burr elm wall hanging-now with video!

[cornucopia]

hello all, this is what i have done today

i started with a badly cupped natraul edge burr

i planned it both sides and sucked it onto my lathe with a 6" vacum chuck to sand it to 400 grit

i was losing pressure due to the natraul voids in the burr, i can either fill these from behind or attach a piece of ply to suck to!!

heres the front sanded, now which way up looks best :-k

heres a blurry bit of 3/4" ply

thats better

here it is

i've marked out my design in pencil and i've found the first center

heres the first circle complete

here it is now turned on 4 centers and some textureing done, at this stage i like it and wonder wetehr to do more or leave it?

close up of texture

the finished piece with one coat of oil

i've decided to live with it for a few days to see wether or not to do anymore to it- this is one advantage to vacum chucking you can return it to the lathe when ever you want.

when i do off center work like this i turn my phone of, lock my work shop door and double check everything every time i move it or use it i.e tool rest etc. i also have a foot switch which i hover my foot over all the time.
it certainly requires a clear head and full concentration :shock:

 

[cornucopia]

i've got a short 10 second or so video of the lathe spinning this up but i can't figure out how to link to it or put it up. if anyone knows how please could you pm me.

 

[stevebuk]

well i think its brilliant, i would probably do a touch more texturing on the opposite side to even it up, and call it planets.
I would love to see the video of this being done, because i am amazed that a suction chuck would hold a piece of obviously heavy burr, through a sheet of ply while it's spinning it.
Put the video on Utube.
well done

 

[PowerTool]

Pleasantly different,George - the texturing looks good,works well with the multi-centre design,and the oil really brings out the beauty of the burr

Andrew

 

[CHJ]

Now that is beautiful George, having only today had thoughts about a vacuum chuck in the near future, seeing yours hanging onto such a piece has made me more determined to raid the piggy bank, will be in touch for a few pointers.

 

[Richard Findley]

Showing off that big lathe again Cornucopia!! :lol: :lol: :wink:

I like it. I think I might diplay it rotated 90 degrees clockwise... maybe :-k :-k

I like the whole wall hanging thing but never had time to explore it yet. On my "To Do" list!!

Richard

 

[Dean]

I like that George, it looks a bit unfinished though or something missing if you know what I mean, still very nice and I could soon make a space to hang it, how heavy is it including the ply? the video will be interesting to see

 

[Paul.J]

Still not so keen meself George,perhaps it's something that will grow on me.
Looks like a big paw print. :?
Nice work though,and lovely piece of Elm.
Surprised that the vacuum chuck as held such a big piece :shock:

 

[cornucopia]

heres the video

 

[cornucopia]

thank you for all your comments, i'm not sure how much it weighed exactly- with the ply i would guess about 7-8kg

ideally i would have prefferd it to be held on a faceplate but its so time consuming trying to get the faceplate on the exact center you want it on, somtimes i end up screwing the faceplate on and of several times- but the vacum coped extremley well with it, i tried to pull it of and the vacums rubber seal was giving way before the wood was!

 

[Blister]

thank you for all your comments, i'm not sure how much it weighed exactly- with the ply i would guess about 7-8kg

ideally i would have prefferd it to be held on a faceplate but its so time consuming trying to get the faceplate on the exact center you want it on, somtimes i end up screwing the faceplate on and of several times- but the vacum coped extremley well with it, i tried to pull it of and the vacums rubber seal was giving way before the wood was!

:shock: :shock: :shock: Kin hell :shock: :shock: :shock:

stand well clear , like outside with a EXTRA LLLOOOOOONNNNGGGGG chisel

:wink:

 

[dickm]

Terrifying, and brilliantly executed!
But I'm afraid the end result doesn't "work" for me. The turned design feels to be too elaborate, and fights with the superb figuring of the original burr. I'd prefer something much simpler, that just let's the figuring speak. (I think Bodrighy/Pete posted something of that sort recently)
But that off-centre turning on something of that size with less obvious figuring would be great.

 

[Dean]

:lol: :lol: I flinched when that started turning, is that your workshop shaking or you George?

 

[cornucopia]

:lol: :lol: I flinched when that started turning, is that your workshop shaking or you George?

:lol: lol thats my steady hand dean #-o

 

[gasmansteve]

That pump must create one helluva vacuum George to cope with those forces?. I had no idea vacuum chucks could be that versatile, got me interested now :wink: .
Cheers
Steve

 

[shedhead]

If you stick your head stock out of the nearest window you could be in Spain very quickly.
Give that man a medal or a straight jacket for working that thing.!!!!!=D>