Best paper for split turning?

[admin]

Once again, I dip into the combined mind of the group.

I'm working on experimenting with some split turned spindles. What's the best paper to use with split turning? I have access to several thicknesses of paper, from tracing paper to copier paper to even thicker drawing paper. I've read some use newspaper, but (and this may be a TN specific issue) local newspapers are bad to shed ink and leave a dark residue.

What say the group?

[TDHofstetter]

So I've heard, brown paper sacks (bags, totes, pokes) work better'n anything else.

[monty]

I'll second the brown paper bag.

[triplefreak]

May 19, 2010 14:59:49 GMT -6 monty said:

I'll second the brown paper bag.

+3. Or brown craft paper.

[Ruffnek]

+4 on the brown paper bag.

[Mark]

I've used strips cut from a cereal box. It held fine. Enough thickness to get a sharp chisel into, and loose enough fibres that it'll peel before pulling the wood fibres apart.

Mark

[autobodyman]

I used green masking paper, course being a bodyman I have rolls of the stuff around.




I also built a workbench that would take a roll of the stuff so I can just pull it out to cover the bench for glue-ups (keep glue off my bench).


~Mike

[TDHofstetter]

That reminds me... we had a big roll of pretty insubstantial-seeming white paper given to us, doesn't seem much good for anything 'cause it tears so easily (it'd make one HECK of a roll of toilet paper, 'cept it's half-slick). I kinda' wonder if it's not old-style masking paper. I oughtta' hit a piece of it with the spray next time I throw paint into the air & see if it masks. If it does, I've got some uses for it...

[Stretch]

The only thing I've ever used was wax paper. That was all the way back in high school shop.

[imahic]

Not being a turner, I am curious what split turning is. I am assuming it is where you glue up two pieces of wood and are seperating them with the paper? That's the impression I get from Mike's pictures. Inquiring minds want to know....lol

[admin]

You can glue three pieces of wood together, two of them being 'sacrificial' and make nice embellishments for boxes, etc. Just a clever way of flattening the sides of a spindle and saving your fingers. It can also be done with just two pieces as Mike showed above.

I just learned about it myself and the idea is rather attractive. Just something new to try.

[TDHofstetter]

Yep - it's how we make, for example, half-splindles for decorating the fronts of grandfather clocks or other casework, or turn "inside out" hollow vessels using the "lost wood process". You glue two or more pieces of wood together separated by a layer of paper, then turn them to shape, then split them back apart again where the paper has given you a poor, weak glue bond.

[dicklaxt]

Here's a little tip on separating ,,,,,,,use a meat cleaver and a quick sharp rap with a hammer,the cleaver will span across the piece and not mar the wood as a chisel does,

Some guy named Limey brought that to the table.

dick

[Ruffnek]

I've actually never done a split turning but I have used brown paper many times on glue blocks attached to the bottom of a turning.

Here's another tip. If you cut a shallow dado down the middle of the glue block, you can place a chisel in it to easily separate it from the blank.

You can also buy long rolls of brown paper or resin paper at Home Depot. I do the same as Mike; attach a roll to my assembly table and pull it out during assembly or finishing to catch the glue or finish drippings. I also use it to wrap rough-turned vessels for drying.

[fredbelknap]

This sure is new information for me. Thanks for posting. Gives me some ideas.

[dicklaxt]

Brown Paper wrapping paper for mailing does not work as well as the plain old brown paper sack from the grocery store.

dick

[sawduster]

Them old brown paper bags are a bit thicker than the wrapping stuff and do work much better. In a pinch, I've used regular old typing/copier paper. Finding the seam is a bit more difficult, but it is do able.