Critique please

[Bodrighy]

First turning from my beech tree. I found a few of these rootballs at the base of the tree and this is made from the smallest one. Crazy grain with the wood of different densities throughout. Hope these pics give enough detail for a critique.

It's finished with sealer and wax. By hand as I didn't have the nerve to try and do it at speed.

Underneath... looks like this

At the moment I can't get a flat surface at the base so I intend to put three small feet (like beads) on the bottom unless anyone has a better idea.

 

[TEP]

Nice piece of turning Pete, I do like root wood when I can get it. You always get some really pretty grain and colouring.

I don't think you could have done much else with that shape/type of timber, finish and colour look good. Will make a nice little decorative piece for 'er indoors to put somewhere. Would look good with a few polished stones in the bowl.

Good idea about the feet, I have used that before. make them from a contrasting coloured wood, and in the shape of upside down mushrooms. Then all you do is drill three holes for the stems.

All in all can't think of anything else I would have done with the blank. Good job!

 

[CHJ]

Sorry Pete but Tam has just about covered the bases there, good use of the piece.

As Tam says the feet idea is a perfect solution for such as this, even use it on if not green, then items that were not as dry as expected to avoid any rock that develops.

My only recommend would be to use feet with a stem section that can be adjusted for height before fixing to make sure that the top surface is/looks horizontal.

Can't wait to see what else you dig out from that stump.

 

[Bodrighy]

Thanks both, good idea about the mushroom type feet and the stems. I was wondering how to get it so that the bowl was in the right position. Will post the finished article...when finished

Pete

 

[Paul.J]

Looks good Pete
Starting at the bottom and working your way up the tree are you.
How did you hold it on the lathe :?
Paul.J.

 

[mrs. sliver]

Oh I well like that pete! the grain is great. excuse me being thick (so what's new?) but how do you mount something that shape? :-k because when I try it I can't get it secure.

 

[PowerTool]

As already said,nice piece that makes the most of the timber and grain patterns - was it dry,or do you think you might get some movement it it later ?

Andrew

 

[Bodrighy]

Mrs Sliver & Paul

I initially used a work screw and tailstock to cut a tenon in the bottom. I made sure that the screw was in the middle of the thickest part of the wood in order to get the deepest possible bowl. This meant that the tenon was not a complete circle so I brought the tailstock up and cut the bowl out leaving a small shaft in the centre. I sanded and sealed as much as I could on the lathe (not that much due to the shape) and then did the rest by hand after chiselling off the tenon and the shaft in the middle of the bowl.
Paul, you'll be interested to note that I did the whole thing at the slowest speed as I suspected that centrifugal force would bust the tenon.

Andrew. It was from the stump which had died about three years ago so it was pretty much dry. Might be a bit of movement which could be interesting as it has I don't know how many different densities of wood in it as reflected by the colouring on the bottom.

Pete