I started out watching a bunch of YouTube videos and it eventually led me down a path to create this segmenting jig.  Though I didn't use the plans from segeasy's website, I have come to understand that is the original design for it and want to give credit where it is due.  The jig works great.  I added some bits and bobs to cater it to my needs though.

Getting the jig set up is very crucial so that you don't end up with gaps in your segments.  I tried this a multitude of ways, but none of my tools were precise enough.  I couldn't cope with buying a wedgie, when I could buy 123 blocks and machinist squares for the same price as just a couple wedgies.  So that is the route I went, and it worked out perfectly.

This is my very first test piece, before I had more precision, there is a small gap.

I've never built a prototype for anything before, but since this was important and I was trying something new, I created a prototype out of big box store softwood lumber.

It turned out just fine, and the prototype is quite nice itself.  That being said, I learned a lot of lessons along the way, used the wrong tools at times, and on the back side is a big gouge from my lack of turning skills.  I took tons of notes to make sure that I didn't flub up the final one.

Selected a nice piece of walnut for the real urn.  No contrasting segments or anything fancy.  I wanted it to be simple and timeless.

The first real ring went together perfectly.  No gaps at all.  I did find that rubber bands seem to work better for me that those hose clamps.

This urn is 9 layers tall and 12 segments per ring.

:)

Glue up.  It is difficult to get the right pressure on it and keep it aligned.  A jig is probably in my future for any other segmented turnings.

These are the three sections glued up.  I needed to glue this up like this for two reasons.  You need at least two rings glued for stability, otherwise you would only have end grain to end grain.  Secondly, with my design, I wouldn't have been able to get to the inside if I glued them all together at first.

Started with the cap bottom and hollowed it out.

I flipped it around and finished the top.  This Nova chuck is one major improvement from my first attempt. 

I wasn't really sure how to use the Nova chuck at first, but you can see I figured out how to not use a live center to save my cap from having a divot in it.

Next I put the top section on.

Drilled it out.

Enlarged the hole so that it had a good fit with the cap.

I threw on the bottom section.

Got the rough form of the outside. and created a mortise on the bottom.

Flipped it around.

Did my best to hollow out the inside, but... 1.  I was not very successful with my lathe tools.  2.  I was a bit scared of it at my experience level.  Ultimately I taped some sandpaper to a stick and it took several hours to hollow out the inside, where I am sure an good turner would have had it roughed out in minutes.  If it works, it works though and I got the job done.

I used my Shopsmith/lathe and live center to glue the top and bottom together while keeping it centered.  This worked great.

I am including this photo to show you how lucky I am.  I completely forgot to check the alignment of the top and bottom for the brick pattern that I had going.  By sheer luck, they lined up perfectly.  I have used up my karma, or perhaps I had my dog watching over me.

Turned it to its final dimensions.

I would wet down the wood to raise the grain and then sand it.  I did this probably 4 or 5 times.  It ended up coming off with an almost glass like sheen.

So it turns out turning is fun as hell.  Also part of the fun is making a mess.  I am sure many turners know this, but when you use your lathe tools just right it shoots the wood off in a stream.  It made me feel like Spiderman shooting web.  So I put a couple Spiderman stickers on there.  I think this automatically makes your lathe run better.

Final form and starting to put on Danish Oil.

I only put one coat of oil on it.  The grain didn't raise even in the slightest.  I buffed it out after it set for 15 or so minutes and left it to cure for a week or so.

Here is the final form and a photo of our dog.  I miss him so much.  It was beautiful and hard to give him his last gift.  But I am quite proud of it and I suspect he would be too.