Here is a very simple example of inside out turning. Inside out wood turning is a process where an inside shape is turned, then that initial turning is flipped inside out, believe it or not!
The first step is to temporarily join the pieces of wood together, in this case I use two strips but depending on the effect you wish to achieve, a grouping of four square lengths is a common and you could use many more! In this instance two screws, one at each end, were used to join the wood, it’s very quick and holds the stock securely together.
Temporarily joining the stock is easier for the initial turning, you certainly could use a solid piece of wood, later splitting it apart. However, that would be much harder, making it more difficult to join back together.
Next the first turning takes place. The first turning is used to achieve the inside shape which you wish to achieve, in this case half a heart is being turned. It may help to mark on with a pencil the shape which you want to turn, it will not be visible with the lathe spinning, but is good for reference when checking periodically.
With the turning removed from the lathe, the two halves can both be rotated 180 degrees to produce the heart. Depending on how many components are used this may be different, the intent is to flip it “inside out”.
The next stage is to glue the parts together, this is where starting with separate planed stock pays off, as the jointed edges come together with the seam barely noticeable.
Once dried the turning can be re-mounted on the lathe and the outside of the turning shaped. In this instance the outside shape matches that of the inside, but it is common for it to be different. Examples include vases and Christmas tree ornaments, try a Google search to clarify.
With the turning complete and after some sanding, it is removed from the lathe and the waste material at each end can be cut of at the bandsaw.
The top and tip of the heart are shaped, using both hand files and sandpaper.
The next step is to glue in, with some epoxy, an eyelet, which I twisted out of length of galvenised wire.
Finally I finish off the pendant with a few coats of finishing oil.
Once the finished had dried the heart could be hung on a chain.
The video bellow demonstrates the process explained above.
Here are some images of the finished heart pendant, in truth there are easier way to make this heart but is does demonstrate the process of inside out turning quite well.