Steve Nathan's Handmade Tools, Turned Bowls, Vessels and Pens

This page introduces you to more woodworking projects from woodturner,
furniture maker and tool maker, Steve Nathan.

Steve tells us that he likes any creative project. He has tried his hand at furniture making and tool making in addition to turning bowls, vases, vessels and pens. To the left are some of his tool creations which he has in his shop at home.
He says you can never spend enough time in your woodworking shop. There was no woodshop in the school that Steve attended. But, he got some exposure to working with wood from his father when he was a teenager. His father is the only family member who could be considered qualified as a woodworker. However, there are hobbyists within the ranks of friends and family.

One of the most interesting projects Steve has completed was a cane or walking stick with a Mack Bulldog on the head. He produced this for a Chef at the Commanders Palace Restaurant at the Aladdin here in Las Vegas to present as a gift to the Executive Chef of the original Commanders Palace in New Orleans.
One commission Steve accepted was a walking stick for black powder shooting. It was requested by a daughter for her father and was crafted from a local wood, Oleander, that had been dried for three years. It featured a carved mountain lion on the head.
Below are two more of Steve's turning pieces. They demonstrate the versatility of his skills.
Steve and Gayle are both active in local Kiwanis Clubs. They both take an interest in the charitable projects of these clubs and Steve frequently donates pens to be sold or auctioned for the Kiwanis charitable projects.

Steve recently participated in an exhibition at a Las Vegas library presented by the Las Vegas Woodturners Association. To the left you see one of Steve's unusual bowls which takes advantage of the natural variations in the wood. The second image represents his pens, and the perfume atomizers that he enjoys crafting.
He favors tung oil and other penetrating oils for a hand rubbed finish on his creations. The Enduro finishes are frequently used by Steve.
He favors Birdseye Maple, Quilted Maple in addition to the Buckeye Burl mentioned before. Actually, he finds nearly any highly figured wood favorable for his work. He is saving a piece of highly figured Rosewood for a special project
Steve purchased a piece of the 6,000+ year old Black Oak we have, to use for turning a pen. It is the right most pen in the picture to the left and features platinum plating. This pen may be on our auction after the exhibition at the library is completed. He says the wood was very hard but didn't have as much density as he expected. It turned easily but your tools definitely have to be sharp.
Steve hopes to begin working in mixed media soon. He has placed turquoise and other eye catching elements in his work, but he hopes to begin incorporating stained glass, leather, gold, copper, brass leaf and malachite in his projects soon.
Visit the next page to hear more advice from Steve to other woodworkers and to see him in action as he teaches a class.

GO TO FEATURED WOODWORKER STEVE NATHAN PAGE 3