Woodturning a Segmented Christmas Ornament

To make a segmented, woodturned Christmas ornament, I started by sketching what I wanted to do which was a Christmas tree figure on a sphere. I structured the sphere by layering up pieces of holly and purple heart to form the pattern, with a layer on the bottom for the trunk and a layer on the top for the sky. The original idea was to also make it hollow, drill holes in it for lights, and put a LED light with a watch battery inside. The turning proved to be at the limits of my skill level and tool collection. I dropped the light idea and just tuned it as a solid piece. I made a decorative finial at the top and bottom. Merry Christmas!

[@johnwolf5288]

About this time every year I watch this video of your ornament again. Thanks for sharing the spirit and the technique. John

[@Waiakalulu1]

Dear Frank, I liked the use of sound during the fast motion parts. It did a lot to maintain the continuity of the show. I also liked seeing the mistake and the recovery afterwards. It's very gracious of you to share these with us. Thank you kindly!

[@craigleemehan]

I cannot believe how fine and delicate you could turn that finial.

[@ricecrash5225]

Not only are your trade skills excellent but your camera work is fantastic. Great work, great videos.

[@steenhjort6530]

I have watched many of your videos and I especially like the sound effects that come with the steel clamps. Great sense of humour great work. Thanks for posting them, I have learned a lot!!

[@talegunner115]

Frank that looks so good. Your little helpers were the stars! God Bless

[@bilbonanno4443]

You are brilliant! Your children are adorable! Thanks for sharing!

[@woodspirit52]

I really enjoy watching your videos. The animations are great and your narration is very informative. And I love your machinery. Thanks

[@mrfreeman1995]

I came here to see your kids say Merry Christmas for the first of your ornaments; at least they used to want to do it haha!

[@claybear000]

Very nice video. Very clever. Please post more.

[@bradcarstens9982]

I love the fact that you show your fails along with the finished product. Well done. You are a master craftsman.

[@JuliaKadauke]

I really enjoy listening to your voice and watching your videos. Creativity and knowledge-that’s you. Thanks for sharing!

[@funnyriverred2501]

a little salt sprinkled on the glued surface helps keep the wood from slipping when trying to stack and clamp like that... you could even just do it on the outside edge where most will be cut or turned.

[@CosmasBauer]

Beautiful project and outstanding craftsmanship and video editing! I really enjoyed this video!

[@junkspot8124]

What a beautiful ornament! I love the negative space light trees between the dark trees. Just beautiful!

[@nullrout556]

That sounds like an eastern European Christmas tradition: Enjoy your Christmas turnip for the the year!

[@Corster666]

That ending was adorable 🥰

[@johnhartman8086]

Thank you ... Thank you... Thank you .And great kids!!

[@pathardage1880]

Oh, outstanding. Thank you. When I get a lathe again I'm going to try this. (I moved trans-atlantic.

[@debbiekorwin4000]

Beautiful, and adorable kids! I love your videos!!👍👍

[@caelaniscrazy12]

I need myself a little Calvin! Honestly, he melts me every time!!

[@GarageWoodworks]

Beautiful job! I like the serendipitous positive and negative look you pointed out with the tree.

[@gideonflynn8944]

instablaster.

[@AllenOxendine]

Beautiful Piece, your kids have been a great supporter over the years. Full View and Like

[@mikenichol4181]

I'm not sure which I like best your woodworking or your photography they are both great

[@starcatcatherinehale1893]

Absolutely adorable children...... oh yeah, the ornament was Fantastic too. Merry Christmas!! ;)

[@TheBergy32]

That "mystery" wood looks like Brazilian Cherry. Very cool project indeed!

[@MemelordSupreme]

Man. That's like, god mode status. I would never be able to think of making those cuts to get the tree shape. My mind doesn't work that way.

[@woneyeshut]

I love this video. Its a simple project. The design, constriction and execution kept my interest. Your commentary, time-lapse, and even sound effects made this one of my favourite

[@bobbieiler]

WOW what a shop!!!. I want to come visit! Thanks for a great video.

[@dwaynecain5608]

Very nice project. I love your shop. Set up very nicely.

[@watcherdude1330]

Very well done. Way past my skill level , so I REALLY appreciate the time and effort and the SKILL that went into this ONE OF A KIND ornament. BE PROUD, BE VERY PROUD, SIR.

[@petricamihai-gavril671]

SUPER WORK AND VIDEO, THANK YOU FOR SHARING

[@Th4t_guy_]

watching in 2020, so fun to not only watch your kids grow up, but watch you develop as a craftsman and how you work and what you use, all the little tricks you add to the project, and how your videos have grown as well, with the editing and advanced techniques. Very cool stuff sir, I look forward to what you have for the future.

[@AsWoodTurns]

Beautiful Ornament. I especially like the meshing of the two trees. I've added it to the Christmas Ornament Woodturning Challenge as you requested. Thank you

[@richhandler2621]

ok.. ok.. your project is awesome too- great job!

[@JPrandy1]

what a beautiful pice, great job Frank

[@Jimmy1Mack]

Unintentionally, you created a piece that features a Christmas tree in both positive and negative. Turn it one way, the tree is red, and in the other orientation, it is white. Nice work.

[@ldutchak]

The ornament is beautiful! I wish I could get my brain to create in 3D more. Love seeing your work.

[@LeviShores]

I love your editing techniques. Your attention to audio is fantastic, and compliments your story so well. Thank you for the video, wonderful ornament. You'd better make another so both of them have one to pass on to their children!

[@sinsilius]

It came out AMAZINGLY nice!!!

[@rochestersoaresdelima1195]

Fantastic job. Congratulations.

[@lesparsons3760]

Awesome piece of segmented turning

[@stockportstev]

I love watching your videos Frank, especially the Christmas Ornament ones :-)

[@AlbosNoggins]

great job, really great job. Thanks for sharing.

[@fosterthompson98]

Just as a tip: When glueing up several pieces like you were and trying to get them not slide around, just sprinkle a little salt over your glue before you put the top piece on. This really helps with getting the pieces to not slide around as you clamp them together P.S. Keep up the good work. I love to watch your videos. Great job!! Foster

[@-ZIO]

I really enjoyed watching this one :)

[@Samuelitudo]

Supercool ornament, and great quality video and comments!! beautifull kids by the way!! Keep uploading!!

[@woodstoney]

Very nicely done! What a great keepsake! Now you should do one for each of the children! Merry Christmas!

[@BFran89]

I have ben having trouble understanding turning segmented decorations...Your explanation made it very clear, Thanks

[@marykedykhuizen6902]

Beautiful ornament

[@danahopkins4090]

If I was going to take a guess, I'd say the brown, unidentified wood is Sapele. The finished project looks great! I may have to try that myself.

[@pigcatapult]

I love the negative-space trees. :3

[@dancaulder8001]

nice work and a great shop

[@wha64]

Wonderful turning. Great job.

[@fangsten]

love your work

[@MikeWaldt]

What can I say Frank......superb! Merry Christmas to you and your family Take care Mike

[@TheBergy32]

Hmm, very cool! :) Yes, the top and bottom pieces are called finials. Man, you have some serious machines in that shop. Nice!

[@sonny0754]

frank nice job, alot of work in that ornament.all best sonny

[@MrLeonard55]

A really nice ornament.

[@timothymcswain6235]

Turned out great

[@kookyflukes9749]

Looks kinda like a dove in the thumbnail too. Great job Frank

[@ColinTonkasdad]

superb. thanks great video . great craftsmanship ..

[@dougcrowhurst71]

Nice job mate thank you for sharing

[@elaprendiz007]

Thats excellent! Great craftsmanship! And great tools! lol Greetings from Mexico, City...

[@markchoitz443]

Awesome job.

[@frankmakes]

Thanks! Yes, the original idea was to hollow it out and put a light inside, but I scaled it back. I got the piece of holly from "Urban Hardwood Recovery": A very nice guy named Tyler runs a wood business from salvaged trees from around Portland. The holly is beautiful. It looks almost like ivory.

[@dreggman02]

Great video, the ornament came out really nice

[@Febeleh]

Great technical skill!

[@gfaehu23]

I love your work!

[@Escviitash]

I think you can easen up the alignment of the segments if you after cutting the pieces, before gluing anything, cuts all pieces to the same length and make a small rabbet at the end of the pieces that makes up the center, so that you after gluing each segment ends up with a vertical centered dado at each end of each segment and then you can take anything vertical and press into both ends automatically forcing the segments to line up for the final gluing.

[@jaywoodson2231]

very creative and a nice design!

[@ErikAnderson1]

Frank what can I say other than you are awesome, Love the video once again!

[@ConfusionWood]

very very nice

[@jakegevorgian]

Beautiful! Merry Christmas

[@alanlyons5812]

Nice job! Great video!

[@woodturningjohn]

Wow, very cool. worth a sub :) and looking forward to going back and looking at some other work. I will be giving this one a try. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrThundermountainman]

master craftsman!

[@laserreaper3657]

love the editing

[@bryanroper3501]

Man I love your channel.

[@uniqko]

anda sangat ahli dalam pekerjaan ini..

[@KingFishStudios]

Having a Sat morning FrankMakes marathon! Super jealous, but you are doing a great thing here, Frank. I especially love how your band saw is representing Kansas City MO. NICE!! Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors. - Aaron

[@rewclaus]

Fantastic!

[@EastTexasEquity]

Very nice!

[@Miniermotte]

Can I just say, I have never done any woodwork and I don't think I ever will but I find your videos very entertaining (I like the little funny bits you do with stop motion, it's a very cute idea) and also it's very calming to watch you create stuff and having so much fun at doing it. I think I've seen every video on your channel by now and hope there'll be more in the future :)

[@kristenblack3930]

that is beautiful!

[@baconsoda]

I love the way you work. This is a great video. Best Wishes, Brendan.

[@KeyvyKeyChannel]

incredibly beautiful

[@DavidM-um2uk]

Outstanding!

[@ExclusiveManual]

What a beautiful ornament! Also, fantastic video thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

[@KaylaaMariee48]

I would probably be good at turning. I have a level of perfectionism that nobody in my family can understand lol I should try it

[@tcindie]

You should. Pens are a pretty easy place to start

[@adrianpool8464]

I think that hardwood is Sapele. It's great stuff, so much so that I'm building a guitar out of it!

[@tsthebeav]

Really outstanding

[@AndrewR74]

Very nice.

[@davedubanoski2981]

Nice ornament.

[@RichInPreston]

Nice work Frank, really ingenious. Going to have to try that :) Rich

[@OOOHBILLY]

Looks great!

[@MissFlying1]

Cute! Love it :)

[@frankmakes]

ha ha, I like it a white Christmas at night.

[@neverancha]

Muy bueno!!!, es una obra de arte...

[@lamo2004mail]

Excellent