This Old Workshop, Segmented Bowl Turning with Kevin Neelley, woodworking

An Interview with Kevin Neelley

Like every woodworker I know or have had the pleasure of interviewing, I desire to make something that others will appreciate, value, cherish and yes, spend some of those hard earned dollars to acquire. The one thing I look for when writing about master craftsmen is their desire to make a statement with their work. My quest for this type of craftsman lead me to Lenexa, Kansas, the home of Kevin Neelley. Kevin is a pioneer in the art of segmented woodturning and, as a master craftsman, he is a teacher of this fine art. You can see Kevin’s art at his website, or better yet, try to see his work in person. Kevin tells me the enjoyment he gets from his work is seeing someone hold, touch and ponder over his wears and to see them appreciate it for the art that it is. I am confident you will be impressed with the stunning beauty of his labors of love.

A woodworker for over 20 years, Kevin says he truly found his niche when he turned his first segmented bowl over 10 years ago. His projects were made of scraps from his traditional projects and Kevin is quick to point out that buying the amount of even the finest woods in these small quantities is unlikely to break the bank. His projects will, however, use up some serious shop time. A novice can spend over 100 hours doing cutout and glue-ups on a simple bowl.

One visit to Kevin’s website can yield you several years of experience in a few ours, if you are able to grasp his insight. Over the next few months we will be doing just that: taking Kevin’s guidance for cutting and gluing-up our own segmented projects. Kevin pointed out that a new turner will need many tools, many basic ones and a couple of specialized tools. Start by building one of his sleds found here, or one of your own designs. Kevin has also provided us with a design for a laser thickness gauge. Get the design here. There are many more tools you can make with the help of his proven designs. Kevin recommends Robert Sorby’s Hollow Master 2000 tool for hollowing the inside of vessels. Many of these tools are available HERE . Kevin is currently using a Vicmarc lathe. However, he tells me that a beginner can certainly use a basic multipurpose lathe like a Jet JWL-1236. or a delta.

I recommend that you spend several days on Kevin’s site reading over his directions and layout. Kevin has provided us with three proven methods for layout and a great pc program. You can buy from him by clicking this link: . Kevin has several links to other segmented turners and This Old Workshop has formed the Segmented Wood Turners WebRing . After you are making your own bowls and if you have them up on your website, feel free to apply for membership! These sites are filled with great ideas, many influenced by Kevin’s work.
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This old Workshop