burr elm lump

[cornucopia]

hello all i've got this weird shaped lump of burr elm and i've had it for quite a while now and just cant seem to decide what to do with it how to cut it- if to cut it etc :-k
it measures 4" at its thickest by 30" long by about 18" wide

any ideas?
and no i wont send it to you unless some cash comes my way :mrgreen:

 

[CHJ]

Always a dilemma, if you cut it it is almost certain that it will be very difficult to blend the cut edges with the natural form in such a way that it does not look contrived.

I would be tempted to mount it as a platter, three raised button feet let into burred base, so that the cut burr face is horizontal.

Turn multiple shallow dished bowls (staggered) in the top surface to act as multiple display or serving focal points.

 

[Bodrighy]

I'm sure you could turn the thing as is on your lathe ( :mrgreen: ) but if that is a deep split in the middle that may not be practical. I have seen these turned as Chas suggests with little turned feet underneath to raise it up. Another way would be to carve a bowl out if you have access to an arbotech.

Pete[/img]

 

[boysie39]

Hang it up on the wall OR make a random cut across where the crack is and make two of something out of it REgards Boysie

 

[stevebuk]

hmmm looks like a lovely piece of burr, if you have any pen size pieces as off cuts later, please let me know.

 

[NickWelford]

I've had a number of these, and I usually end up hollowing in freehand so I have a bowl with an irregular hollow.

 

[Bodrighy]

Hi Nick,

Did you do this with an arbotech or by hand? I saw some like this at last years N. Wales woodfest and the guy said he did it mainly with a chainsaw and a drill with sanding attachment. Whatever, they are really impressive with lovely finishes.

Which makes me wonder....there is little carving in this forum that I am aware of apart from addition to turning or flat work. I wonder how many of us do it?

Pete

 

[shedhead]

I have hand carved a lump of Spalted Beech i rescued from my father-in -law's sawmill. I was cutting up old wood he called it for fire wood. Then i noticed a nice big lump of spalted wood that had my name written on it.

I carved this out and due to laziness i left the finish with the chisel marks still on it. It makes a nice change from round shapes, i think.

My finished product is not in the standard of the items shown. They look magnificent.

 

[cornucopia]

hello nick

i think that might be the way to go with this one, i did consider taking a slice of the to do a natraul edge wall plaque with and that would leave a more normal natraul edge burr to do some turning with but it would be a difficult cut to do with my chainsaw!!

 

[NickWelford]

Arbortech then scraping and sanding - takes a while but can be very attractive.

This oak one sits on a turned tiger oak ring. It's about 2 foot across at the point. If I mounted it in the lathe I would lose the beautiful rugged outside....

 

[Bodrighy]

I want an arbrotec :mrgreen:

More seriously, have you got one of the full blown things or can you usethe blades in an angle grinder? I've been looking them up and seen a few videos on you tube and most of the carvig work seems to be done with the mini or the carving tool. I thought I had seen somewhere that the blades will fit certain size angle grinders tho'. Any info gladly recieved

Pete

 

[dickm]

I bought an Arbortech on impulse a while back to use in a 4.5 inch angle grinder when doing a rocking horse. Turned out to be too "fierce" to use on softwood (though that may have been my technique). With practice, it should be good for large scale carving in hardwood - certainly safer than a chainsaw :?

 

[NickWelford]

I have the professional one that fits on a normal angle grinder - effectively a disc with three tungsten carbide cutters on it. Can be very agressive and run away with you, but with a light touch can be used with surprising acccuracy. I have hollowed out Windsor seats with it also. Makes a hell of a mess with chips thrown everywhere! I fancy one of the smaller ones also, but they don't fit on just any angle grinder, if I remember correctly.

Corny - you're welcome to borrow it - I could pop over sometime....



edit
http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking-information/industrial_20070412135335

 

[cornucopia]

thanks for the offer nick, your more than welcome to pop over
i have a normal abortech and have just purchased a mini one though havent had cause to use it yet oops:

 

[NickWelford]

Might do some time when I need a run out on the bike. Where in Leics are you? I'm near Stamford.

You could make a clock with the lump - like this 2'6" oak

 

[Bodrighy]

Nick, will you please stop posting all this stuff, I'm drooling here :lol: I love this stuff.

I was looking at the mini ones, Axminster have them for about £80 which is way below what some of the other places charge. The fit an ordinary grinder apparently. Trouble is I'd have to buy a grinder as well which would bump the price up.

Watched this at work

Pete

 

[cornucopia]

Might do some time when I need a run out on the bike. Where in Leics are you? I'm near Stamford.

You could make a clock with the lump - like this 2'6" oak

not far from ibstock.
what bike have you got?

 

[Mark Hancock]

I have the professional one that fits on a normal angle grinder - effectively a disc with three tungsten carbide cutters on it. Can be very agressive and run away with you, but with a light touch can be used with surprising acccuracy. I have hollowed out Windsor seats with it also. Makes a hell of a mess with chips thrown everywhere! I fancy one of the smaller ones also, but they don't fit on just any angle grinder, if I remember correctly.

I think the mini Arbortech does fit most standard grinders.

Regarding the discs and how aggressive they are I changed over on my mini to a Merlin disc from the King Arthur range after seeing it demonstrated at Westonbirt last year. Although the Merlin looks more aggressive being a chainsaw design it is far easier to control and use. The next step for me is to get the 4 inch version.
King Arthur Discs

 

[Bodrighy]

As I would have to buy a grinder anyway, the mini deal at Classic Handtools would work out about the same price as getting the Arbortec. I saw those 'mini chain saws' at Yandles last time they had a show there. Is this the sort of thing that you use for the shaping on your vases Mark or are they too aggressive for that?

Pete

 

[Mark Hancock]

Is this the sort of thing that you use for the shaping on your vases Mark or are they too aggressive for that?

Pete

Pete

My vases are cut rather than carved using a multi fluted bit in a dremel or die grinder. It's a bit like a mill end. The Arbortech with Merlin disc I use for carving and shaping.