Coffee Tragedy

by Curtis Turner
Round Rock, TX

Note: Click on any picture to see a larger version.

I like coffee, there I said it. I am not the type of coffee drinker that can spot a Robusta bean in a sack of Arabica beans. Nor can I tell if the beans came from the shady side of the hill. I do however, enjoy a strong cup of black coffee. So, what is the tragedy and what does it have to do with turning?

Let me clarify, this is not a tragedy like spilling a full cup of Starbucks coffee. However, there was an accident involving a ceramic coffee container, which was a gift from my in-laws. More specifically, I accidently dropped and shattered the lid of the container.

After pondering this tragic accident, I realized I could turn a replacement lid.

Let’s get started

I began the hunt shuffling through my cut offs to find a suitable blank. I hoped to find a darker wood simply because I thought it would contrast nicely against the container. I avoided woods that were very porous, because they would not properly seal the container. I also avoided any woods that could impact the flavor of the coffee. The piece I selected was probably from the mahogany family (see Photo 1).

Photo 1

First, I mounted the blank between centers and used a bowl and spindle gouge to turn a tenon. I used this mounting method because the piece was not thick enough to allow for using a worm screw or faceplate and leave enough material for the lid. Of course, a glue block would have also worked.

Refining the fit

Photo 2

Next, I remounted the blank in a chuck. Then I used calipers to estimate the diameter of the tenon. Luckily, I was able to salvage the silicone seal. So this became more of a guessing game to fit the lid and seal to the container. I turned the tenon slightly oversized (see Photo 2) then began the process of removing a bit of wood and test fitting until the container would fit snugly against the seal and the lip of the lid (see Photos 3, 4, and 5). I had to tapper the tenon (like a cork) to accept the seal and wedge properly into the container (see Photo 6). I then spent time refining the rim of the lid. I used a small ogee profile under the rim. This undercut is more about function than style. This rim treatment will give me a better profile to grip during actual use.

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Once I was satisfied with the fit, I moved on to turning a mortise in the underside of the lid. This would allow me to reverse mount the lid. I used dividers to gauge the diameter of the mortise to fit the chuck (see Photo 7). I used the long point of a skew flat on the tool rest similar to a scraper to undercut a dovetail (see Photo 8). This gives the chuck jaws a better gripping surface. I used the chuck in expansion mode to grip the lid (see Photo 9), thus allowing access to the top of the lid. Then I spent time cleaning up the lid and completed sizing the lid diameter (see Photo 10).

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 9

Photo 10

Finishing

I sprayed sanding sealer for the first coat. After sanding with 220 grit paper I sprayed several coats of semi-gloss lacquer over the course of several days. I let the lid cure for a few more days before putting it to use (see Photo 11).

Photo 11

I am happy to say the container is back in service. Sometimes the solution is found outside the box or the container.

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Curtis is a former President of Central Texas Woodturners, a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and a member of Fine Woodworkers of Austin. Curtis teaches and demonstrates nationally for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also teaches for TechShop. He owns a studio where he teaches and works. Curtis lives in Central Texas with his wife and four young children. Take a look at his website at www.curtisturnerstudio.com or visit his Instagram: tx_planes.