A Beginner’s Guide To Turning Wooden Christmas Ornaments on a Lathe

Mount the blank

Start with a blank measuring 2-1/2-in. x 2-1/2-in. x 6-in. Find the center at one end and create a divot at that center point with a nail set. The more accurate the center point location, the less vibration you will have when starting up the lathe.

Mount the other end of your blank that does not have the center punch in it to the chuck threaded into the headstock spindle on the lathe. Slightly tighten the blank into the chuck so it is secure. However, do not tighten it tightly until you have placed the center-punched end into the center of the tail drive. Once both ends have been positioned, tighten the chuck around the mounted blank and turn tailstock drive to secure the blank between centers.

Balance the blank

Start the lathe at a low speed to ensure everything is secure and that the lathe doesn’t have excessive bounce with an unbalanced piece of wood. Slowly increase the speed. The most critical part of basic woodturning safely is to ensure that your blank is always secure, balanced, and centered.

Working from one end of the blank to the other, use a roughing gouge to slowly remove the square corners until you are left with a round cylinder. When roughing out a blank directly mounted to the chuck, be careful not to bring your gouge too close to the chuck, where your tool may get tangled and cause damage.

Create the profile of the ornament

Shape the now cylindrical blank to the desired profile using a combination of woodturning tools. A spindle gouge, a parting tool and a skew chisel are the three that I found worked best.

The secret to making Christmas ornaments beautiful lies in creating the beads and coves with crisp, definitive curves and edges. Depending on the profile, using a parting tool or a skew will help make this very easy. For example, when making a Christmas tree, use a skew chisel on its side to create and define the tiers of the tree.

Once you have shaped all the ornament, except for the pointed end, disconnect the tail stock and turn that final bit with the blank just mounted in the chuck.

Sand and finish

With your desired profile, start the sanding process with 150-grit sandpaper and work consecutively through grits: 220, 320 and 400. Sand the whole piece to remove any tool marks.  Never skip a grit. Tearing sandpaper into smaller pieces helps get into tight angles.  For safety, always hold onto the sandpaper from an under position so your arm isn’t hanging out over the top of the ornament. Never wrap the sandpaper around your fingers; you want to quickly release it should it get caught in the wood.

Once the ornament has been sanded, apply sealer (in this case, walnut oil) with a painter’s rag. Keep the lathe running while applying the oil. This will heat up the oil and help it penetrate the wood more effectively.

Part off the ornament

Once the ornament has been sanded and sealed, work with the spindle gouge to cut into the material around the end of the blank, which is attached to the chuck. Use a parting tool to cut the center 1/4-in. of material, and your ornament is cut off from the lathe.

Clean up the bottom

When you have parted off the ornament from the chuck and the lathe, you will find a small nub where you have parted and separated the ornament from the chuck. This area will need to be sanded and oiled to blend in with the rest of the piece.  Take your time, use a rotary tool to run through all the same grits of sandpaper you used on the rest of the ornament and apply a coat of oil.

Add an eye hook for hanging

Holding the ornament in your hand, slowly drill a small hole with a 1/16-in. drill bit at the top of your ornament.  Then, install a small eye screw in the hole to hang it from.  Feel free to use a drop or two of CA glue to secure the eye screw in the hole. Then, use a length of decorative Christmas ribbon or string to hang it with.

FAQ

How do you seal wooden ornaments?

How you seal your Christmas ornaments depends on the sheen you want with the end product. For a natural feel, use an oil.  Walnut oil, danish oil, or tung oil are suitable options. They come in both a can for an aerosol application or applied with a rag and rubbed on. For satin or semigloss sheen to your finish, use a finish designed for these applications, like a varnish or a polyurethane.

Can you put Christmas ornaments outside?

As with any wood, Christmas ornaments can be placed outdoors, but they must be sealed with an exterior-grade finish. Use spar varnish as it is designed for high moisture exposure and is applied just like most other clear coat products.

How can I display my Christmas ornaments without a tree?

You may be as creative as you wish when displaying your ornament. It doesn’t always have to hang on a Christmas tree.  These wooden Christmas ornaments can be hung in a window, from a mantle, or even displayed in a small hanging stand sitting on a table.  The possibilities are endless!

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