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Thread: Just some peppermills

  1. #1
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    Just some peppermills

    <P><p>Hi everyone,
    <P>No great shakes here people. This was just to show you that I wasn't lazing about the shop for the last couple weeks!
    <P>About 3 weeks ago I was given a commission to turn some peppermills. Lucky for me, I had some blanks all drilled and ready to go. I find that process the most time consuming.
    <P>As you can see, the shapes are all slightly different. I like to experiment and my customers seem to like what I come up with. Lately, I've been messing around with <I>"Chess Piece"</I> shapes, with a hint of <I>"Greek Orthodox Church Spire"</I> (minaret) thrown in for fun.
    <P>The top of the Walnut Peppermill features my first real success with Chatter-work. The article in AWA magazine on Bonnie Klien and her trademark tops contained some tips on using a chatter tool which finally set me straight.
    <P>The (2) on the left are <b>Spalted Beech</b>, the one in the center is <b>Walnut</b>. The second one from the end is <b>Mahogany</b>. And the last one is <b>Butternut</b>. So far my best seller has been the Spalted Beech. The comments I get from my customers suggest they favor lighter colors <I><SMALL><B>(and of course I have a TON of precut Walnut blanks)</I></SMALL></B>. With that in mind, I plan to turn a couple out of Ambrosia Maple and see how they sell.
    <P>The Peppermills were sanded to 600 grit. Then I applied several coats of Tried and True's Original finish, followed by buffing with the Beall Buffing System (minus the White Diamond).
    <P><p><font color="#000099"><b><i>See ya around the Creek,</font></b></i>
    <BR><p><img SRC="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/djgreco/dgreco.jpg" ALT="My ugly mug" HSPACE=1 VSPACE=1 BORDER=1 height=129 width=100>
    <BR><p><b><font color="#000066"><font size=+1>Dominic</font></font></b>
    <P>
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Dominic Greco

  2. #2

    Looks good

    Hey Dom,

    they look good. I like the shapes. Its good to see you here. will you be up at 5 Barns next weekend?

    Noah

  3. #3
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    Feb 2003
    Location
    Frankfort KY
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    Dominic-

    Nice looking work! One question: what are the dimensions?
    Oops- here's another one: where did you get the hardware?

    With all the other questions I have, looks like an article in progress!

    Thanks for sharing
    Mark


    "Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock."
    Will Rogers

  4. #4
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    Feb 2003
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    Those look great, Dom!!

    You aren't by any chance going to do a demo on those at 5Barns, are you? (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge... )
    Jason

    "Don't get stuck on stupid." --Lt. Gen. Russel Honore


  5. #5

    Nice Work!

    Hey Dominic,

    Nice to see you around the Creek. Dave.

  6. #6
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    Feb 2003
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    Broken Arrow(Tulsa), OK
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    Thumbs up Sweet!

    Hey Dom,

    Nice turnings, as usual. Sure good to see your posts again.

    Bob

  7. #7

    Fantastic work

    I like the spalted ones. They all look good. Steve


  8. #8
    Dominic, I sure do like your pepper mills and this is something that really interests me. I would like to know more particulars.
    Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
    Don

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Noah Alkinburgh
    Hey Dom,

    they look good. I like the shapes. Its good to see you here. will you be up at 5 Barns next weekend?

    Noah
    I'll be there on Friday is all goes as planned. I can't make it on Saturday.

    Hope to see you there.
    Dominic Greco

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don Farr
    Dominic, I sure do like your pepper mills and this is something that really interests me. I would like to know more particulars.
    Here are some particulars I posted as a reply to questions at Woodcentral:

    <P>A couple of you have been asking for details on the peppermills. So, I'll do my best to answer your questions.

    <P>The mechanisms come from Packard Woodworks. But you can also get them from Craft Supplies, Woodcraft, Or Lee Valley. They all sell them in an assortment of sizes, from 8" all the way up to 24". All of them come with their own set of instructions. I like to use the 10" mechanisms. They are big enough to hold a good amount of pepper corns, but not too huge to manage.

    <P>I start with an approx 3" x 3" x 11" block of hard wood. I rough between centers to a cylinder using a roughing gouge. I turn a set of 1/4" tenons for a scroll chuck at each end. I then measure off about 2" for the top of the peppermill and part that portion off. I make sure to label each piece so that I can match them up later. The pepper mills look better if you can get the grain to flow nicely between the top and bottom pieces.

    <P>After cleaning up the ends a bit, I then use a forstner bit to bore a 1 3/8" dia x 3/8" deep flat bottomed hole in the base of the bottom piece. Using my 3 wheeled steady rest helps here a lot. I then drill the 1" diameter thru hole in the bottom. I then set this aside and retrieve the top portion. Still using the steady rest, I drill a 1/4" dia hole through it.

    <P>The top then gets held in a scroll chuck and a 1" dia x 3/4" long tenon gets formed on one end. This mates up with the 1" dia hole in the bottom. I take the top out of the chuck, replace it with the bottom piece, and then fit the two pieces together, bring the tailstock up against the top. I then form the shape using a spindle gouge. You can't go too heavy here. Friction between the pieces will only hold for so much. It also helps to sketch out the shape you desire beforehand.

    <P>Sanding is pretty much the same as you would do with any other spindle. After finishing and buffing, I add the mechanism per the manufacturer's instructions.

    <P>I just use a 1/2" spindle gouge or Skew to for the beads. For a while I was very leary about using a skew. That is until Bill Grumbine showed me how easy it was!

    <P>So far the lighter woods like Maple, Beech and Butternut seem to be the best sellers. Cherry and Walnut and not far behind. It seems that the women here at work (as well as my wife) like the more slender shapes. They say they're easier to hold.

    <P>From what I've found, no one species is easier to turn than another. I tend to like very hard woods like Beech, Cherry, and Hickory more. Although they are a real pain to drill!

    <P>Drilling through the blanks is much easier if you use a big heavy 1" dia drill bit with flutes to carry away the waste rather than a forstner or spade bit.

    <HR>
    <P>I've attached some photos of the steady reast in action. the spalted beech in the photos is actually the blank for one of the peppermills you see here.

    <P>That's pretty much it.

    <P>See ya around the creek,
    <p>Dominic
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
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    how late ????

    Quote Originally Posted by Dominic Greco
    I'll be there on Friday is all goes as planned. I can't make it on Saturday.

    Hope to see you there.
    Dom,

    I hope you stay late on Friday - I will be there sometime early afternoon - lookinf forward to the meet.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dominic Greco


    I've attached some photos of the steady reast in action. the spalted beech in the photos is actually the blank for one of the peppermills you see here.

    That's pretty much it.

    See ya around the creek,
    Dominic
    I really like that steady rest Dom - If you made drawings - bring-em to 5 Barns'

  13. #13
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    Peppermill demo

    Quote Originally Posted by Jason Roehl
    Those look great, Dom!!

    You aren't by any chance going to do a demo on those at 5Barns, are you? (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge... )
    Jason,
    I guess somebody leaked the news! That's pretty much what I planned on doing.

    Like I told Noah, I plan on being at Bill's on Friday. If I can get some pre-drilled blanks ready (cause that takes the most time), I will try to demo turning a peppermill.

    See ya there,
    Dominic

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dominic Greco
    Jason,
    I guess somebody leaked the news! That's pretty much what I planned on doing.

    Like I told Noah, I plan on being at Bill's on Friday. If I can get some pre-drilled blanks ready (cause that takes the most time), I will try to demo turning a peppermill.

    See ya there,
    Dominic
    No leaks made their way to me. I just figured if you weren't planning to do that, I would try to nudge you in that direction. I'm glad to hear you're going...I'll be in the area Thurs. night, with plans to help Bill get ready Fri morning however he needs it.

    I suppose this is about like Christmas...I shouldn't ask too many questions!
    Jason

    "Don't get stuck on stupid." --Lt. Gen. Russel Honore


  15. #15
    Dom,

    Those are really cool. Thanks for posting the pics. I have been hoping I could make some for Christmas.

    Terry
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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