Review: Keith Fenton Demo – Sunday 19th April, 2026

Xmas decorations

Although spindle turning is considered relatively safe, always use appropriate safety gear. Keith wore safety glasses throughout the demonstration.

Coloured hanging decoration

For the coloured decoration, Keith used a lime spindle blank. Turn to round and create a spigot, hold in a chuck. Taper the end of the blank using a spindle roughing gouge.

Shape using a spindle gouge. For stability, finish the shape before removing material closer to the chuck. Apply Chestnut ebonising lacquer. Allow to dry. Keith used Jo Sonja iridescent paints with added opal dust.

Move the paint around with a brush and the lathe at low speed. Allow to dry. Part off.

Keith would normally apply several coats of clear lacquer.

Drill a small deep hole and complete with an eye for hanging kept in with a spot of super glue. Keith prefers “Xmas bauble holders” to eyes.

Snowman bauble

Keith also turned a snowman hanging decoration. The turning is similar. Finish with wax stick (bees and Carnauba wax) and paper towel. Part off. Add the hook and cap as before. Add face with a permanent marker.

Keith also demonstrated a star insert

Off Centre Tree

Turn the blank round and create a wide tenon to hold in gripper jaws.

Flatten the other end of the blank. Mark the centre and two points on either one cm apart. Number them 1-5 from the left to right (see left figure).

Turn the base of the tree and the tree trunk with the live centre in the middle (mark #3). Loosen the jaws and put the live cone centre in marked point #1. Tighten the jaws. Shape with a spindle or bowl gouge following the ghost shadow of the tree as a guide. Cut the first branch.

Then move the live centre to the marked point #2. Cut the second branch. Repeat with the third mark and on. You might not use all the marks if there is insufficient wood.

Finally repeat with the live centre in the centre mark.

Trim off the end with a flat saw. Part off and remove the nub. Sand the base and top with a sanding disc in the lathe or drill.

Xulon

Create a tenon on a log and hold in chuck jaws. Keith used box wood. Shape the middle as a large cove, sand and finish. True up the face. Turn inwards towards the centre to create the funnel shape. Do as much as possible while you have the live centre support. Try to achieve a reasonable wall thickness. Leave the central nub as it will give a centre point for the drilling. Drill out the centre using a Forstner bit. Remove the tailstock. Turn the inside. Sand.

Shape a jam chuck to match the funnel. Mount the piece with tail stock support and tape securely with masking tape. Reduce the amount of bark if necessary and then remove the tenon. Shape the insides as before. Drill out the centre. Remove the central waste using a Hope 6mm hollower. Sand and finish.

Keith also showed how to make one of his Tube decorations.

Textured Bowl

Use a prepared blank with a recess for the chuck jaws. Mark the diameter to fit your jaws and create a tenon. Mark the centre for remounting. Shape the outside of the bowl. Sand using a sanding disc in a drill with lathe running slow.

Reverse and hold by the tenon in a chuck. Shape the inside. Cut radial lines using an angle grinder. Texture using a wire wheel. Sand and polish.

Reverse turn using a padded disk supported by the tailstock. Gently remove the tenon as much as possible leaving just a small nub. Remove the nub and sand.