Wood Turning a Football

I have wood turned a football. I had thought the project would just be about the shape, but I found that with the seams in the pigskin and stitching on the ball there was quite a bit of inlaid work to be done. This would make a nice opportunity for a wood turned segmented football. I made the body of the ball out of some cherry wood that I cut up years ago. The seams of the ball are padauk and the big stitches of the ball are holly wood that I got from a neighbor last spring.
I built the main body of the ball from rings made from the cherry. Once the form of the ball was made, I use the CNC router to cut the inlay work in the ball and the parts themselves. Then I wood turned everything flush. I shaped the points at the ends of the ball on the disk sender and then with the hand sander. I finished the ball with walnut oil.
Some of the tools used in this project
CNC: www.cncrouterpa...
wood turning tools: carterandsontoo...
Cantilever Clamps: amzn.to/1TJmAFx
KANT TWIST Quick Acting Fixture Clamp: amzn.to/1TJn2DP
Milwaukee 18-volt Compact Drill: amzn.to/1sj855F
Metabo Random Orbit Sander: amzn.to/2Ebp4Aw
Router Bit 1/4-Inch Down Cut: amzn.to/2piSkw5
Whiteside Router Bit 1/4-Inch: amzn.to/2bPwUhf
Oshlun 8-1/2-Inch Negative Hook Finishing ATB Saw Blade :amzn.to/1TJmTQ
Freud 8-1/2-Inch Saw Blade ://amzn.to/2qtNTfT
FastCap Glu-Bot Glue Bottle: amzn.to/1TJn0vq
3M Peltor H10A Optime 105 Earmuff: amzn.to/1sj80iw
3M Reusable Respirator: amzn.to/2cGwyPL
3M Particulate Filter P100: amzn.to/2bYwhaK
Oneway Stronghold chuck: amzn.to/1VViyjO
Walnut Oil: amzn.to/2BRqONH
To see upcoming projects follow me on social media
Patreon
www.patreon.co...
Instagram
/ frank.howarth
Twitter
/ frankhowarth
Facebook
/ frankmakes

[@ostkurs]

Dear Frank, I’m following you for a good while now because of your interesting projects. But I more and more realized that I’m also doing so because of you. You’re such a calm and positive person with huge amounts of patience, it’s a pleasure listen to your thoughts and watch your smart workflow. Thank you for always giving me a good time while enjoying your well made videos. All the best for you and your family!

[@TerryPullen]

Frank is a very talented artist. I too love his voice, many do not know that Frank speaks with a pronounced stutter when not on video. Go figure.

[@Connor_McCann]

I totally agree. Sometimes Frank feels like the Bob Ross of woodworking videos.

[@The_Osprey]

I agree. He's also a master filmmaker. There's no denying that.

[@pandorabox2121]

I agree 100% could watch his videos all day

[@gregmislick1117]

@@TerryPullen The King's Speach !!

[@mavos1211]

It amazes me every time, when Frank first throws the bits of wood he has selected on the table they look to me like something you would chuck on the fire or dismantled pallets. Then with those same pieces you create something so beautiful. Truly A master craftsmen.

[@eviethekiwi7178]

That's cuz he got a jointer lmao

[@gregmislick1117]

@@eviethekiwi7178 shhhhhh....you'll break the spell

[@indie825]

I'm not a sports fan, but I am a fan of your work. Beautiful looking foot ball.

[@MrGeorge0285]

indie825 Thats what she said!

[@jerrysmallwood8099]

This is Awesome Frank. Thank you for leaving in and showing us your mistakes. Simple things get us all. Can't wait for your next one.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

When I was bout 12, American Football came to the UK on Channel 4. I attempted to turn a 4 piece block of wood into an American football. I did well, but ran out of time to add the laces. I loved being at the lathe and being trusted with such a big machine. I didn't do well at school, but little things like this over the my years there were not noticed by my teacher. I'd love a lathe, and watch these videos from time to time. SO it great to see an expert do what a 12 year self tried so many years ago,

[@JeffMarxWoodworking]

Thanks for sharing another fantastic project Frank! It will only look better over time as that cherry darkens up closer and closer to pigskin.

[@SlaynByAlex]

I honestly believe you have your laugh pre recorded and just paste it in every now and then 😂😂😂

[@JusBidniss]

And then he... starts describing... the current steps... very slowly and deliberately.... And then comments, "That seemed to work pretty well." Then the dry chuckle. 😂

[@frankmakes]

LOL

[@JuanPierreOosthuizen]

Something tells me he watches Ivan Miranda a lot, annoying af.

[@chrisb9960]

Oh no they are on to you... lol The really sad thing is his mistakes look better than others perfect projects.

[@mikejones2057]

Your point on tools at 13:51 is so well made. Every maker who shares and watcher who absorbs needs to hear that regularly! 🔑

[@DIYBuilds]

All I could think of while watching this was "bed goes up"

[@rjtumble]

me too!

[@LostWhits]

It should be built into the mechanism via a limit switch.

[@JasonStern1]

Came here to say that. :)

[@andrewhiggins9586]

@@LostWhits Pretty easy and cheap with an Arduino.

[@JohnDoe_toetag]

Same here. Bed goes down.

[@boomfiziks]

A true wood master, like yourself, when they encounter a mistake knows how to work with it to either correct it or embrace it. An amateur would’ve given up. Thank you for showing how to push through and create a piece to be proud of.

[@pops71]

Great job as usual. Another option for the seams is to turn the football and carve or cut channels that you fill in with Apoxie sculpt, resin or milliput.

[@frankmakes]

I got some milliput to test out, I still need to do that.

[@whayes1282]

Frank I have watch you make these wonderful creations for several years and you continue to amaze me with your know how and wizardry. Thank you for taking up this hobby and sharing it will the world. Keep up the good work my friend and I look forward to seeing what other wonders you will be making in the future to come.

[@jnmfamily547]

As a professional editor and turning enthusiast as well as a lifelong woodworker, I must say that your work and is extraordinary. I watch most of the turning KZbin stars and your camerawork and turning skills are very creative. Thank you for keeping me inspired and motivated to grow as a turner. I too like your chuckle!

[@kyrg]

As I was told when I first got into wood working, "It's not that you make a mistake, it's how you recover from a mistake" that defines a master craftsman. You passed the test.

[@youtubeguest6177]

This is my favorite shop channel on KZbin. Frank manages to turn anything into something absolutely amazing. He also has really like-able character. Every video leaves me dying to see the next! A great job yet again, Frank!

[@dougptankerengr759]

Thanks again for always including the 'mistakes' on your videos. We all make them, and learning how to recover from them is a priceless skill!

[@BradM1970]

Awesome, I may have to try this. I was disappointed we didn’t get Homer’s “table goes down” though... 🙂

[@NekomimiNinja]

He already did that gag in one video, let's not go Family Guy on it.

[@oldschoolmachinist1938]

This project turned out really nice Frank. I like it when you go into details on how you do something as well as showing Jigs and fixtures you use to make what you're working on. I especially appreciate your honesty when you make a mistake and show us how you can fix it on video. I also like your narration on all your videos. Keep up the good work, looking forward to more of your videos. Thank you.

[@OlivierVerdier]

Great use of the CNC here, I love how you manage to tell us a story Hugs from France

[@rickcimino743]

Criminies Frank....you are the coolest woodworker in the universe.

[@ltnthacker]

Your video was more exciting then the game itself. I mean, when you fumbled that cut, I was up out of my seat, and then you recovered the ball buy filling the gap. What a play. 🏈

[@ogtuna]

Those are not catastrophes Frank, just happy little accidents. Ones again a beautiful piece of work and an even better video. Love the editing and the voice over. Thank you.

[@Oonagh72]

This would make the coolest piggy bank! It’s hollow and the slit for the money could easily be hidden anywhere. It would be a stupid expensive piggy bank. It just beautiful.

[@RCW-Designs]

Awesome job Frank. I'm ordering my first CNC very soon after all your inspiration. I'm a long ways off from the 4th axis projects, so I'll have to live vicariously through you.

[@Mike__B]

Looks really good, and man I can't believe how much I am enraptured by just watching you cut on the lathe or doing something "simple". That said, after you mentioned it with the white stitching being raised, I think that would have looked really cool too.

[@kobiekaasjager4822]

Frank I have watched most of you projects twice or more. It is simply amazing and stunning everything you make. I love it.

[@plemieux7237]

Frank, you are the Lord of the Rings! We need you to come down to the shop and teach a few classes. Guild of Oregon Woodworkers!

[@pandorabox2121]

Hey Frank, I really enjoyed watching your video. I especially love your commentary it helps so much to not only see what your doing but to hear what your thoughts, plans and ideas are. Thank you for all the wonderful content. Can’t wait till the next one. 💜📐💜

[@kobiekaasjager4822]

Oh Frank what a wonderful project it is awesome. Thank you, I love your workshop and all your machines.

[@Docstantinople]

Coach is impressed, you did a good job and we like the football!

[@MichaelAlm]

Looks so good Frank! I always love hearing your thought process throughout a project. Also, I'm kicking myself now, because my neighbors took down a massive holly last summer, and I should've grabbed some chunks...

[@ayaanemerson2533]

i guess I am kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good website to watch new series online?

[@breckenalejandro3028]

@Ayaan Emerson try Flixzone. Just search on google for it :)

[@demetriuskeenan3916]

@Brecken Alejandro Yup, been using FlixZone for months myself :)

[@ayaanemerson2533]

@Brecken Alejandro thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service :) Appreciate it!!

[@breckenalejandro3028]

@Ayaan Emerson glad I could help :)

[@reginalawson8008]

GREAT JOB FRANK!! I love to watch you work in your incredible shop -green with envy. Thanks for sharing, all the best!

[@merkoku]

Man I don't know who edits these videos but they always blow me away

[@manickn6819]

This is really the most extreme woodworking I have ever seen. Great work.

[@banyantree8618]

Very envious of your workshop and capacity to be imaginative and translate that to form......

[@drmodestoesq]

I just looked up what the laces on an American football look like. That "screw up" in the perimeter of the laces looks absolutely fine. I wouldn't have even noticed it if you hadn't went into detail about it.

[@setphaser]

for some reason i thought this would be boring, but it’s another amazing project. glad you’re still using the lathe!

[@barryirby8609]

You could have....glued up every ring as four quadrants, leaving the glue out of those joints, and then glued all of them together around four long strips of Pauduke. Then your seams would have truly lined up. I really like your segment cutting jig. Beautiful work. thanks for posting. Keep it up.

[@CreeperInDisguise]

Your jolly chuckles, like the one at 6:07, always make my day. Amazing work as ever, thank you for the entertainment!

[@normanboyes4983]

Frank I could watch your stuff 24/7.👍😀

[@davidmarshall2399]

don't, because you will run out of Frank to watch and be left hanging like me right now :D

[@esau93631]

Always Enjoy Watching Your Videos Frank!

[@Rouverius]

It's got this great vibe of old basketball courts. Hey, Thanks for showing us the whole process in this and how to recover when things don't go you're way.

[@callindrill]

Can't wait to see you use some of the new CNC stuff!

[@thlee3]

Your editing is getting more and more impressive

[@johnhale9990]

You are the man Frank. Hello from Nova Scotia Canada.

[@rdunehew]

You never cease to amaze me Frank. Great project😊

[@davexb6595]

Thanks for the video Frank. This year is Rugby World Cup year. Its going to be held in Japan this time. I would love to see you make a rugby ball for the World Cup.

[@M31glow]

I really enjoy when you explain your thought process! Well done

[@shawnnwf]

I would love it if some PAC12 teams would use this as their rivalry trophy! Amazing work as always Frank!

[@ibdavidc]

I love it when you are in twice. Next trick, though: hand yourself a board from one side of the planer to the other...good luck with that! Awesome result.

[@-MrFozzy-]

You have the voice of a 27 year old man! Beautiful piece...amazing tutorial....thank you very much

[@JoeMakes]

Love how the little threads look like they go over the big piece!

[@j.hankinson7803]

Great project. Thanks for posting it. The ‘patch’ is a design opportunity for sure - maybe a patch shaped stand ...

[@enzypoo1]

You deserve so many more views and subscribers the effort you put into the carvings and the video is unmatched. Truly both art. Thank you for your work

[@tazzman62]

Love seeing your process and thank you for showing your mess ups. As a artist I know how hard that can be. Really turned out beautiful.

[@edwardquan]

Frank - I don't want to sound boring - but I'm loving your work ...

[@jasonchesbro8083]

Beautiful as always, Frank! Such a pleasure to watch and learn.

[@williamellis8993]

Love the project. I agree with all the positive comments. By not waiting to glue in the cross stitches, you eliminated tearout of the mortises for them. Either that or you would have had to remount the turned piece to cut them. Great job. Looking forward to your next video.

[@fryingdutchman8921]

Frank you are a wood magician. Very well done as always.

[@beb1684]

Your voice is so soothing, it is so satisfying to see the process

[@TS-me5bx]

This was my halftime show! Thanks Frank!

[@rasmus76fluf]

that "ball" looks amazing and the finish really brings out the colors in the wood really really nice work big thumbs up

[@barnyardkh4]

Awesome Frank! Reminds me of the soccer ball my dad made years ago (long before cell phones and good KZbin documentation!) I wish there was a good way to post it here for you.

[@juannolasco1942]

Simply amazing. I think it would look amazing but also be very interesting if you did a baseball, or a hockey puck with all the NHL logo and the "official game puck" kind of stuff. Love your work!

[@dalejones4186]

Hi Frank. You Sir are in a league of your own. Great job.

[@arcfalcon2003]

Your Work gets crazier and more sophisticated every Video, keep it up

[@damienbrand9422]

I always feel so relaxed and chilled at the end of your videos Frank!! Your channel could be called 'Zen and the art of woodworking...' :o) Thanks!!

[@JimG31547]

Great project using multiple tools. Thanks for videoing and sharing.

[@NochSoEinKaddiFan]

You are like the uncle with the hobby you never got in the eraly teens and only realise how cool that stuff is when you come back from university ^^

[@Lerch-zc3ww]

Thank you Frank! This was easily more interesting than the Super Bowl!

[@CammiesGarage]

The game winner! Nicely done.

[@RyanLundquist]

Incredible job Frank. I really enjoyed this one.

[@TheBearDenPhotography]

Touchdown! What a fantastic project! I find it amazing how you can figure out all these calculations and angles etc.

[@Harko-]

Thanks frank, I really enjoy these “different” you objects design and make on the lathe. Must have felt so frustrating to make that mistake,, when you’ve invested so much time already. But I like the patch solution.

[@marpa0]

You are an artist Frank! Genius work, many thanks for your videos!❤️

[@Franksshed]

Holy moly Frank!! You surpassed yourself once again. #AMAZING 💯🔥🔥

[@ChiefsFan62]

I'm a big football fan, so I love it! Looks great! Nice job on the stitching!

[@staples138]

That editing is spot on.

[@seanbiette1449]

Awesome project Frank! Thanks for sharing it

[@DerAraber]

Thank you for being such a wonderful maker. That one turned (ha ha, turned) out really awesome. If you don't want it in your home, I would love to have it in mine😁

[@PeopleAlreadyDidThis]

Far better than the game. Thanks, Frank.

[@3DPrintingNerd]

that football came out INCREDIBLE!

[@frankmakes]

Thanks Joel!

[@cradd00]

Your projects are always super cool and turn out great! if I had a dollar for every time I messed up a cut on my cnc, I wouldn't need a job!

[@trishblakely3476]

Happy Football day, everyone! Go sports! Great project, Frank. 👍

[@espowari]

THIS should be the half time show at the actual Super Bowl!

[@LostWhits]

At least then it would be entertaining

[@TheFujiwuji]

Incredible! Beautiful work.

[@Benjamin_4052]

What a great work @frank ☺️👍🏼. Thank you for that video 😎

[@cnl1213]

I know I am jumping the gun but I am already excited for the 5th axis on the CNC. Looking forward to seeing you make some complex compound curves.

[@mikeharari3443]

Amazing work! I'm very impressed with your talent but also with your personality! Congrats!

[@BookofIsaiah]

Amazing, Frank!! I love to hear your thought process for what you are doing and why also. That football is a REALLY nice work of art!!!

[@nicolastoro6269]

You will always be the woodturning boss

[@MrVillafum]

Awesome work Frank! I love it!

[@gestandard249]

like your addition of the back fence works great better than the sloped blade deflector, keep up the great work

[@nelsitorocks]

You can build a little wooden kicking tee to place it on for display. Great video like always

[@MakersGottaEat]

Fabulous work! I very much envy your skills. Looking forward to your 4th axis projects!

[@Airn5475]

Great work! Pulled together with seemingly no effort! I would like to see you leave the laces proud on the next one. Think it would look sweet!

[@Felipera_]

Now I wanna see you spinning some stuff on that CNC! That will be dope.

[@walperstyle]

You are like the Bob Ross of woodworking. Great inspiration, but the skills gap between you and the rest of us is approx the same distance from here to mars.

[@lloyd4768]

That CNC machine is just awesome. I'm jealous 😃😃

[@andrewmachfield39]

this is probably the most relaxing channels I've ever watched