Lathe at Tom's woodshop in Saint Paul.
Step 1: Create a drawing or pattern of what you want the finished finial to look like. You will need precise dimensions.
Step 2: Create the block of wood you will use. Generally this means that you will have to glue some narrower pieces of wood together to create a square block.
Step 3: Use a square to find exact center on both ends of our wood block. Drill a small hole in exact center of both ends, so the block will be centered and not wobble on the lathe.
Step 4: Put the exact center of our block of wood on the spur end (where the drill hole is). Then put the other end on the live end of the lathe (again where that drill hole is). Then use a heavy hammer to smack the live end to tighten the wood block to the lathe. Check for looseness, and correct by smacking the live end but not much that you crack the wood. Tighten it down gear handle.
Step 5: Put on your leather apron, and your polycarbonate face mask. Take safety seriously.
Step 6: Install the steady rest in its proper place on the lathe, making sure to get the top close enough to the exact center of the wood stock, so the lathe tool, which has some width, will be in the exact center.
Step 7: Turn on the lathe. Remember the lathe is turning the wood so it is coming at you over the top.
Step 8: Using a pencil, mark where you want to use a tool to shave off some wood to get the design you want. Hold the pencil steady on the steady rest, and let the lathe mark the wood all around in a perfectly straight line (assuming you did not move the pencil sideways). Mark every place where you want some differential in depth on the wood.
Step 9:
