Critique required please.

[johnny.t.]

This laburnum vase is the tallest hollow form I've made to date at around 8 1/2" and is on the absolute limit of what I can achieve with my current selection of tools(axminsters perform set + one homemade scraper).
The finish is Danish oil with a coat of hard wax on the top. The walls are around 4mm thick with a bit more meat left towards the bottom for stability so that it can be used for fairly tall dried flowers.


cheers JT

 

[PowerTool]

I like it - the overall shape is pleasant to the eye,and you've nicely captured the heartwood/sapwood contrast.Like the way the base flares out slightly,as it makes it look more stable;also,you've got a nice sweeping curve leading to the rim,which looks to be rounded over in a very user-friendly sort of way.
The finish,figuring,and depth of colour make it look a very warm and inviting piece,with the mystical "pick up and hold" quality

Andrew

 

[boysie39]

JT beautiful well done.
Andrew, exactly what I was going to say.
Is laburnum bad for the old chest or have I got me timbers mixed up. REgards Boysie

 

[stevebuk]

cracking vase jt, love the shape colour and finsh, who knows, i may be doing one shortly :lol:

 

[Paul.J]

Lovely piece of Laburnum JT and looks to be well finished.
I like the shape but i feel i want to turn it up the other way.Looks to be the usual reverse comment on this sort of shape of it been bottom heavy,just looks too top heavy for me,and it would topple over.
I think if it was up the other way,the shape would look right,if you see what i mean.Would like to see the flair out on the bottom,which looks very nice as the top.

 

[cornucopia]

hi johnny, i'm not keen on this piece

for me the shape would have been better with a slightly smaller neck hole-maybe with a rim around the opening-but i do realise this makes hollowing allot harder when your learning.

I also prefer a smaller base-but i realise that some prefer stability.

the finish looks very good,the contrast between heart and sap is great.

overall a 8 1/2" high vase when you've only made a handfull of vases is superb and how quickly your knocking them out your obviously not struggling with them either.

i preferd your laburnum vase in your other post- this one


all the best
george

 

[mikec]

Hi Johnny,

Like the shape and the finish. Looks very tactile.
I hope my hollow form efforts start out as good.

Just about to embark on that particular slippery slope.

Regards,

Mike C

 

[dickm]

Love the timber and the finish, but like some others, would prefer it the other way up.
Our neighbour butchered a laburnum a few months back, and I managed to salvage a small piece to make a bud vase in the "standard shape". Was looking good (I think!) when I went to tidy up the rim, got a catch and ended up with a very stubby "form" Still, it did manage to convince the neighbours not to dispose of timber without asking me first

 

[johnny.t.]

Thanks for the comments thus far ,this critique business seems to be a really useful tool .
Paul.J, I see where your coming from and its kinda strange the difference turning a shape through 180' makes to the appearance but I must say that gives a shape that I see a great many people make and one that personally I don't like(weird given its the same).
George, I agree about the opening but this shape wouldn't allow me a smaller hole as currently my best hollowing tool is a 3/4" round nose scraper and it fouls the other side of the hole when reaching under the shoulder (father christmas is bringing me a sorby multi tip though 8) ) . As for the base I wanted to give it a bit of stability so it can be used in my hearth for holding some tall dried flowers/grasses, I'm no fan of feet on things like this so I tried to do it with a flare to keep the simple curves going from top to bottom in a continuos flow(if that makes sense).The other laburnum vase of mine you linked to is my favorite piece I've produced thus far .

Again thanks for your critiques,it really gets you looking and thinking differently/more :wink: .

JT

 

[loz]

Nice wood, although look's like would be top heavy with tall dried flowers in it !

Just my noobie opinion, and does not detract from the skill you obvioulsy have with that hollowing tool !

Loz

 

[Shakespeare]

Hiya Johnny,

From a new 'turner' I would love to get to this standard, the sooner the better. To me, the vase looks brilliant. I shan't go into the pro's and cons because I'm not qualified to do so, but from what I can see, the turning,the finishing,the effort behind it etc, looks great, well done.

Baz

 

[johnny.t.]

Loz I've left quite a bit of weight in the bottom of this so that it shouldn't fall over with the weight of some dried flowers (crosses fingers), the bottom inch is pretty much solid.
Baz, thanks, I've only been at this myself since October(8 or 9 weeks) and feel the same as you on the sooner the better front, what I try to do is make something every day(although not always possible) to try and improve. Your input and opinions are also most welcome and I would imagine even the most experienced turners on here value everyones thoughts on things put up for critique, regardless of skill level, turner or not.

JT