Some of my 2015 Challenges and Churnings.

[Dalboy]

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,

I know that feeling spent today making a new base for a new to me grinder for sharpening :roll:

 

[CHJ]

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

I guess all of the above, percentage of which I suspect depends upon wood species.

If you are set on fighting nature then perhaps some of the following may be of help.

• 
  1. Use several coats of finish to keep out as much air and moisture as possible.
  2. Keep the finished piece out of direct sunlight or high level light situations
  3. Use an exterior-grade varnish with UV inhibitors.
  3. On light woods such as Holly, use a water based finish or one that does not tend to yellow with age.

Highly finished, multiple layer finishes such as seen on musical instruments seem to hold colour better, but that may be down to selection of woods or them being stored in low light conditions.
I don't think simple thin oil or paste wax finishes offer much in the way of colour preserving attributes.
On old highly decorated furniture the marquetry within the unit nearly always looks pristine, as opposed to the exterior, even different sides of a piece made specifically for a particular room and position show colour differences on sides away from the light, so it would appear that it is light/UV that has the greatest influence rather than atmospheric moisture.

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.

Here's another one for you to contemplate Nic:-

Yew again, 140mm dia.

and a smaller bit full of cracks.
Yew, 123mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

Just bowling along in a small way, a couple of bits requested that are open for public display I managed to fit in after a reorganisation of the shed, equipment tuning and trips to the recycle centre to get rid of accumulated junk over the last few days has limited the output.

Both in Sycamore.

145mm dia.

115mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

Got some of the small turning chores of tool handles, cabinet knobs, cupboard feet etc. that collect through those 'could you just do me some of these' type requests and have made a start on some of the bits lying around collecting dust drying out, and maybe if I'm honest some too good for the firewood but awaiting inspiration.

A piece of Home slabbed and cured Cherry, that's been at least two years at the back of the bench, 202mm diam.

If ever there was a wood to rival Yew for promoting the odd missed scratch it's Cherry, dense close pored surface, cuts like a dream like a piece of firm but still moist cheddar cheese, rarely bothers to present any end grain problems but excels at showing a surface blemish even from its own shavings.

 

[wallace]

Really nice Chas I think my favourite timber to turn is laburnam

 

[Castanea]

I've got a load of freshly felled cherry which I'm really enjoying turning. I'm happy with what I'm making but have a long way to go to be producing bowls as exquisite as that. Very nice bowl and yes, as you say, it cuts beautifully but is rather unforgiving with marks and bumps! I need to try rough turning a few bowls to leave and turn later.

 

[Woodmonkey]

Looks great, love the beading.

 

[CHJ]

The mornings effort, a couple of after dinner Mint platters,

Spalted Ash & Walnut, 135mm dia.

Spalted Ash courtesy of PaulJ, been stuck on the back of the bench for some months awaiting the incentive to use it as I reacted to the stuff when first handled.

 

[CHJ]

Another bit of the never ending 'what can I salvage from this' sticks together long enough to take a polish.

Yew, 138mm dia.

 

[Dalboy]

Some more great Pieces Chas I really like the cherry with the three beads, I find that is turns a really rich nutty colour after a while

 

[CHJ]

Some more great Pieces Chas I really like the cherry with the three beads, I find that is turns a really rich nutty colour after a while

I've found that cherry always has that air of quality about it, assuming you've made a reasonable fist of turning it of course, think it's the dense looking grain structure that projects a smooth almost porcelain look, I've turned some thin walled smaller pieces in it in the past that feel well balanced in the hand, as a matter of fact I've only this afternoon given a sugar basin another coating of finish to brighten it up, after 15 months or so daily use.

Colour wise it can vary considerably, not only the difference between fruiting and ornamental species but considerable variation in the ornamentals themselves from pale yellow/orange to rich red.

Colour change is a bit Yew like in susceptibility and appears to be sunlight driven in the main I think.

 

[Dalboy]

The piece that I have here is not in direct sunlight as it sits on a tall unit. I think some people under rate it because of the problems drying it without splitting. I could not agree more at what you said about it

 

[Paul.J]

Lovely stuff Chas and glad you made good use of the Ash

 

[CHJ]

So far managed two small pieces from the Laburnum.
More tough to turn than hard, easy to finish off the tool, somewhat different to that which I've handled before.

Laburnum, 145mm dia.

 

[graduate_owner]

So much superb work on this forum. Very impressed.

K

 

[Paul.J]

Lovely Chas

 

[Woodmonkey]

Wow that laburnum is beautiful you really did it justice

 

[CHJ]

Back to the usual again following a request for 'Some of those with the Bark On Please'.

Ash, 165mm dia.

Ash, 180mm dia.

 

[Paul.J]

Very nice NEs chas

 

[CHJ]

Just hope it registers with the suppliers of the wood Paul that winter harvested does make a difference if they want the bark to stay on.
Trouble is I really need a couple more store sheds to keep the flow of 2-3 yr. + wood going.
Stuff left at source under cover in a barn or woodland shelter invariably ends up as firewood before I have spare room and can get round to selecting it.