
Great vid thanks for the instructional turning, I like them so much better then just watching someone make something! Also I love my laguna revo
Thanks Mike.
Shay
What beautiful little guys ..I'd buy one instantly.
Just started turning. humble beginnings
Welcome to the craft and enjoy it.
Shay
Хороший снеговик получился.
И отличный подарок на Новый год.
благодарю вас.
Shay
Brilliant video. Ended up ordering some pins and ribbon as these look like fun things to make as stocking fillers for family
They are great fun Paul, even messing around with the hats is great crack. Snowman society is defined by hats, the bigger the hats the more important the snowman is, then you have those rebels in the bowlers and beanies who are just plain nuts. We don't mention the cowboys as they can become quite sour if you talk about their hats 😁😁😁
@@BBTurning wonder could I start a niche market in Northern Ireland with little snowmen in bowlers and sashes instead of scarves!
That you could mate, they would sell well on two dates for you. 😏
That's quite an army you have there.
That is a small section of what sells around Christmas Paul. They are one of the most popular items I turn.
Shay
Thank you Shay. I hope you are on the mend. Look forward to seeing you back to teaching us all and telling us the Irish folk tales.
Cheers Alan.
Shay.
Great tip lining the tailstock and chuck never thought of that
It is a handy one alright Pete.
Shay
I enjoyed that snowman video my wife is wanting some for her crafting to give to the kids for Xmas (grown kids) for some of their decorations
They really look well Jim and are a great Christmas decoration. I go through around 2 hundred a year.
Shay
Really enjoyed that Shay, especially the bit about the kiln as I've just made one, thank you
Thanks Wayne, yes the kiln is very handy and simple to make.
Shay
Totally awesome 👍👍👍
Cheers Rob.
What a superb video. So many helpful tips and tricks. Thanks for uploading it. I now have lots of ideas for Christmas.
Stay safe...
Cheers John.
Really nice job. Came out looking much better than anticipated. When you said you weren’t going to finish them, I thought you were going to leave them “raw”. But they turned out…Perfect!!!
The burnish gives a nice sheen Mark but also leaves the option for who ever buys it to paint or decorate it if they want. I used to put a finish on them but people seem to prefer this way.
Shay
I’m with you on the impulse buy idea. Snowmen just before Christmas are the perfect example. I turn small ones out of branches that have fallen out of the trees, free wood. They sell like hot cakes. Enjoyed seeing your process.
They do sell like hotcakes Doug, I am lucky enough to sell them all year round due to the location of the market I go to. Last year I ran out of them and had a market two days later. A long night and 50 snowmen later I was ready again.
“Pick HIS nose, not YOUR nose!” LOL That was great Shay! Thanks for making this video. I love seeing the different nuances your production process.
It meant a lot that you took the time to share your kiln as well!!! I’m definitely on the hunt for an old fridge/freezer to make a kiln for myself!
Seth
More than welcome Seth, glad to help.
Shay.
Great!
Thanks Clayton.
Shay
Yay first snowmen I’ve seen of 2020. Don’t feel bad making mine now 😁 ⛄️
It's never too early for snowmen Leona ☃️☃️☃️☃️😁😁😁
Que buen muñeco de nieve... 🤣🤣🤣🤣 digo de madera ,le quedo genial
gracias
Shay
Where do you get the pins for the eyes and buttons? Very nice snowman!!
I get them at a local upholstery supplier, anytime he does not have them I just do a search on Ebay for dome head upholstery tacks 10mm and they come up.
Shay
I'd like to know how you make your scratch boards
I did the first snowman then transferred the measurements over to a piece of board. Hammered nails in at the measurement points then sharpened the head of each nail on the grinder.
Shay
@@BBTurning thank you sir!!
You are welcome.
Great tutorial! Thanks for all the little tips. Kiln looks good. I've seen more on YT where they have humidistats to check the humidity for dryness. Am I missing something with yours? Or are you adding humidity to crack your bowls? Do you check your pieces with a moisture meter when you think they are done? Sorry, didn't mean to go on like I have with questions.
No problem with the questions, ask away and I will try and answer. I add the water (humidity) to stop the bowls cracking, if I want to deliberately cause cracking I don't put a container of water in the kiln and only put one bowl in on its own at the start of the process. Dropping humidity too fast or not enough humidity is one of the main causes of cracking in a kiln. I had the opportunity to have a tour of a professional wood drying service some time ago. For the first month the wood goes into a sauna then into the kiln so I followed that method, roughly. I don't have a humidity stat in the kiln or a temperature stat, to be honest I have not found the need for them. I just check the kiln every day. Maybe I have just been lucky this far. Yes I check the pieces with a moisture meter when I think they are done. If it reads below about 8% I will remove them from the kiln and leave them on a shelf in the workshop for a week or so to normalise. Normal moisture here for dry wood is around 9 or 10%.
You sanded to 320, then you burnished the snowman. Is there a point in doing that? Is it because you aren't putting a finish on? Thanks
@@josephwise485 Yes it is because I am not putting a finish on them. It puts a slight sheen on the wood instead of a completely dull sanded finish.
where the feck did you get the pins for the eyes smallest i can get are 10mm drawing pins
Find a local upholstery supplier Stuart. What you are looking for is 10 or 11 mm dome top upholstery pins/nails, preferably black but brown also works. If there is a woodies near you they have them but they are very expensive for them. I normally order them online early in the year.
Shay.
cheers
@@BBTurning
You are welcome Stuart.
Shay
PS YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE SUBSCRIBER PLENT OF GREAT VIDEO FROM DOUG
Thanks Doug.
@@BBTurning thank you sir was the pleasure watching thank you thank you from Doug
I am curious as to how much people charge for impulse items like these? Any volunteers? I only ask because if the price is too high the impulsiveness drops. Thanks.
That is a very wide ranging question, basically how long is a piece of string. The answer depends on location. Something that would be classed as inexpensive in say Beverly Hills would be classed as very expensive in a small town in Co Cork. How I do it is the same way I price everything, cost to me plus an hourly rate which is why I keep saying that speed is the key. Cost to me does not change but the time it takes can either go up or down. The quicker something is done the less I can charge for it but sticking to the rule that only quality comes out of the workshop. I know that is not a direct straight answer but as I said there is no one answer.
Shay
@@BBTurning Thanks Shay.
@@milltek2 not a problem you are welcome.
If you use India Ink for the hat it dries really fast and there will be no shine. If you want it to shine a quick coat of super glue thin...and there you go. No drying time to speak of.
The paint I use has a ten minute drying time and I normally batch these snowmen out so by the time I have finished a batch the first few are dry. I like the India ink idea though.
Shay