April 2024 – Off Center Figurines – Zumbro Valley Woodturners

Todd Van De Walker’s presentation on turning a male and a female ‘off center’ figure.

Getting started

2 x 2 x ~14 inch stock
Locate centers on each end of stock
Locate centers ½ inch from center on one end of stock

Only 1 for the male
Two for the female

Turn blank round on the center points
Female needs a tenon to hold blank to hollow out end later.

There are several ‘axis changes’ in both the male and female figures. That 12 inch offset looks like a lot when spinning on the lathe.

Male Figurine

Mount male blank in the ½ inch from center at head stock and center on tailstock
Measure 5 inches from tailstock (leave space for the hole from the revolving center point)
Turn this section to round on the new axis
Mark areas for the hat, brim and head
Hat – 1 inch long x 1 1/8 inch diameter
Brim – 1/8 inch
Head 1 inch long x 1 inch diameter
Turn body to cone shape to waist, Body is 3 inches long
Make the waist narrow but not too narrow
Below the waist turn a half bead, May need to remove some wood below
Sand all areas from this axis
Move the blank to the center points on both ends
Carefully turn the neck region with light cuts
Turn the start of the legs near the 1/2 bead to create the unique area of the waist, Continue to turn the leg region (approximately 7 inches)
Turn the base
Sand and finish
Part off

The blank for the female figure had a tenon on the ‘head’ end of the blank and the ‘skirt’ was hollowed out. The ‘skirt’ will be the pivot point as the various axis points are changed at the head-end of the blank. A 60 degree live center works well for this approach.

Female Figurine

Mount blank in chuck on the previously turned tenon
Drill hole 4-5 inches deep, hollow to a cone shape
Turn the lower region to a cone shape to the narrowest part (about 5 inches)
Turn the hip region (2 inches) to “hot air balloon” shape
Repeat shape for the torso region
Move to one of the off center points
Take light cuts to remove wood that will be the hip of figurine
Move to the other off center point
Take light cuts to remove wood that will be the back of the figurine, Caution to not get into the hip region
Need to sand by hand to keep the crisp cut areas
Move blank back to center points
Turn the head and neck regions
Sand and finish
Part off