Turning a wooden Sphere on the Lathe

Sam Angelo shares his process for turning a near perfect sphere on the lathe.

[@MaturePatriot]

It's been over 40 years since I've turned any walnut, but I can smell the sweet smell, just watching you. The mind is an amazing thing. I like your tool support. Great work. A true craftsman.

[@joelb2297]

Nice comment, it is good to find appreciation for any artist's work.

[@user-sq4mwfioe]

I searched for the way to make a sphere. Your way is the best I think. Very helpful. Thank you very much.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks very much for watching, Sam

[@piggybladder]

'No beginning and no end'... to infinity and beyond...great vid fella!

[@MikeWaldt]

Fascinating Sam, and again very well explained and demonstrated. Your method is one we all could employ, without any high tech gizmos. Thank you take care Mike

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Yea, I can't see going that far. I think it more of an accomplishment doing it freehand as much as possible. Have a great day. Sam

[@jerryboyd6467]

I recently built a new garage and in pursuit of something new to do (and maybe make some $ on the side) I put a room attic on top of it to make a wood shop. 34 x 12 and I love it. I bout a mill, a lathe, etc. and just watch experts like you to learn new things and then experiment with pine until I got it. I love this video - very insightful and answered some questions I had about how to improve the cosmetics of some bed posts I am making for my daughter who is about to buy her fist home. Thanks for taking the time.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks for watching Sam

[@ArcticFlies56]

Sam, you made the perfect story, no beginning and no end.

[@jakepapadopoulos8654]

Hi, I'm a licenced general machinist with metals and plastics but I also like wood working. There are probably a zillion vids on KZbin these days on anything, but this one got my attention. I never saw anything like this before and it looks real neat. Oh I wish There was KZbin when I was a kid, there are so many things I could have learned. I also learned a lot about doing stuff on my Jeep. All the same thanks for the video! Jake

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

***** Thanks very much. Sam

[@alansimpson596]

Many thanks Sam for an excellent tutorial on making a sphere. I certainly learned several new techniques from this video. I'm very enthusiastic about wood turning and I absorb every thing I can possibly learn from expert turners such as yourself and other contributors to KZbin. Best wishes, Alan.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks, Alan Not sure about the expert part....more like longevity.

[@TomGlander]

"Nothing to sphere, but sphere itself." Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

+Tom Glander Thanks, Sam

[@HiramWoodworking]

I’m glad I waited until the end for that amazing Roosevelt pun!!! Also, great information as always Sam! Thank you.

[@HeroicCrew]

I sat here for 15 minutes and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't turn it off. You are a wood demon lord Sam! I was supposed to be watching metal turning but this made my day! I would like to comment on the perfect shape of the sphere! I think the perfect shape is a Dolphin! You tried that?!? Niall, pleased fan!

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Dolphins are pretty cool. I will have to try that. I sometimes watch vid's on metal lathes, now that is cool. And I like pottery wheels. Now that is mesmerizing.....Sam

[@griffisguitars2921]

Great job! I love the attention to details. "Nothing to sphere but sphere itself." Might be the best part. :)

[@aminelover8666]

Thank you. This video was really helpful. I plan to make a sphear out of wood soon for a costume. I haven't used a lathe since 7th grade and this was a great refresher. I can't wait to start my project

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

well it can be used for the stair rail ends ....i still love those .... now you just gave me an idea how to make them...appreciate it

[@mhaz49]

Just starting to learn sphere turning. You've given me some great tips.

[@MrDancampbell60]

Turning a perfect sphere is the most difficult thing I have ever tried to do on the lathe. It is s great practice exerciseAs always, good job, Sam!.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

+Dan Campbell You are correct......and it is great fun as well. Sam

[@gordondevereaux8413]

Beautiful technique and finished product.

[@Tim1967-o7j]

You made a sphere. And anyone who can accomplish this by what ever means has accomplished something. I think the dreaded skew would have been a perfect tool to this project. Nice work and accomplishment all the same. Thanks for your approach to the sphere.

[@fredmott7086]

Thank you for an excellent presentation. Also, I love the "sphere blocks". Great idea.Fred

[@7SlotFever]

Thank you Sam! I am about to have a go at this and SO appreciate your guidance. My grandson has requested a Wizard's Staff, this will be on the top. Wish me luck!

[@7SlotFever]

well.... practice makes perfect I guess. This is a lot harder than it looks!

[@sarafae]

Thanks for the video. I just learned about wood turning maybe an hour ago - didn't even know the proper name for it until I came across your video - and I'm really interested in it. I love how it looks like the wood just melts away when you're scraping, like clay.

[@brennanbaggett9831]

Spectacular! I'm going to have to try that some time. Thank you for the post!

[@etsa.samahi720]

Really nice work, enjoyed very much. Thanks Teacher.

[@mgorrow]

Sam, I am just getting around to viewing this video. It is an excellent video for those who have not turned spheres.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

thanks for watching, Sam

[@plantpower1966]

I also turn spheres. Try a jar or a tin something with a perfect round opening and place on top. This is an infinite template and works really well.

[@BurlSource]

Very enjoyable and informative video. Thank You for taking the time to film and share this.

[@rimar2000]

Beautiful work, master.

[@jeffoldham3466]

sam this is a keeper,,,man it helped me a lot,,,im going to to try your method,,lol,,I need all this help on turning a sphere,,and you simplified this great,,lol,,especially for me!!!!

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks Sam

[@photoz238]

Great video. Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing!

[@MicroControl33]

Very, very, very nice!! It's so beautiful!!

[@alangriffiths3360]

Love the wyomingwoodturner, very clear and precise instruction. From a greatfull Brit

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Alan Thanks very much for watching. Cheers, Sam

[@icespeckledhens]

Its a very useful guide to making a perfect sphere. Thanks

[@tko7live]

Amazing craftsmanship!

[@michaelstafford195]

Good job Sam. I have been looking at different methods to accurately size wooden balls for kendamas and I believe I like the method you show with the sand paper lined arcs best.

[@MrCedad]

The project demonstrates great innovative skills for turning. Thanks

[@zeNUKEify]

something bout a sphere is just so satisfying

[@yuvallahav]

I've been turning spheres for a while now, using nothing but my eyes to shape them, and then explaining to questioning people that it's hand made, not by a rig, hence the not so perfect roundness, although I do come close, but seeing how you did it, I'm inspired and I'm going to try this out, I love geometric forms (there was a video of a guy turning a doughnut shaped bowl/open form from a huge piece of Oak, it's just hypnotic to watch, and a pleasure to see the result), so thanks for the really great advice... I've been thinking of making some turning videos of my own, if I'll video record my experience, I'll post it as a response to yours, with my thanks! Keep up the good work, I find your videos a pleasure to watch and most educational!

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks, Turning a ball is not easy and a good exercise for practicing skills. If you saw Alan Stratton's video----he really does it freehand and has such a nice cut around the sphere. Keep it up and I would love to see your first video. Some of my early ones are "really" fun to watch. It is nice to see where one has been. Sam

[@jolox.]

Really interesting process! I'm new to the lathe, but hope one day to try this! Thanks for the inspiration! Wyoming is a beautiful state btw! Keep up the good work!

[@guybreysse3456]

Very good video. Thanks to you I am here today to make my first sphere. Thank you so much for sharing your great experience

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Guy My first sphere was not perfect.....I just called it an egg. It was the perfect egg.

[@rustypanels1917]

Hi Sam, I've recently started turning a few spheres, they came out OK. But after watching your method, my next ones will be much better. I love the diagonal measuring and the chalk/sanding method to find high spots. I have just subscribed, and sure I will learn a lot from your video's. Well done. Regards Shayne......

[@peterbrownwastaken]

This method is much better than what I've been doing! I might have to buy a set of calipers...

[@kenzofinn5782]

sorry to be offtopic but does anyone know of a tool to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost the account password. I appreciate any tips you can give me!

[@lochlanseth9092]

@Kenzo Finn instablaster :)

[@kenzofinn5782]

@Lochlan Seth Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@kenzofinn5782]

@Lochlan Seth it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my account!

[@lochlanseth9092]

@Kenzo Finn happy to help :)

[@sheraz14]

Thanks a lot Sam this video was very educating......

[@we2278-l2p]

I watched a video where the woodworker said "the best part of a bowl is the part you remove". This ball is like bowl guts, looks great.

[@vileguile4]

Amazing work!

[@smokefaerie]

Awesome - loved watching this video and have taken away some great tips. Thanks

[@nicolasbusse]

Awesome work. Good teaching skills

[@victorvillanueva3240]

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.

[@Smash214]

Exactly Sam, why not. i'm going to make one right now!!Cheers

[@ac304104]

That's quite the clever method. Thanks for sharing!

[@andybradyhypnosis]

Really nice work and some great lessons. Thank you.

[@ggk9955]

keep up the good work Sam

[@bennymac62]

this guy was my guidance counselor in middle school. really good guy.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Ben, thanks for watching the video. It's nice to hear from you. And thanks for the nice comment later Sam

[@DiickYesterday]

that is a beautiful piece of work!

[@Kapok6]

awesome vid. thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Kapok6 You are welcome Sam

[@BEElaine1008]

That is a clever idea! Even if you didn’t invent it...if you came up with it, not having seen it before...that’s awesome! And I love the pun at the end!

[@ErikAnderson1]

Great tutorial Sam

[@colddose9636]

Thx for the video, its nice piece of decoration, I like your simple techniques....worth it to watch n learn

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks for watching Sam

[@TrevorDennis100]

I searched for wooden sphere turning because I want to make them for the ends of a vise handle. I'd been imagining all sorts of complex jigs and was resigned to having to make them, but this is so much easier. In my case the sheres will obviously be a lot smaller, and I'll be making a cylindrical hole on one side for the handle, but I might resort to using the metal lathe to chuck them up for that bit.

[@JDeWittDIY]

Nice job on the sphere!

[@elmerbback3854]

Skittles, Croquette, lots of uses, very skilled machining work

[@orignialsaansi]

Awesome and loved the Franklin Roosevelt quote, keep up the great work

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

gMUNDO Vargas Thanks Sam

[@acelocksmith2320]

well done sir, thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@claraluciaobelenis]

It´s such satisfying to watch this.... Thanks!

[@toonet3272]

I got sawdust in my eyes just watching this video! Great turning sir, keep it up.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Teno Bal Thanks for watching Sam

[@stringmanipulator]

Very nice work as always :) that's a lot harder to do than one might think .. I liked the idea with those templates and the chalk .. great idea .. thanks for sharing this.. you have a good one :)

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks Sam

[@stephensano9156]

Nice job. I especially like the chalk and jig for exposing the high spots. You barely had any turning to do once you shifted the axis from the initial shaping.

[@vanessarayfox]

Very cool video. Thank you for sharing your talent!

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

vanessa ray Thanks very much for watchingSam

[@Bigpoppanotorius]

+WYOMINGWOODTURNER very interesting concept

[@TheMajHavoc]

nice work, I enjoyed that

[@legotechniccreations6630]

Wow that's amazing. Great work.

[@karenlaughing3530]

Back in the day, how do some of these butheads (asking why would you do that) they think they had crochet balls made. Makes them sorta dumb huh! Beautiful work. i love them. Thanks for sharing.

[@ShelbDood]

I want one of these... This was so neat.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

+Shelby Mason Thanks for watching....Sam

[@aaronwolfe9640]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@Stellarspace95]

Perfect for Christmas tree ornaments if you ask me. Say you turned different types of wood/colours to make one sphere that would be neat

[@benjabens2058]

thank u for the chalk method sam!

[@mmariokart231]

I LOVE puns! And awesome sphere! Subscribed!

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks for watching, Sam

[@chiefjian]

spreading knowledge excelent it was a verry good seminar have a good day

[@conorbrankin6284]

Fantastic. Loved it

[@tommyschutz9008]

Thanks. Your video was very good. It gave me great confidence to go out and turn a sphere on my lathe. However I had difficulty and I kept making the sphere smaller and smaller, when I was actually trying to get a 3" sphere. Oh well, I'll keep practicing, and maybe I'll start with 5" to turn it down to 3", lol

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

+Tommy Schutz Yes we all have that problem from time to time. I still turn too much wood off a project so I end up with a smaller item Sam

[@MihailDadun]

"-Why would you want to do that?" "-Why not?" Big like. Nice content and very cool work, sir.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much!

[@gregmartin1615]

lovely work.

[@curtisbolyard819]

Thanks to you Sam

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks Sam

[@Shookiiee]

Awesome Video man!!

[@thewoodman6039]

great Sam. I appreciate you sharing this. Now I want to make one but hollow it for a lidded box. Oh no.. How do you do that..? I sure you can help. Thanks

[@colinedwards7367]

Many years ago I visited a museum in a fruit growing and wine producing area named Franchhoek, South Africa and one of the displays had a number of ball shaped wooden spheres and the curator told me that they were used to make depressions in woodwool during the off season so that the ripe fruit could be packed during the harvest. Modern packaging methods have of course gotten rid of the craftsmen who must have turned thousands of these moulds.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Thanks, an amazing story from the past. Back in the day, they got things done and usually better than how we do it now. Sam

[@jdmohan51]

very talented sam...

[@sofiadragon1979]

That is too cool I can't wait till I get good enough to do something like that.

[@chrislusbytaylor3197]

To ensure that your semicircular chalk-scraper is only going to rub high spots, I think you should take more care to hold it perpendicular to the sphere. 11:20 I don't think the cups are too big. The bigger the better in terms of holding the sphere accurately centered. They look perfect to me. 14:20 There is no need to reverse the lathe for sanding anything you can turn end-for-end, such as a sphere. But it may help direct the sawdust, perhaps. Thanks for an interesting video. By the way, another way I've been taught is to mark the center with a thin line, then mark lines either side at 0.207 times the diameter from it. Use these as the limits of the 45 degree cones that are your first cuts. But I also like your way of using calipers to test that the cuts are the correct distance apart.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Chris, on your first point....If the semicircular chalk scraper is the same radius/diameter of the sphere then I can hold it perpendicular. I can simply angle it a bit so the entire half circle contacts the sphere. otherwise I have to make one to perfectly match the sphere. I don't care that much about these spheres being so accurate. If I wanted accuracy I would buy one of those sphere jigs......which I won't do. I often sanding with the lathe in reverse because i can keep my hands on top of the piece-it is more comfortable for me. Sam

[@classedharmonicacaudry9430]

very good job man !

[@ArtStreet52]

Thank you for sharing sir!!!

[@roberthogue7486]

Thanks for this. Good tips

[@corderoteful34]

Felicitaciones por su trabajo, hermoso!! saludos desde Chile

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Castor Cordero Thanks Sam

[@cosakti]

very good skill, nice video

[@robertjay1179]

Nice job!

[@ultraliskalistar8853]

"nothing to sphere but sphere itself" made me lose it lol

[@alish9537]

Very good work

[@ginopunsalan]

This is brilliant.

[@tick_magnetedschaper5611]

FDR? That's Freaky funny! Some times you crack me up. Thanks!

[@NoahSpurrier]

The Tetrahedron... I suppose wood turning has nothing to offer this problem, but you said after the perfect shape, the sphere, that maybe you'd try a pyramid. Those are not difficult to shape and are not that interesting geometrically, but tetrahedrons are much more interesting. Although they seem like they shouldn't be much more difficult than a pyramid, I've never managed to make one that wasn't a bit off to the naked eye. If you have any tips on shaping this or any of the other four Platonic solids I would appreciate any tips or pointers to guides that describe how to make construct them. Thank you for this video. It was helpful. The chalk and sandpaper method to mark high spots was the most helpful.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Noah I think I remember saying I should try a pyramid.......I think. But a pyramid is not round, it would turn out more like a cone. But I was not serious. You can't turn anything with facets on it like a tetrahedron or a platonic solid without doing lots of work off the lath making the facets. I enjoy such various shapes that may start on the lathe and once they are complete....then you can't tell they were ever on the lathe. I just don't want to do that kind of work. Thanks for some interesting ideas. Sam

[@acanadianwoodworker]

The perfection of roundness one can achieve on a lathe is very thrilling. Cuts can be very precisely measured, precisely square etc, but there's really no 'perfection'.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

I totally agree.....perfection is an ideal we can only strive to achieve. I always say, "even if we are a perfectionist, we can't really achieve perfection." Sam