Andrew Potocnik reveals the negatives and positives of two processes of creating winged forms


This project is an example of how to turn square or ‘winged’ forms with a slight variation, showing you how to turn them safely with sacrificial timber added to the outer edges, while turning a second form without the benefit of sacrificial material. My reason for going through this process is to highlight the positives and negatives of both processes. Of course, the smaller you work, the less risk there is in not adding sacrificial material, but as the scale increases, so does the danger.
Safety is paramount in any form of woodworking, especially in turning, where we are dealing with pieces of wood spinning at high speed, hence it is best to not have sharp edges of wood spinning where we can only see a ‘ghost’ of the edge at the best of times. Not only do we need to think about the safety of fingers potentially straying into the sharp edges unseen but, likewise, presentation of tools to the wood is equally precarious.
It’s also important to point out that there are many turners who take shortcuts and don’t add sacrificial timber to their work, be it square or any other ‘out of circle’ form, but let’s leave that to the experienced or ‘cowboys’ in our fraternity. For the majority of us, it’s best to work in a safe manner and pass on ‘best practice’ instruction as we aim to inspire others to engage in the craft we gain so much enjoyment from.


Health Safety
Using two methods to the same end
For this project I’ve made two near identical pieces, one showing the safe way of working: i.e. adding sacrificial timber to prevent fingers from being clipped by stray corners only seen as a ‘ghost’ but clearly evident once the piece is stationary and the square form revealed. Best to play it safe all the time.
Plans & equipment
Tools
- PPE & RPE as appropriate, including full face protection
- 25mm spindle roughing gouge
- 2mm parting tool
- 12mm beading tool
- 12mm fingernail ground spindle gouge
- 12mm bowl gouge
- Square carbide cutter
- Flat curved scraper
- 12mm fingernail ground scraper
- Scrapers with a swept-back left-hand grind
- Diamond pointed scraper
- Round skew
Materials
- One piece, red gum about 70 x 70 x 150mm long
- Scrap radiata pine 70 x 50 x about 150mm
- PVA glue
The making























to enlarge the opening of the carrier until it matched the tenon of my lid







Conclusion
Once the project was completed and it was time to take photos of the finished form, a slight twist of the lid revealed an aspect not previously considered. The box took on the look of a temple, adding intrigue to the form and drawing it back to underlying images that have been lingering in my mind since seeing the temples of China, Vietnam and Thailand in pre-Covid years.