Off set turning instructions

By Walter Jones

You will need a blank about 1.25 in. by 1.25 in. by about 10 in. long. Put it between centers and turn it round. Now turn a ¼” wide bead right on the tailstock end. Reverse the blank and clamp in the smaller opening created by the bottom of the jaws of your chuck. Before tightening the chuck completely center the other end on the live center in your tailstock [a 60* cone live center is the best one, the little circle around the point and a regular live center gets in the way]. Now tighten the chuck the rest of the way. Turn a concave shape in the end of the blank at the tail stock. Now you know why the little circle gets in the way. After turning the concave shape start just in from the tail stock end and turn at about a 45* angle down to about where the ankle should be. REMEMBER THE ANCLE HAS TO BE SMALLER THAN THE NECK AND THE WAIST LARGER THAN THE NECK]. Working back and forth between the 45* angle and from about 1/3 of the way from the tailstock end and taper it to the 45* leaving a slight bump about ½ to the foot for the knee. Sand and finish. Loosen the chuck some and move the blank ½ way from the center point to the outside edge at the tailstock. Lock down the tailstock and tighten the chuck back. The blank is now off center turn from just short of the next 1/3 tapering down to the waist and from the leg end take off some of the shadow to create the hip area [be careful] sand and finish. Now loosen the chuck and move the tailstock in a straight line across the bottom to ½ the way to the edge from the center point. Tighten the tailstock and the chuck and turn the neck area, [a small spindle gouge here] take a little of the shadow of the shoulder off and less of the chin off. So that the neck is inset just a little on the back side. Sand and finish. Now move the tailstock back to the original center point and turn the head area. Be careful not to make the head to long. Rounding the top of the head until you are about to cut if loose from the waste area and sand and finish. Now you can finish taking if off the waste wood. Finish sanding and finish the very top of the head.
Walter Jones
Suncoast Woodturners