Woodturning Project - Horse Chestnut and pewter metal inlay

In this woodturning project I use real metal to create a stunning inlay in some horse chestnut wood. The Horse Chestnut and pewter metal inlay bowl is striking and has so much visual appeal it needs to be seen in the flesh.
This woodturning channel, explores the uses of wood when combined with resin, epoxy, to make woodturning projects, that are easy and can be classed as art. A lot of the wood turning projects I make can be completed by the beginner through to the more experienced wood turner. If you have any ideas for artwork, wood inlays, epoxy projects or any other wood turning projects please get in touch. Collaborations are always welcomes.
Thanks for watching and feel free to leave comments in the chat below.
GIVEAWAY: When l get to 1000 subscribers I will be giving one lucky subscriber a hand made bowl. To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is subscribe to the channel and like and comment on a video. Every time you leave a comment your chance will increase of winning.
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Website: mikeholton.net/
And special thanks for the intro music goes to: Clemintine Sound Design
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DISCLAIMER :
All of my videos are designed to be entertainment only. Please follow all required safety measures when using tools or machinery and always read and understand the manufacturer's guidelines and safety instructions.
The methods I demonstrate are not to be used as a guide for best practice. Thanks
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Mounting and shaping the bowl
04:21 Sanding and finishing the outside of the bowl
10:28 Hollowing out the bowl
14:13 Cutting the recess for the pewter inlay
15:30 Preparing and pooring the molten metal pewter inlay
18:30 Turning back the pewter inlay
20:32 Sanding and finishing the bowl
23:51 Showing off the end result

[@virginiahurley462]

Great dialogue on this video pointing out the processes you use to make this bowl. The metal inlay is a great complement to the wood. Look forward to more videos!

[@MikeHolton]

Thank you very much! And thanks for watching, Mike 😀

[@gluey27]

Love the lines through the wood and the inlay I was holding my breath during the pour another stunning piece Mike well done.

[@MikeHolton]

Glad you enjoyed it, these are great fun to do 😀

[@Lewellfouch]

Omw this is Gorgeous.. I need bowls like this in my life!

[@MikeHolton]

Haha thanks 😀

[@Lewellfouch]

@@MikeHolton lol you're most welcome!

[@82ndairbornevet]

Mike, the bowl is gorgeous, I love the veins running through it that makes it so unique and great job with the inlay even with the slight mistake with your pour, you recovered brilliantly.

[@MikeHolton]

Haha thanks, I always manage to make some sort of mistake with pewter lol

[@tf484]

Great character in the wood. Can't wait to try a metal inlay.

[@MikeHolton]

Use pewter, it melts easily with a normal blowtorch. Just make sure to keep yourself safe. 😊

[@huberthicks9080]

Very, very nice, Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@fionacrouch1732]

Hi Mike. Hope you've had a great day 🙂 The horse chestnut is amazing, so very happy to hear you are going to source some more. It was your other pewter inlay project that I loved so much, and the same goes for this one. Stunning. I was holding my breath during the pour, though, willing there to be enough, lol Thanks again for sharing your incredible talent and ideas with us. Stay safe 🤗

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Fiona, I'll be doing this again very soon for the giveaway bowl, not pewter this time but something very similar, the wood I'm using is 5,300 years old 😁. Have a great evening, I'm off to bed, it's been a long day.

[@fionacrouch1732]

@@MikeHolton can't wait to see that. Sleep well

[@miketashakori]

I love the way that bowl looks. please make more of this type of bowl with resin and copper.

[@MikeHolton]

Hi Michael, I'll try and done one or two like this every month. Thanks for your support, all the best, Mike.

[@DavidLowenfeld]

Absolutely LOVE your pewter inlays!!!

[@MikeHolton]

Thank you so much, I must try another soon, see if I can get to the end without a mistake lol, all the best, Mike

[@michaelfelixb1316]

Mal wieder eine wunderschöne Schale, mit toller Maserung und Farbe👌Auch das Blei sieht klasse aus. Bin mal wieder begeistert 👏🤣🤗

[@MikeHolton]

Danke Mike, ich werde bald ein weiteres mit einem anderen Metall machen, das viel leichter schmilzt. 😃

[@chezlerq4478]

Love that Chestnut. Very much like the spalted Maple I've been turning. Never thought of pouring pewter for an inlay.. That's brilliant. I Will be trying that. Love your channel. Keep up the good life. Charlie

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Charlie, good luck with the pewter inlay, just make sure your bowl in on a level surface when you poor, I keep making that mistake. All the best, Mike

[@87bwadman]

Another amazing experiment. Try folding your spoon the other way, spout on the side. Then can keep torch on it while you pour. Not as awkward.

[@MikeHolton]

Haha thanks, that is an excellent tip 😊

[@advisorspadespf8192]

Hi MIKE. I have been meaning for some time now to attempt a small project using Pewter in the process. I have to say that watching your video has therefore been quite beneficial to me. Many thanks for sharing it.

[@MikeHolton]

Your quite welcome, if you need anything else please just ask. Mike

[@robertwilson54]

This is the second video of yours I have watched, the pieces that you turn out are bloody fantastic and I would never have thought about undercutting the inlay, so it’s eBay here I come to order some pewter, thanks again.

[@MikeHolton]

Glad you liked it 😊, just don't do what I did and put the brown on an oneven surface lol. Have fun, Mike

[@gregdyer7227]

Greetings from the Deep South, USA I'm not familiar with the wood but it looks really good. I don't know why more people are not using it unless it's not plentiful. Keep up the good work my friend.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Greg, there are many horse chestnut trees in the UK just not a great lot to be had that has been dried for use by turners. Stay safe and thanks again for your support 😊

[@LOTGiscool]

Very beautiful. That reminds me of marble!

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks, it certainly has that look 😀

[@deehenry1983]

getting close to 1000! as always a beautiful bowl!!!

[@MikeHolton]

I know! I'm getting excited 😊 Hope you are keeping well

[@IWANNAMAKESTUFF]

Another Stunner Mike Aston @IWMS

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Aston 😊

[@MrGaz2304]

Love pewter

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks, I do too 😀

[@kathleenrobson1803]

You do make some beautiful things 😁

[@MikeHolton]

Thank you Kathleen 😊

[@geoffjax1102]

Excellent video as usual keep them coming thanks

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Geoffrey 😊

[@arvana]

Stunning bowl, gorgeous wood to start with, and you took it to the next level with the inlay. Beautiful job!

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Oberon, the wood looks even better in the flesh, trying to get hold of more from the same tree 😊.

[@rayswann9080]

Great job Mike. Had a thought about the undercut you mentioned for the inlay to stop it falling out. A method i have used with success, especially where an undercut may endanger the integrity of the job, is to insert screws part way into the bottom of the channel. The metal forms around the screw and the screw acts as an anchor for the inlay. Another version is the remove the screws. The metal flows into the thread cut by the screw and secures itself. Hope this helps. Cheers from the Land Down Under.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Ray, I like this idea, if I used brass screws and then turned it back to expose the heads it may look like the piece had been screwed down which may be nice! All the best, Mike

[@rayswann9080]

Cool or perhaps large headed copper nails from a boat builder. They would have no driver slot and look better@@MikeHolton

[@MikeHolton]

@@rayswann9080 fantastic idea, thanks Ray!!

[@cudamank]

Been wanting to try inlay and found your channel. Great inspiration!

[@MikeHolton]

Go for it! I have a few different methods on my channel, the easiest is probably using milliput.

[@shannontaylor5586]

This is very cool! I want to do some inlay work myself! Great job!

[@MikeHolton]

Cool, let me know how you get on, all the best, Mike

[@edwardcohen6517]

Really nice. Inspired me to give it a try. Ed

[@MikeHolton]

Go for it, it's a lot of fun 😊

[@JamesHardiman99]

Very cool!

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks James 🙂

[@WoodWizardrybyColin]

Absolutely Awesome lovely effect

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Colin 😊

[@billgiffin987]

Beautiful grain & u did a nice job on the finish. For my tast I feel it should have been a bit thinner, deeper would make it lighter also. Thats just me.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Bill, thanks for the feedback. I like my bowls chunky and robust, I'm a very tactile person so I like me work to feel good in the hand and I don't think you get that with light bowls. All the best, Mike

[@josephdavis7398]

Nice job. I love the finish.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Joseph 😁

[@shawnarnold6871]

Great Job.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Shawn :)

[@tomogburn3021]

Beautiful bowl. I love the addition of the pewter and the fact that you were thinking out side of the box. Inspirational!!! 24:37

[@MikeHolton]

Glad you liked it, I have problems with pewter, something always goes wrong lol, one day I'll get it right. All the best, Mike

[@mickwilson127]

Amazing job

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Mick 😁

[@simonfarmer7587]

Good evening Mike. Great channel! Having seen your previous pewter inlay video, I decided to have a go myself. I was lucky that someone had given me an old, very small cast iron saucepan which I used as a crucible. I sourced my pewter from junk/antique shops in the form of old tankards. I had some extra ceramic tiles which I used upside down on the cooker hob to protect it from spills. To protect the wood somewhat when pouring I went to B&Q and bought some aluminium tape. I taped all over the inside of the turned bowl and the inner edge and also the outer edge, just leaving the recess channel to pour into. I was quite pleased with the result. I will do more in the future.

[@MikeHolton]

Hi Simon, thanks for letting me know your results! I did not go for old pewter as it contains lead which can be bad but in small quantities it would be fine. It will also go dark over time which in itself could be a nice effect. I did not bother to protect the wood as any burn from the pewter is always very shallow. How did you get on with the fine sanding and buffing? Any problems? Thanks and all the best, Mike

[@ronnierobinson7345]

very nice!

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Ronnie :)

[@jaxxlawson4545]

That has to be one of my favourite bowls so far.. Loving the pewter inlay

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Jaxx, I think it one of mine as well 😁

[@lv_woodturner3899]

Very nice bowl. Gorgeous piece of wood. I love the grain and spalting, especially on the underside. I noticed the steam as you were shaping the underside. I can appreciate the glove, the chips must have been very hot. My heart sank when I saw there was not sufficient pewter for a single pour. Glad the second pour adhered to the first pour. Well done. Dave.

[@MikeHolton]

Hi Dave, thanks as always for the comments. Yours was not the only heart to sink when the puter ran out. You can see me panick a little trying to turn the blowtorch back on. The wood in the bowl is just amazing, the camera does not do it justice. I have a few smaller blanks from the same batch and will be contacting the seller to see if they have any more. Next week I make a box with a singing finial 😊 All the best Mike

[@tomaswallyveira1161]

905 , pretty cool bool , awesome dude

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Tomas 😊

[@rustysawblade2591]

Still slowly working my way through your back catalogue lol. Would love to see something similar to this, but instead of one solid band of metal, it would have two thin 2-3mm strips, 20 or so mm apart and then some kind of pattern that connects them, done with a Dremel , then all turned and sanded back like youve done here. Im rubbish at describing it but in my head it looks amazing 😂

[@MikeHolton]

Haha wow that would look amazing but boy would it be tricky especially with pewter. Let me have a think about it and I'll see what I can come up with 😀

[@rustysawblade2591]

@@MikeHolton lol. I've seen enough pointy, nobbly things spinning around on your lathe to conclude that tricky is definitely within your skill set 😁

[@MikeHolton]

@@rustysawblade2591 haha well yes but this is a different sort of tricky lol

[@cscreations9636]

WOW I love that bowl and the effect the wood has. So beautiful 😻

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks! I am going to try and get more horse Chestnut, that wood is amazing.

[@esterfernandes5706]

Muito LINDA

[@MikeHolton]

Obrigado Ester

[@racheldray1057]

❤❤❤❤

[@MikeHolton]

😍

[@mehgoodenough]

👍🏻

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks 👍

[@Ted_P]

The figure on that piece of wood is amazing! I really like the metal inlays. Do you find that the hot metal warps the wood?

[@MikeHolton]

Hi Ted, it does a little yes. I would not do this on wood that was not fully seasoned as it could make it split. Thanks and all the best, Mike

[@rodsmith3049]

Beautiful bowl, do you think plumbing solder would work as well, or is that maybe too soft?

[@MikeHolton]

I have wondered the same, give it a go, I keep meaning to have a go myself 😃

[@idontlikemonkeys]

noice

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks 👍

[@woodys_woodwork]

The pewter comes up like a mirror, nice work Where did you get the pewter from? Think I need to give this ago

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks, I got mine from eBay, just make sure you get lead free pewter. Thanks for watching, Mike

[@VicNight]

Does anyone else consider it dangerous to overheat a fuel container? that stove is not designed for casting, you should not point the flame at it

[@MikeHolton]

Hi, I appreciate your concern but the torch is never pointed at the fuel container. That type of torch is very directional so the risk is very minimal as heat fall off is tremendous. I do appreciate your concern thought. All the best, Mike.

[@vvtube100]

Wonderful bowl. Please let me know where to buy pewter metal.

[@MikeHolton]

Hi, you can get it from ebay, just make sure you buy led free pewter.

[@ssum7733]

What tools are need for melting the metals safely

[@MikeHolton]

Hi, the pewter melts at 220c so is easy to melt with a standard blow torch. The ladle needs to be something with a significantly higher melting point, the one I use is stainless steel. You can get specific ladels for this purpose called lead ladels but I do not have one. When pooring make sure you do it in a well ventilated place and have fire suppression equipment close at hand. Finally make sure to protect your hands and eyes. Hope this helps. Mike

[@ssum7733]

Thank you

[@georgeslade7217]

Was the groove similar to a dovetail?

[@MikeHolton]

Yes, practically the same 😊

[@thehampshirewoodturner]

Hi Mike,I have never tried this before,but think I will probably give it a go, does the pewter darken after time or stay nice and new. Only recently found your channel,great work am enjoying it

[@MikeHolton]

Hi, thanks! The piece I did before is still nice and shiny. If you use lead free pewter then it should stay nice and shiny for a very long time (years) I've just taken a look at your channel, you done some beautiful work, I've subscribed to see more. All the best, Mike

[@thehampshirewoodturner]

@@MikeHolton Thanks Mike, thats the best thing about you tube, the ability to share ideas, and try out new things, where abouts do you do your turning?

[@MikeHolton]

@@thehampshirewoodturner I'm based in County Durham, I have a small workshop in my garage. I take it you're from Hampshire?

[@MikeHolton]

@@thehampshirewoodturner I'm based in County Durham, I take it you are in Hampshire?

[@thehampshirewoodturner]

@@MikeHolton Hi Mike thats a lovely part of the country, i assumed from your accent you were a lot further south than that, keep up the great work

[@WilsonPhotography1]

How does the molten metal not burn the wood?

[@MikeHolton]

It has a very low melting point and cools down quickly when it touches the wood, there is a little scorching but not much.

[@WilsonPhotography1]

Thank you. 😎

[@Kabo0se5]

I liked the video. Maybe consider doing a voice over instead of narrating during the fabrication. Hard to hear you well and not as concise since your head is doing two things at once.

[@MikeHolton]

I started off doing that but I'm really bad at voice overs 😂, I'll do a few tests to see if I've got any better.

[@huberthicks9080]

Very, very nice, Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeHolton]

Thanks Hubert, I'm making another alloy inlay this time with something called woods metal. Hopefully the video will be out on Tuesday.