After travelling across the country to Terenure College and navigating various roadworks on the way, Ollie lost no time in getting down to the demo. As he mounted by faceplate a circular block of unseasoned beech approx. 6ins. long by 8ins. in dia. he explained he was going to rough turn a vessel to a shape similar to a pottery vessel he had seen recently; the shape and proportions which impressed him and challenged him to copy. This is a practise, he reminds us, that can lead to improving a turners style , hence he is always on the look out for new shapes and styles – books, especially antique books, background scenes in TV programmes, indeed all around are shapes that have that extra something that makes them stand out. However, he advised it can be difficult to copy that extra something from just a mental picture , and many attempts may be required to get it just right.

With the beech mounted and supported by the tail stock, the roughing gouge was used to roughly shape the outside. Parting tool then used to cut recess for chuck, and when chuck mounted, the outside was trued up and with lathe speed at 800rpm. hollowing was ready to start. Ollie demonstrated correct stance and tool position to get flowing cuts from edge to centre, emphasising that the tool rest must be smooth; any marks require removal; a rub with sandpaper usually sufficient. Hollowing commenced with a 13mm. bowl gouge, and since only one side of gouge is normally used going from edge to centre , so as to use the other side fruitfully. In the early stages of hollowing he cut by pulling the gouge out from centre using that other side. As hollowing got deeper tool rest was moved in to lessen tool overhang and minimise vibration . The best position is if tool can be kept over centre (mount point) of tool rest. As hollowing got deeper a freshly sharpened 13mm.bowl gouge with a more suitable bevel was used for finishing cuts. The outside of neck then finished after most of inside hollowing done, as neck may alter shape during inside hollowing. A spindle gouge was used for final neck shaping cuts. The triple grooved bead at approx. mid height shaped with parting tool and shaping at each side of the bead shear shaped with gouge until desired profile obtained. A final tidying up with gouge then done ,with the advice to be very careful as slight alterations can change the desired shape.

Ollie then returned to the curved inside for finishing cuts, which were done with a sharp bowl gouge down to the flat bottom, which is finished with careful scraping using a flat scraper. Sanding starts with 120 grade, down the grades to 320, keeping the abrasive moving all the time.

With the vessel finished, we were shown a wide range of various and interesting defects which he had come across during his work, some in wet turnings drying out , some appearing as the wood was being turned , more in the tree as it was being sawn into logs , some in old elm which had being dead for long years. Mentioning elms being wiped out by the Dutch elm beetle , Ollie told us that the beetle had not travelled to some elms in rather remote areas in the West and they have remained healthy.

He collects and germinates for planting out up to 400 seedlings every year. Now that is an example that we all should try and copy in some form or other. That heartening news brought us to the end of a superb demonstration where tool techniques and working methods, combined with creative ideas, made for a most enjoyable morning for which we say to Ollie “congratulations and many thanks for everything” Michael Forde