Richard Raffan on creating sculptural distorted cross-grain tubes.

Here you see how I create distorted crossgrain tubes using green (unseasoned) elm. Grain alignment is crucial as to how the tubes distort, so you see how to cut suitable blanks. Drilling the tubes isn't as easy as it might appear, and neither is turning beads on small diameter cross-grain cylinders. I was happy with the completed plain tube, but decided to add some beads to decorate the surface so you can see how I remount and re-centre a completed tube so I can turn beads using a spindle gouge.