Dale Nish, one of the world’s most influential woodturners, teachers and writers, died yesterday in Provo, Utah.

Nish taught woodworking at Brigham Young University for 28 years, until his retirement in 1995. He’s the author of several landmark books on turning including “Creative Woodturning” and “Artistic Woodturning,” and of many magazine articles and columns. In 1979, he was a founding member of the Utah Woodworking Symposium, which he directed for 19 years.

His signature work involved turning bowls from flawed wood, particularly wormy ash.

Below, to help celebrate his contribution to the craft, download step-by-step instruction from Nish on turning decorative birdhouse ornaments, an article he wrote for our December 2004 issue.

Birdhouse_Ornaments.pdf

— Megan Fitzpatrick