Always good to hear from our buddy Ron Brown Kind Regards,
Timothy J. Ziegler Ziegler WoodWork & Specialty Ziegler Laser Worx LLC 14171 160th Ave. Foreston MN 56330 320-294-5798 shop 320-630-2243 cell ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ron Brown's Best, LLC <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Jan 15, 2026 at 11:25 AM Subject: Woodturning Newsletter - Get More in 2026 To: <[email protected]> *Get More In 2026* There’s an old truth about farming that most of us tend to forget the moment we step out of the field and into the workshop. It’s pretty simple: if a farmer wants a bumper crop of corn, he doesn’t sit on the porch and wish for it. He plants corn. Lots of it. He waters it, he fertilizes it, and he spends a fair amount of time defending it from things that want to eat it. If he wants wheat, he doesn’t go tossing potatoes into the dirt and act surprised when French fries don’t start sprouting. The universe, as it turns out, isn't much for shortcuts. If you’re looking to get "more" out of 2026, you’ve got to start by sowing the right things. For the woodturners among us—those brave souls who spend their afternoons covered in shavings and smelling like damp walnut—here are six ways to ensure your harvest is worth the effort this year. *1. Finding the Good Stuff (Free, Fresh Green Wood)* You don't always have to pay a premium for a beautiful blank. Sometimes, you just have to be the guy people call when the sky falls. • *Work the network:* Remind your friends and relatives that when a storm knocks a limb down, you’re the guy who sees a bowl where they see a chore. • *The "Salad Bowl" Bribe:* Visit your local tree service. Offer them a finished bowl or two in exchange for some of the logs they were going to chip anyway. A little bit of craftsmanship goes a long way toward securing a steady supply of cherry, ash, maple, or other hardwood. *2. Sharpening Your Act* High-speed steel is a marvel of modern engineering, but it’s useless if it’s as dull as a butter knife. • *Be a student: *Take a sharpening class or pull a fellow turner aside and admit you need a hand. There’s no shame in learning. • *The Digital Apprenticeship:* Spend some time on YouTube. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there, provided you don’t get distracted by videos of cats on vacuum cleaners. *3. Making it Shine (Easier Finishing)* Finishing shouldn't feel like a chemistry experiment gone wrong. • *The Kitchen Chemist:* Try making your own emulsion. Mix one part beeswax with two parts boiled walnut oil. It’s honest, simple, and it works. It is especially good for salad bowls and pieces that will actually be used. • *Branch Out:* Experiment with tung oil, friction finishes for those spindles, or a simple wipe-on poly. If you’re in a hurry, a good spray lacquer like Deft can be a real lifesaver, and it can be buffed to a mirror finish. *4. Finding Your Tribe* Woodturning can be a lonely business if you let it be. • *Show Up:* Join a club. Go to the meetings. Actually talk to the people there. Meet for coffee afterwards. Proverbs 18:24. King James Version ... A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. • *Digital Neighbors:* Join a Facebook group and look for the folks in your own zip code. You’d be surprised who’s turning wood just three streets over. *5. Mastering the Fancy Finial* Finials are the "high-wire act" of woodturning. They’re thin, delicate, and prone to catastrophic failure. • *Study the Pros: *Look up Cindy Drozda. She’s the gold standard. Watch her videos, read her books, and try to mimic what she does. • *The Sacrifice:* Use a fine-grained, inexpensive wood like hard maple for practice. Expect to break a few. In fact, prepare to fail—a lot. But once you nail it? Watch out. *6. Going Deep (Hollowing Forms and Vases)* Hollowing out a vessel is an exercise in patience and physics. • *Mechanical Advantage: *Explore captive hollowing systems and learn to use leverage to your advantage. Your back will thank you. • *Reach Further: *Look into specialty tool rests or longer handles. The legendary Ed Moulthrop used handles six feet long. That’s not just a tool; that’s a commitment. At the end of the day, the laws of sowing and reaping are about as immutable as gravity. They work like magic, provided you’re willing to put in the work. So, what are you planting in 2026? Just remember: wherever you go, there you are. Usually covered in sawdust. Here is my inspiration for this message: (Gen 26:12-13 [NASB77]) Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; (Matt 13:3, 8-9 [NASB77]) And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; “And others fell on the good soil, and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Gal 6:7 [NIV2]) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. *We've Got To Be Crazy Sale!* *Only For A Limited Time* *Summary* *Links To Product Pages* *Accessory* Bowl From A Board Master Pack <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017665/72cbe3/> Easy Cut System Basic <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017666/72cbe3/> Non-Slip Ring Chuck 12" <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017667/72cbe3/> Non-Slip Ring Chuck 16" <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017668/72cbe3/> Glue Press All 10" <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017669/72cbe3/> Glue Press All 14" and larger <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017670/72cbe3/> Disk Sander 12" only <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017671/72cbe3/> All Longworth Chucks Save 10% get free riser rings and an extra set of Gripper Buttons <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017672/72cbe3/> *Our Most Popular Item* *In The Last 6 Years* ____________________________________ *Make It A Combo!* *Bowl From A Board Easy Cut System Type 2 and a Non-Slip Ring Chuck. * *Reg Price $309.98 **Sale Price $259.99* *Free USA Shipping* *Choose either the 12" or 16" size NSRC Same Price* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017673/72cbe3/> *Steady Rest Type 2 and Mini Steady Rests* We have your size! Longworth Chucks: *For this sale, Save 10%, Get Free USA Shipping, A Free Set Of Riser Rings, and An Extra Set Of Gripper Buttons*. <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017674/72cbe3/> *Cindy Drozda discovers our 40/40 Grind Setup Block. "It Actually works pretty well."* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017675/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017676/72cbe3/> Band Saw Circle Jig *Works especially well for bowl blanks* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017677/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017678/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017679/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017680/72cbe3/> *Centering Genie* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017681/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017682/72cbe3/> *Stop Guessing, Start Turning! * *Introducing the Centering Genie!* Tired of the tap-tap-tap dance every time you remount a workpiece? We get it. That frustrating, time-consuming process of trying to perfectly re-center your wood after taking it off the lathe can drive any woodturner crazy. A fraction of a millimeter off, and you're battling vibrations, uneven cuts, and wasted material. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to precision with the Centering Genie! This innovative tool is your new best friend for achieving dead-on centering in seconds. Whether you've flipped a bowl for finishing the bottom, remounted a spindle for a final touch, or are working on a multi-axis piece, the Centering Genie ensures your workpiece is perfectly aligned with the lathe's axis, every single time. 90 Second Video <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017683/72cbe3/> Once you see this, that's all you need to know! We are already getting testimonials: *"Hello from Dallas!* *Just wanted you to know I received my Centering Genies last night and used them first thing this morning. It works great, thank you and have a great day!* *Live, laugh and turn often,* *Sharon A."* *"Hello Ron,* *I saw this at last nights monthly woodturners club meeting. There was no demo of the genie but one of the guys showed it and mentioned that he thought it would be a useful addition. . . * *Thanks,* *Dave"* Yes, the Centering Genie is excellent for use with *vacuum chucks* to quickly get your vessel perfectly centered. Not an easy task sometimes. *Natural Edge Jamb Chuck* *Take a look at the new Jamb Chuck-MAX* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017684/72cbe3/> *Why You Need This* *Even If You Don't Turn Natural Edge Bowls* *Cole Jaws, Longworth Chucks, and Doughnut Chucks are wonderful devices. However, you always lose 2" of holding capacity to allow for the gripper buttons or bolts. If you are using a 12" lathe, you can only hold a 10" project to finish the bottom. Using the Natural Edge Jamb Chuck you avoid that limitation and can hold projects up to the full size of your lathe! Turn 12" bowls on a 12" lathe, 14" salad bowls and platters on a 14" lathe and a full 16" platter or salad bowl on a 16" lathe.* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017685/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017686/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017687/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017688/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017689/72cbe3/> *Banjo Table Combo* Buy any size Banjo Table at regular price and add a 12" Disk Sander for $69.99 (Includes one 80g disk and 1 gum rubber cleaning stick) Available for 1" and 5/8" Posts* The most popular sizes are 7x7, 10x10, 7x14, and 14x14*. The maximum size I can make is 16x16 using this material. *(14x14 and larger for 1" posts only) <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017690/72cbe3/> *Segmented Turners!* Use the miter slot with a miter gauge to true up your segments right on the lathe! <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017691/72cbe3/> *Companion Carbide Tipped Hollowing Tool* is approximately 30 inches overall length. Allows you to hollow up to 10" when used with our Hollowing Stabilizer. *Easy Cut Board From A Bowl System TYPE 2* Several folks have reported getting catches when using the P-Type parting tool. That is almost always due to positioning the blade too low. The center if the blade should match the center line of the lathe. *Regular Price of the Bowl From A Board Easy Cut System Type 2 is $149.99 and it includes a Parting Tool Kit shown below.* Parting Tool Kit includes 4" mounting Tube, 4-1/2" PType Parting Tool Blade, 11/16" Forstner Bit. The user is expected to turn their own wooden handle before use. If you add the Parting Tool with Handle, you will not receive the Parting Tool Kit. <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017692/72cbe3/> What's In The Box Bowl From A Board Easy Cut System Type 2 The basic system includes: 1. Platform and Post Assembly to fit your lathe 2. MultiGuide with guide slots (45, 50, 55, 60 degrees) 3. Parting Tool "P" Type Blade 4-1/2" long 4. 4" Tube Holder for parting tool blade tapped and threaded with set screw. 5. Alan Wrench 6. 11/16" Forstner Bit. 7. User Supplies Long Handle *Non-Slip Ring Chuck* *Are you sick and tired of getting catches when you try to cut rings? I have a terrific solution.* *Now available in 16" version* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017693/72cbe3/> *Video - Full Length* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017694/72cbe3/> Our blank was 12x12x1.25 using walnut and maple. Three rings made a bowl 11.5" wide and 3.75" tall. The walls were 0.780" thick before turning to final shape. <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017695/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017696/72cbe3/> *Why you need a Glue Press:* These glue presses are perfect for Bowls From A Board as well as traditional Segmented Ring Projects. *With clamps at all four corners and flat rigid clamping cauls, even pressure is applied across the surface of each ring for perfect glue joints.* *Traditional clamps only apply pressure on two points (North and South) often leaving poor glue joints on the other two (East and West sides.)* HDPE is known for its non-stick ability as any glue squeeze-out will easily just flake off with little effort. This material is resistant to warping, chemicals, and temperature changes. This unit should last for a lifetime of use when used according to instructions and stored properly. We have sizes compatible with most segmented projects: Four Configurations: 10” x 10” – Diameter – Height 10” x 20” – Diameter – Height 14” x 10” – Diameter – Height 14” x 20” – Diameter – Height Each Press comes with a 5/8” thick HDPE base and top. It has 4 bolts, 4 Five-Star Knobs, and associated nuts and washers. Instructions <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017697/72cbe3/> are available under Free Download Section of our website. It is the very last entry (for now) The instruction are available in PDF form in Free Downloads at www.ronbrownsbest.com. <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017698/72cbe3/> *Carter and Son Toolworks* *Recommends our 4040 setup jig to sharpen their line of 4040 bowl gouges. It will work on yours too!* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017699/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017700/72cbe3/> Hollowing Companion - 15" bar allows you to reach 10" deep with your Hollowing Stabilizer. *Video <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017701/72cbe3/>* *In Case You Didn't Know, we manufacture most of what we offer on our website in our own facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia USA (Atlanta Area).* Is there something else you wish I would invent? Couldn't hurt to make a suggestion. Drop me a note (HERE) <[email protected]?subject=Something%20New%20I%20would%20like%20to%20see> *Bowl From A Board Easy Cut System* *Get a Parting Tool Kit Free with purchase* *(You Supply The Handle) **A $50 Retail Value* *Note: for this sale I will also include a 11/16" Forstner Bit matching the diameter of the blade holder tube. It should yield a perfect fit into your wooden tool handle. $6 retail value.* *New Video #1 - Using The P-Type Parting Tool* *(Video)* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017702/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017703/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017704/72cbe3/> Short Video <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017705/72cbe3/> I received several calls from loyal customers with health issues affecting their hand strength. Some had strokes, some Parkinsons and some just not as young as the once were. This Stabilizer is meant to reach up to 10" over the front tool rest and can be easily used with one hand. I've priced it to be within reach of almost everyone who turns and could use a little extra help. *We love helping our customers with turning questions. You can speak to a live person when you call. If we are not available, we will return your call as soon as possible. Don't hesitate to pick up the phone. If you have difficulty checking out, call us and we will be happy to complete your order on the phone. (770) 962-3821.* <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017706/72cbe3/> <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/url/3017707/72cbe3/> Click here to stop future mailings <https://ronbrownsbest.addr2.com/preferences/NDE3OTczOjQyNjc6OTI3MjI_/> 1341 Wellington Cv Lawrenceville, GA 30043 <https://admail.net/> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Legacy Ornamental Mills" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/legacy-ornamental-mills/CAMBiJLGY%2BVGsS9J0uPU7HwORkL29GALCDfG%3DrK1W7qQ-ymk90A%40mail.gmail.com.
