Some of my 2015 Challenges and Churnings.

[Paul.J]

Lovely work again Chas,looks like you've got the hang of drying green wood out

 

[CHJ]

Lovely work again Chas,looks like you've got the hang of drying green wood out

Thanks Paul, some you win, some you loose, it's mainly just time and patience on the drying front, getting them to harvest in the winter months and a decent close racking system seem to do the rest.
This Ash has been at least three years in the wait and still only down to 15%. moisture.

 

[CHJ]

A Bitsa day today,

Ash, 175mm dia.

Ash, 140mm dia.

Sycamore, 110mm dia.

Sycamore, 150mm dia.

 

[Walnut Les]

Lovely to look at Chas, well turned mate. Les

 

[Paul.J]

Nice work again Chas

 

[CHJ]

Thanks Les & Paul, very basic stuff I'm afraid but it's going out of the door and not cluttering up the wood store so I can't complain, have a sack of blanks sorted that I have to work through a.s.a.p. including some Apple that did not dry well so will have to see if I can get some candle sticks out of it.

 

[nicguthrie]

More lovely stuff man. I'm not even certain how to do natural edge like that yet. I know the theory from books,but that's different.
Off topic slightly Chas, how do you find apple to work with? I've been asked to make a bowl for my (slightly estranged) sister out of a great 8x4 blank, which given my preference for small stuff, will be the largest turning I've done - so I'm a little trepidacious about it [WINKING FACE]

 

[CHJ]

Apple is a pleasure to turn, firm buttery/edam cheese feel, takes a good finish but is very prone to showing fine scratches so be prepared to sand stationary with the grain, 240 grit is fine enough but 'With the Grain'

There's a couple of Apple Candle sticks coming up now.

 

[CHJ]

Apple, 185mm high.

 

[Bodrighy]

Wow, I think this is the first thing you have made, that I have seen, that I am not too keen on Chas. Love the wood, the finish is spot on as always just not too keen on the shape. Think it may be because the dramatic colouring of the wood clashes with it for me. Just a personal taste thing though so no doubnt it will find a happy home very quickly.

pete

 

[nicguthrie]

Certainly shows that it takes a nice finish!
Last bowl I did was spalted Alder, most annoying stuff I've ever worked with and I'll not seek it out again. That had to be sanded stationary with the grain too, so thanks for the forewarning.
I like the candle sticks. Having had a fire from an unattended candle (we both assumed the other had put it out) I like that they look good and stable!
Thanks.
Nic.

 

[CHJ]

As they say, an Apple a day.
Apple, 135mm H.

 

[CHJ]

Another after lunch quickie,
Ash, 170mm dia.

Further output interrupted when I let a 70mm cube of scrap Apple make its way down the extractor duct rather than into the jaws of the chuck and it bent the extractor fan enough for it to sound like a tractor in the paddock behind the shed. So half hour out in the cold wind forming the bent blade into something that resembles the others deemed it was cup of tea time and time to call it a day.

 

[CHJ]

Ash, 120mm dia.

Ash, 164mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

Yew, 140mm dia.

 

[greybeard]

Chapeau

 

[CHJ]

This lids got holes, just managed to squeeze this in after waging war on all the lawn moss that has taken advantage of the mild winter.

Yew, 15mm dia.

 

[Dalboy]

You have certainly been busy. My poor computer packed up and it is surprising how many things get posted still trying to catch up. I like the last apple candlesticks. And I see you have been turning one of my favourite woods yes it is Yew.
All these have been well turned and finished which is what we expect from you Chas

 

[CHJ]

Thank you Derek, afraid I'm only managing to get the odd hour in the shed, too many other tasks around at the moment, and then I'm afraid shed output is all rather mundane inconsequential pieces using up stock oddments, at least they have a home to go to.

I like turning Yew to see the figuring that is exposed, especially in the smaller distorted pieces, finishing it without any inbuilt shakes giving way can be a challenge at times though, pity it darkens so much when exposed to light.

 

[nicguthrie]

Is it light, UV, or oxygen that darkens Yew?

I'd be interested in whether there was a finish that minimizes the darkening.

If it's oxygen, perhaps an epoxy varnish might help? If UV there are varnishes and oils that are resistant to that. If it's light alone however, it's kind of essential to be able to see the colouring in the first place! :idea:

As usual, more lovely work. I'm less into the look of natural edge stuff than most seem to be, but there's no denying these are lovely pieces!

I've been planning a wee pot-pourri dish in cherry for months, and worrying that the blank I had was too small after seeing the lovely one posted by walnut les the other day, but yours looks almost the precise size I was planning, so thanks for the inadvertant reassurance!

Nic.