First items for critique

[gus3049]

Time to bite the bullet!

Apart from one little laminated goblet early on, these are my first.

Many thanks to Pete (Bodrighy) and John (Jonzjob) for their guidance.

I am quite happy with the cherry one but feel that the walnut is a little under based! It was the wood wot dun it guv. The bit that was to be the bowl had a hole right through it so I had to turn it upside down!!

With trepidation!!

 

[cornucopia]

these are both nice Gordon
the cherry bowl is a lovely shape and the stem is nice although a bead or v cut from stem to base would have framed it better
the walnut one's stem is proportionately too thick and the base looks a little small

as a general rule the base should not exceed the maximum width of the bowl and ideally should be the same or just 10% smaller looks nice

 

[gus3049]

these are both nice Gordon
the cherry bowl is a lovely shape and the stem is nice although a bead or v cut from stem to base would have framed it better
the walnut one's stem is proportionately too thick and the base looks a little small

as a general rule the base should not exceed the maximum width of the bowl and ideally should be the same or just 10% smaller looks nice

Thanks George,

You are quite right of course! The daft thing was that I drew the cherry one up first with a 'v' cut at the bottom. I have no idea when the designed changed!! Too much of a hurry I expect.

As far as the other is concerned I rather like chunky but my wife also said that the stem is too thick so I bow to better judgement. I have some more walnut offcuts that will supply two or three more so I will have another go or three.

 

[Finial]

I like them both.

The walnut one is quite chunky but that is ok, and I think the thicker stem suits it. The bit directly under the bowl is too heavy though.

The detailing on the cherry one could be crisper. Try one with the stem taper reversed, thicker at the bottom, I think that gives a more natural look to goblets somehow.

Terry

http://www.turnedwoodenbowls.com

 

[gus3049]

I like them both.

The walnut one is quite chunky but that is ok, and I think the thicker stem suits it. The bit directly under the bowl is too heavy though.

The detailing on the cherry one could be crisper. Try one with the stem taper reversed, thicker at the bottom, I think that gives a more natural look to goblets somehow.

Terry

http://www.turnedwoodenbowls.com

Thanks for your comments. I still have to learn how to maintain the crispness after sanding. I'm sure the cuts were clean to start with.

Must try harder!

 

[Bodrighy]

The cherry is a pretty little one but I go along with the other being a bit too chunky. Ideal for the drinks towards the end of the evening perhaps? :lol:

Traditional the proportions re that the bowl is approx 1/3rd of the whole height and the base is about 2/3rds the diameter of the top as a minimum. As with all these things these are just a guideline. Try cutting the beads with the tip of your skew then lightly sanding with the edge of some stiff abrasive starting at 400. Ideally they tend to look better with the junction between the stem and the top and bottom being the same, either the same bead or no bead. Do a Google for wine glasses for ideas about different shapes, there are actually not that many but it will give you some ideas for future ones. These can be addictive mind. If you want these to be usable, get some melamine spray and spray the insides with as many coats as you like, drying between them. They don't have to be super thin as long as the lip is reasonably thin or it feels odd when you drink from them.

Really good start, look forward to the next ones.

 

[gus3049]

Thanks Pete,

I took a load of stuff along to a rather up-market art gallery this afternoon, fully expecting her to go for the goblets but she didn't , instead she took all the candlesticks (I already took pics just on case I might need them for something!!!) and all the spalted, natural edge / beetle designed bowls and the two little closed forms in Robinia. Very arty farty place, but all quality stuff.

I think I may have to think more 'art gallery' and do a few sculptures, praps I could nick a few ideas from recent posts.

Its hard sometimes to get away from trying desperately to get the techniques right. I realise it has to happen but I really want to start putting the designer / artist hat on asap.

 

[Bodrighy]

Congratulations. If you find the right place the arty stuff can sell. Some like Mark specialise in it. I tend to do more sales of equipment for crafters but do sell other stuff as well. Goblets ideally sell as pairs.I sell chalices singly but they tend to be bigger, more medieval looking. It's always worth asking though, worst that can happen is they say no. Make sure you get a decent price or if it's SoR with commission, have a list of what they have and get them to sign it just in case.

Pete

 

[Jonzjob]

Sounds a good line for the gallery Gordon. Keep up the good work mate!

The goblets. I agree that they look better when the stem is finer at the top. It adds to the ballance. Either that or a gentle waist. I have never liked the idea of a very small base on anything, bowl or goblet. For me it makes it look top heavy and if you were to try to use it it would fall over. But then I have normally turned stuff to be used.

I do like the shape of both of the cups, but the shoulder on the walnut is a bit heavy, nice shape but heavy.

They both look quality mate.

I use Hermes abrasives and their blue J'Flex stuff is as good as I have found. Although I bought a box of their strips of brown abrasive. There are 4 different grades, 1' wide by a meter or so long in 4 different grades and it's rubbish! It doesn't seem to be in the catolog now and I only got it a couple of months back? The J'flex blue is a different beasty though and one I have used for years. The last lot I got was this one and I would recomend it for anyone who isn't sanding 8 hours, 7 daze http://www.axminster.co.uk/hermes-the-u ... rod793709/ (i.e. hobbiest, just to protect me ass!)

Don't forget to yell when you get, if you get, down this way and we can screw up some wood together!!

 

[rob12770]

im just a brand new novice, dont have a lathe.. but i would be delighted to make them, they look great

 

[gus3049]

im just a brand new novice, dont have a lathe.. but i would be delighted to make them, they look great

Many thanks and welcome to the forum.

I'm a relative newcomer too and its a great place to get the info you need.

Go get the lathe!! But get the best you can afford and get advice from the forum. Mine would be DON'T BUY CLARKE!! (guess what I've got?) Get the equivalent model from Axminster who have a decent customer attitude.

 

[rob12770]

im just a brand new novice, dont have a lathe.. but i would be delighted to make them, they look great

Many thanks and welcome to the forum.

I'm a relative newcomer too and its a great place to get the info you need.

Go get the lathe!! But get the best you can afford and get advice from the forum. Mine would be DON'T BUY CLARKE!! (guess what I've got?) Get the equivalent model from Axminster who have a decent customer attitude.

many thanks for the warm welcome , funnily enough i was looking at a clarke at machine mart.. i guess not, lol.
i wont buy anything expensive as its my first, plus the missus would kill me as i just spent over £500 on a shed.. i was going to build it from scratch, but when i tallied up all the material costs, it was easier and just a tad more expensive to just to buy a partially pre assembled tounge and groove shed/workshop. still waiting on delivery.. just been a few days. ( i know buying the shed/workshop would be frowned uppon.. but to be honest im not exactly fighting fit at the moment and it will cut down in hassle)..hopefully.

 

[Jonzjob]

Welcome aboard Rob! What is wrong with buying a shed? It will take a lot less time to get it errected and therefore that much quicker for you to get into it.

I have a Record CL1 lathe. Had it now for 10 or more years and reciently upgraded the motor to a variable speed 3ø motor. It is better now, but it's always been a good bit of kit

This is the Mk2, 4 speed and a good price too http://www.machines4wood.com/mall/produ ... L136/81498

You will also see lathes for sale on here from time to time.

 

[rob12770]

Welcome aboard Rob! What is wrong with buying a shed? It will take a lot less time to get it errected and therefore that much quicker for you to get into it.

I have a Record CL1 lathe. Had it now for 10 or more years and reciently upgraded the motor to a variable speed 3ø motor. It is better now, but it's always been a good bit of kit


You will also see lathes for sale on here from time to time.

ahh, i was just kind of planning initially on designing and building myself from scratch, but upon reflection, time, health and weather is not on myside, ( my garden fence blew down the other night, im in glasgow and the wind is mental at the moment.
the Record CL1 looks nice, but i only plan on spending a very small amount on a lathe at first, i will probably just buy a draper or something for around £150 with chisels included ... i know, i know.. but its a start heeh.

as well as the shed, i have just bought a router and cordless combi drill and detail sander, etc etc.. so i have to watch in case the missus suggests i live in the shed full time..

on the subject of lates, is a copying attachment easy to come by ? i am having a hard time sourcing them online, i dont know if i will need one, or if the are any good, but im guessing it will make it easier to replicate table legs etc once i have made one ?

 

[Finial]

Don't spend money on a copying attachment, if you have spare cash get a better lathe instead! When you learn to turn, copying is part of the fun, you learn from it and you will be able to make copies as quick as the copier can!

Terry

http://www.turnedwoodenbowls.com

 

[Jonzjob]

My sentiments entirely Terry, because if you start of just copying then you will never improve. Plus the fact, if you want everything identical then there is always pllastic? No, learn to do it properly and then if you have to produce hundreds then think of copying.

I had a commision several years back to produce 5 dozen napkin rings for an hotel in Notingham. It was hard work, but it really got me in the dicipline that if I wanted the same thing over and over then it is such good practice!

Another was 5 dozen different size birds of prey eggs and after that I couldn't look a boiled egge in the face for several daze! A dozen of each from a Kestrels to a Golden Eagles and now I now just why the eagle has such a wicked look after laying one of those!

There was loads of gin to go with the tonic too!

As a matter of interest, I really lashed out on the first 'lathe' I had. 40 quid on a Wolf drill driven jobbie. That lasted all of a week before I upgraded and the very first thing I ever made on it was an auctioneers gavel and block. Elm and I still have it and it is rather good..

 

[rob12770]

Don't spend money on a copying attachment, if you have spare cash get a better lathe instead! When you learn to turn, copying is part of the fun, you learn from it and you will be able to make copies as quick as the copier can!

Terry

http://www.turnedwoodenbowls.com

ahh, copying is part of the fun... thats what i was wondering.. yes i get you.. thanks :wink:

ps, the stuff on the turnedwoodenbowls.com site looks great, the wee mice and the bowels & vases etc.. very cool, can't wait to have a bash (hammer)

 

[Finial]

Well, part of the fun up to a point......

But the discipline and practice are good. You really learn the basic cuts and each one you make is a little faster and a little better than the one before. I've made some items by the thousand, each one by hand, using wood that a copier couldn't cope with.

Thanks for your kind comments about my web site!

Terry

http://www.turnedwoodenbowls.com