Metal Spinning Using Wood Turned Molds with Jim Kelley

It was great to get back with the weekly Turning Tuesday group at Codger Lodge in Lubeck West Virginia, where we once again become immersed in information exchange, truths and big fish stories, and a wealth of highly useful knowledge combined from the twenty plus characters within. What is Turning Tuesdays, you ask? Well, in the profound words of our host Bill Sands, “Its all about our common interest in all things woodworking bringing us codgers and codgerettes together from diverse backgrounds, to catch up on the tales of life’s adventures and misadventures affording us an opportunity to share the camaraderie.”  This is usually a great place for our Woodworking Adventures to find an interesting story or project right in the local backyard of Woodcraft Corp.

As we devoured the usual morning compliment of donuts, cookies and coffee, it was time for one of our woodworking experts, Jim Kelley to share his knowledge in mold turnings for metal spinning. Here is the video recording of that event…

Jim commented after the video that he used Beeswax on the wooden turning tools, making the forming a whole lot easier for the metal to be shaped.

Jim has a Masters degree in Industrial Arts from West Virginia University. His previous industrial arts teaching positions were at West Virginia Institute of TechnologyWashington Courthouse High SchoolWood County School SystemBlennerhassett Middle School, and Jackson Jr. High, from which he retired from. Additionally Jim has taught drafting, and a technology education program in which a unique curriculum was used for training, construction, communications, transportation, and manufacturing where 7-9 year age students had the opportunity to learn in a 9 week program. Students were taught how to build a business with mass production and design, receiving credits in drafting or technology.  Retired at 58, Jim built sets for Bob Lowe Photography. Jim now enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and wood turning the most, “Trying to bring out the artist” in himself.

In this video, metal spinning is shown using wooden turned molds and conventional tooling to accomplish the desired shape.

A detailed history of metal spinning goes back to the Ancient Egyptians and continues today using CNC machines.

If your woodworking has a historical flair, and you would like to share it, email us at blog@Woodcraft.com, or message us on our Facebook page.
auf Wiedersehen!….Frank

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