MASTERCLASS - 14TH JUNE 2025
Written by Don Smith
SATURDAY 14th JUNE 2025
DEMONSTRATION BY JASON BREACH
How can I start a write up about Jason Breach? Well I suppose it is best to start from the beginning.
The chairman welcomed everyone including guests from other clubs to this our first masterclass since COVID then welcomed and introduced Jason.
Jason thanked everyone for inviting him to come along and demonstrate his techniques. He started by giving a brief history of how he started woodturning. At the age of eight, his grandfather started him off with a Black & Decker drill, which soon burnt out, so they utilized a washing machine motor by welding a cuck onto the spindle. His mother then realizing how serious he was brought him his first lathe. Aged fourteen he did a course at Parham House on the outskirts of Beaminster Dorset. John Makepeace wondered how he managed to get on the course as eighteen was the minimum age. From here, he went from strength to strength.
The time is now 9.30am and Jason states that he will start his demo by turning a Pagoda Box and I hear you say this is going to be an exceptional day of woodturning.
Firstly he stated that the blank was partially started by turning normal spigot on one end the following photo 1 shows the bottom of the box spigot. The blank had already been cut into two pieces one for the box the other for the lid
Taking the lid blank placed it in to the chuck and produced the inside of the lid photo 2.
Replacing the lid with the box blank explaining why the spigot was much larger as it would come into play later on in the project. The next photo 3 shows the beginning of the turning notice he has touched the square on either the box or the lid.
Jason continued to the shape the outside of the box and then proceeded to fit the lid, (please note the box hadn’t yet been hollowed out). Once satisfied that the lid was a good fit photo 4 he then proceeded to finish the lid. Photo 5
Once the shape of the lid had been defined and happy with the box shape and cosmetic appeal he removed the lid and hollowed out the box. Photo 6
Photos 7 shows the box reversed using a jam chuck to enable Jason to shape the bottom of the box whilst photo 8 shows the bottom and photo 9 is the finished box.
With the first project finished, it was time for our lunch and thanks to the committee and Steve, we had a very nice Fish & Chip meal.
Jason’s next project was a Rabbit I will not go in to all the ins and outs but will describe his action by photos.
Firstly the body was turned followed by the head once these had been shaped they were left with to small spigots on the end so by using a Jam Chuck he removed those small pieces.
Photo 10 is the body; photo 11 is the head whilst photo 12 shows the jam chuck in use for both body and head.
Next came the ears using two pieces of timber glued together with a paper joint turned the shape between centres. Removing the ears from the lathe Jason split the paper joint making two ears ready for finishing.
Fixing either a flat sanding disc or a small drum sander proceeded to form flats or curves on the body, head and ears.
Photo 13 shows the ears turned between centres, photo 14 using a disc sander to shape the body whilst photo 15 shows the drum sander shaping the ears to fit the head.
Once Jason was satisfied with all the shaping the next part was to drill holes in each ear, the head and the body.
To drill the ears he set up a Jacobs chuck in the headstock fitted a small drill then lining the tool rest up on centre placed each ear on the tool rest and drilled a small hole in each.
Marking the position for the holes on both body and head, he drilled them by hand then checking them for position fixed all the parts together to make his rabbit.
Photo 16 shows the drum sander and checking the ear for size, photo 17 drill the ear whilst photo 18 fixing all the parts together.
The next project would be an owl however over the past number of years I have written on how to turn an owl see newsletter achieve 15th Jan 2020 this outlines the general turning but with some additional ideas which I will endeavour to tell you about here.
Firstly Jason turned a piece of timber into a dowel then drilled a hole in the centre and attached a smaller piece of dowel into the hole to make the Iris to make up the eye. Photo 21
Photo 19 turning the outer eye, photo 20 drill the outer eye to receive the inner eye whilst photo 21 shows turning the eye. Up to this point everything that Jason did then is almost as per the write up back in 2020 the only difference really is the eye ( CLICK HERE FOR OWL WRITE-UP ).
Jason’s last project was a Streptohedron but unfortunately, I can only say that it was interesting to watch but difficult to write about if any member would like to see photos of the demo I will glad email them to you. The last three photos are of Jason standing by our banner and his display table plus our display table.
The day finished with a very large round of applause and a thank you to all concerned in organizing the demo with Jason also for all the hard work in setting up and purchasing our lovely lunch.
Thank you all.
Written by Don Smith and photographs via our Video set-up and my photos.
The last photo are as follows: – 22 Jason with our banner, 23 the finished bunny, 24 Jason’s display table, 25 club display table and 26 photo taken of the meeting.