Duncan's woodturning thread 2011

[duncanh]

Rather than spread my work posts across several threads I thought I'd start this one...

The first entry is this natural edge bowl made from a cherry crotch. The tree was cut down last spiring (I think) and as the college arb tutor knows that I turn he asked if I'd like to take my pick of the timber.
This was turned wet to final thickness and left to dry. The crack was there from the start and slowly started to enlarge so I cut ahead of it to try to relieve some tension and save the piece. I think the stitching works well and matches that on the stand (which is there to add friction and allow the bowl to rest at steeper angles than if it were absent).

Once the bowl was dry I sanded back as best I could, applied Chestnut finishing oil, then MC was and then buffed.

Unfortunately the back didn't cut cleanly so there are a few spots where there's damage and this retained some of the sanding residue and wax.

35cm longest edge,
9cm high
16cm diameter bowl

 

[Blister]

Nice one Duncan

This is different

A breath of fresh air :mrgreen:

The design you have chosen is good , and you have worked with the crack , all adds to the natural appearance of you finished item

overall I like it :mrgreen: =D>

 

[loz]

I think that's a brilliant idea Duncan, and the continuation of the stitching on the base blends in well.

Loz

 

[The Shark]

Very nice, Duncan, I like that a lot =D>

I too think the stitching works well and adds to the piece.

Looks to be a lovely finish, too!

Malc (Who also likes to go round the wall rather than over it, at times :wink: )

 

[callumlovatt]

i like how you've made the crack in to the feature, looks good

 

[Bodrighy]

Nice to see your work again Duncan, you ought to post more often. This is very different to your work that I have seen before. I like the contrasts the stitching with the clean lines of the wood. Works for me. Detracts from the skill level in turning something like this as well, not an easy piece at the best of times let alone with the split in it.

Pete

 

[jpt]

A beautiful piece another one I would like to own.

john

 

[Steven]

I like the stitching.

 

[dennisk]

cool!!

 

[duncanh]

Another piece that was finished a while back but I've only just round to photographing..

Oak from a local wildlife trust site (actually next door to where Lightweeder lives) that was felled because of honey fungus. No sign of it in this piece.

32cm high, 13cm max diameter, 5mm wall thickness.
Another piece with a crack in it so I decided to carve a drop rim. The edge was burnt with pyrography.
The base is a little wide but hopefully the rim is enough of a distraction from that flaw.

This is the first piece that I've tried fuming with ammonia and, as you can see from the colour, it definitely worked. I left it in the sun in a sealed box with a small jar lid of ammonia for about 3 hours. The surface was then lightly sanded back and several coats of Chestnut finishing oil applied. After a month or so I buffed it using a bristle wheel. It's actually a little darker in real life but the true colour was hard to capture.

clickable

 

[duncanh]

Another oak piece from the same source...

25cm tall, 17cm diameter
Chestnut finishing oil
Hollowed wet to final thickness and allowed to move (slightly). Used Munro tool and home made scrapers for hollowing.
The pith is still in the bottom of this one.
I assume the brown colouring is from honey fungus (the reason the tree was felled).

clickable

 

[CHJ]

That's a different presentation of oak figuring duncan, don't often see engrain hollowing and resultant grain structure showing up like that. Hope it stays in one piece as it dries out, if not it will be interesting to see how you blend any defects into the chunky proportions.

 

[Silverbirch]

I like your second oak piece a lot. The colouring is very striking and the simple design and proportions look just right.

Ian

 

[duncanh]

That's a different presentation of oak figuring duncan, don't often see engrain hollowing and resultant grain structure showing up like that. Hope it stays in one piece as it dries out, if not it will be interesting to see how you blend any defects into the chunky proportions.

It's been turned since last summer and sat drying in my wood shed until about 3 months ago. Then it was taken into my turning shed for another month of drying just in case, then into the house. I think I applied a coat of oil when it was freshly turned but can't be sure. It's had at least 2 since then.

The top's got slightly out of round and dropped slightly at one edge. There's also a small knot on one side where I think a branch came out. The hollowing projects into the foot slightly so the foot thickness in the centre is about the same as the walls. All I had to do after it was dry was flatten the foot a little with abrasive.

 

[duncanh]

More oak from the same source as the last ...

clickable

The central one is tallest at 31cm tall, 16cm diameter
All turned wet to around 5mm with the pith in place and allowed to warp whilst drying (which is fairly obvious on the left and right ones).
Finish is (from left to right) -
1)Chestnut finishing oil,
2)Fiddes dark wax (not sure which one) rubbed into the pores with excess removed by applying finishing oil and wiping, then another coat of oil
3)about 3hr of ammonia fuming, 1 coat of finishing oil, small amount of dark wax with excess removed with oil (didn't work too well, but still experimenting!)

More to come when I get round to finishing them.

And an update - the cherry crotch just won our annual club competition

 

[CHJ]

Gorgeous figuring you've achieved on the central piece.

And an update - the cherry crotch just won our annual club competition

No surprises there, tool control on that must have been exceptional and final presentation is top notch.

 

[Silverbirch]

Hi Duncan,

You`ve achieved some lovely effects with this trio. End grain vases/vessels like these seem surprisingly uncommon, I suppose because the inside is hard to finish well, but can`t be hidden.

Ian

 

[duncanh]

Something a bit different for me - some mirrors which I made as presents at the end of last year.
Diameter on the red ones was about 25cm. The spiral edge one was less.
The off centre ones I turned using my homemade large donut chuck.
The spiral one used the Sorby spiralling tool. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of it without the distracting reflection.
The mirrors came from Craft Supplies

 

[Lightweeder]

I like the mirrors Duncan - and just spotted your oak pieces. Really lovely.

 

[RATWOOD]

very nice I like the mirrors