2016- The Year to reduce the woodpile.

[CHJ]

Another oddment of local hedgerow Elm that has come to light, quite strange to turn in as much that it is relatively soft and prone to torn grain if tools are not very sharp and wood soaked in sealer, must be something to do with it being young but dead (Dutch Elm disease).
The Elm I remember that came from the local village coffin maker as scrap for mending the odd gate or pig pen was as hard as nails as far as using hand tools on a farm that had no electricity, remember having to drill holes for nails.
And it's certainly softer than good well seasoned slab turning wood that I've been fortunate to be presented with in the past.

Elm 170mm dia.

 

[Dalboy]

Another nice bowl and I like the beads which help set it off nicely, Some lovely grain in this

 

[CHJ]

Local Ash piece that's been lying around some time now awaiting the moisture level to sort itself, it's a slice across the core so fully expected it to split but it's hung together so it can go home as something that may be more useful than firewood.

Ash, 170mm dia.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I picked up a really good book on elms in hospital of all places - I didn't realise how many species and sub species there were until then. I suspect this might account for different characteristics in working and appearance, Cornish elm for example is quite nondescript - it's an awful dull grey brown and desperately cries out for staining - and it seems to me to be softer than English. You may have a more unusual variant.

 

[CHJ]

The only incontrovertible 'different' Elm that I have used in the past was Exeter Elm, but I guess there may well be many variations of that due to it being a hybrid.

The remnants of Elm around here are certainly different to my memories of the big trees we had in Worcestershire and its wood when used around the farm, the wood I was given by Forum Member with a provenance that was water tight and originated in Wales many years ago was totally different, a pleasure to work, much firmer and considerably redder in colour, species variation? growing conditions? I guess we will never have the pleasure of seeing them growing in situ to compare and educate ourselves.

 

[CHJ]

Another piece found in amongst all the drying faults, just one split within the confines of the foot that is less than pretty but not visible in normal repose.

Yew, 195mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

It's a --------Box, a Lidded Pot, a------ whatever, it's this mornings effort.

Yew, 127mm dia.

 

[Dalboy]

Yet some more nice pieces Chas. You seem to be getting more shed time than I am at the moment still converting wood and on top of that just been given 5 great lumps of London Plain plus three other bits of wood one being Yew

 

[CHJ]

Still not enough shed time to reduce the wood pile as quick as I would like Derek, mostly to do with other commitments and tasks that get in the way this time of the year as it is for most folks but a certain amount due to getting in the mood and my preference to do all turning of pieces in one session rather than break the flow over different days if at all possible.
I do have a target for three more pieces this week before Friday if possible.

 

[CHJ]

Reasonably early start today so managed to get this done before coffee time, took some WIP snaps so will try and post up how it progressed in case they are any use as a guide to others.

Yew, 200mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

Well that's the Friday target done, hopefully they'll all depart this evening.

One completed before and one turned after morning coffee break and buffed after lunch break and sorting some more pics out for another thread. somewhat qicker than the WIP as there were less 'features' to work round.

Yew, 205mm dia.

Yew, 200mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

T'was a Thursday morning when the request fairy came to call:-----

T'was on a Saturday afternoon that said fairy took delivery:---

Yew, 100mm dia.

Yew, 105mm dia.

Yew, 95mm dia.

Yew, 110mm dia.

 

[CHJ]

Todays foray into the shop saw this lump, courtesy of Paul.J appear out of the debris.

Acacia Burr. (265x230mm)

Not too happy with the foot solution, prefer the tapered legs I've used before but tried these pads as it's fairly heavy to sit on a polished surface, only consolation they are not too much in evidence when in use.

 

[Dalboy]

The top looks fantastic and like you I don't like the look of the legs but as you stated they don't show that much and serve the purpose in protecting the unit it sits on

 

[CHJ]

I dislike these sort of decisions Derek, I find that if you have doubts they invariably leave that little niggle.
Had this and another piece with a complete bark cover and was reluctant to cut into it just to provide a base, maybe an additional shallow pedestal would have been better, we'll see what the next one suggests.
Might tackle another chuck challenge first that will lend itself to a more conventional base.

 

[Dalboy]

I know what you mean about having to decide, I am half way through a piece at the moment that I can't make up my mind whether to pierce or just colour it.

 

[Stiggy]

Apologies if you've thought this already, but if you used black feet they wouldn't show so much?

 

[CHJ]

Apologies if you've thought this already, but if you used black feet they wouldn't show so much?

Yep, beat you to it, stained the pale felt pad edges with dark brown.

 

[CHJ]

The other half of the lump, two hours messing around with clamps and balancing weights, twice over, for base and top and about twenty minutes turning time.

Acacia Burr. (280 X 240 mm.)

 

[Woodmonkey]

Those look great, minimum amount of turning necessary to reveal the inner beauty of the burrs. I think the first one looks better as it's sitting slightly higher, although the turned base probably looks neater (only other turners will probably notice this though)