Look, no holes!!

[Bodrighy]

Hardly anyone turned up for the sale at College last week but managed to sell 2 vases for 27.50 and a night light (rustic of course) for 7.50. as also asked if I would be willing to sell some of the 'rustic' stuff through their gallery so the day wasn't wasted.

Few more pieces from builders offcuts and one from a log from the woods.

From a piece of walnut that was 7" wide at one end and tapered to 4" at the other. ,
6" dia 2 1/2" tall

4" dia, 2 1/2" tall. Managed to keep same thickness on the wall using a scraper with changeable tip to do the hollowing out part

3"" dia 2 1/2" tall

From a piece of mahogany planking
Mahogany, 3" dia 3" tall

From a log I found in the woods
Unknown wood, could be hazel? 6" dia 2 1/2"" tall

Comments as always welcome.

Pete

 

[CHJ]

Plenty of variety there Pete, a little chunkier than I personally prefer but they are no doubt in keeping with the wood samples close up, you seem to have an eye for making the most out of your timber acquisitions.
Pity the sales effort went so slow but at least you got some exposure.

Presume the lathe is behaving itself now.

 

[Bodrighy]

Plenty of variety there Pete, a little chunkier than I personally prefer but they are no doubt in keeping with the wood samples close up, you seem to have an eye for making the most out of your timber acquisitions.
Pity the sales effort went so slow but at least you got some exposure.

Presume the lathe is behaving itself now.

Thanks Chas, they aren't all to my taste either, I am trying out different designs, effects etc. I can't always tell until they are completed what works and what doesn't. Sometimes the grain in the wood I am given is the wrong way to go too thin and I have found that it splits or snaps easily if it is running the wrong way. Problem with off cuts, they are often the end of a plank.

My camera is playing up as well and doesn't always give an accurate picture, the natural edge bowl is actually qite thin, about 2mm overall.

The sale was a good way of finding out what other people think of my work. Quite interesting how they react. nearly everybody tips a piece over to look at the bottom and strokes it to feel it. Don't think I'll turn proffessinal for another decade or two though :lol:

The lathe is fine now, amazing what a bit of TLC will do for machinery isn't it? :lol:

Pete

 

[CHJ]

Quite interesting how they react. nearly everybody tips a piece over to look at the bottom and strokes it to feel it. Pete

Pete, I noted this behavior with finished items in engineering long before I took interest in turning wood, from day one I have tried to make the finish constant over the whole piece.

I think anyone who has attempted a craft of any sort even when looking at a totally unrelated craft item asceses the creators standards by what condition the 'hidden' areas are left in.

 

[Paul.J]

Some nice pieces there Pete.
Bodrighy wrote
they aren't all to my taste either
Which ones are to your taste Pete.
Pity about the sale though you did have a go and did manage to sell some items.
Strange ain'it how the first thing people look at is the bottom of each turned item :?
Paul.J.

 

[Bodrighy]

Some nice pieces there Pete.
Bodrighy wrote
they aren't all to my taste either
Which ones are to your taste Pete.
Paul.J.

Thanks Paul,
I like the 2nd and last one best. I veer towards the natural edge, rough versus smooth style and also like things that are simple in design. Not a fan of straight lines or too much detail, like the wood to speak for itself.
Pete

 

[TEP]

Hi Pete.

I agree with the others, some are to my taste and some are not, nice though I do like some of your 'rustic' pieces. Personally I wouldn't like to be restricted as much by only turning wood I found. Every one to their own though, it would be a boring world if we were all the same. Pity your sale didn't go a bit better, yet if you want to sell you must get out there so people can see you.

You mentioned your items being lifted up and turned over, did you have them all priced so the ticket could be seen? I priced mine underneath once, never again. Now it would always be separate tickets sitting in, or beside the item. In my experience people like to lift and fondle the wood, but it is generally just us (woodturners) who always look underneath :lol:

I agree with Chas on finishing, if at all possible all the item should be finished to the same quality. It raises the finished piece up another notch in the price stakes.

 

[Bodrighy]

Hi Tam, yes I had stickers on the bottom for pricing.

My main reason for the restriction is that it is a challenge. If I get to a point where I need to turn something special for someone I am sure I wuld end up buying it though. Word seems to have got around somehow and every visitor who turns up has wood in their boot. Yesterday it was three logs about 2 foot across and 2 foot long with a gorgeous red heart, thought it was yew but the bark looks all wrong. I also have the promise of two oak trees and a beech tree, all dead for at least two years so. there should be some nice spalting, the beech is covered in burrs as well. Unless I want exotic I probably have enough wood for a while. I am just a skinflint and refuse to throw wood away. I recently made two little mahogany goblets about 1" high 'cos I didn't want to waste the wood.

Pete

 

[TEP]

Ain't now't wrong with being a skinflint Pete, you'll have to go some to beat me. It may be my ancestry, or I could just be a 'tight git!' :lol:

When you said they were looking underneath I figured you had priced on the bottom. It don't half make a mess of your stall though once customers have been at it for a while. I always price using little turned stands with the price tags stuck in them, or if it was light pulls chuck them in a basket and stick a tag on the front.

Sounds like you have fallen into some nice timber, I process a lot of my own and if I get offered any I usually just take the bigger pieces. You can always cut them down if needed. I don't generally take anything under about 12/14 inches dia. these days.

 

[Bodrighy]

I have got some yew and elder about 1 1/2" dia which I have een using for practice as mushrooms and bobbins. I have found that working that small is good practice in spindle work and doing detail work. There's also something really satisfying about turning a really small piece out even though it isn't of any practical value. The more variety in experience I can get the better. Working with all sorts of cockeyed wood is also teaching me the different strengths and weaknesses in woods and techniques as well.

Pete

 

[Bodrighy]

Had another sale at my grandson's school fete. made about £65 so am now £10 short of paying for my chain saw.

A couple more pieces I have made to replenish stocks.

Pear, gorgeous wood to turn. Must try and get hold of some more if I can

Approx. 6" dia, 1 1/2" deep wood originally had a sawn side whilst the other side had a wavy bark which came off when turned but left this shape.

Box from bits left over, Iroko bottom, sapele top and a hazel knob. 1 1/2" dia 1 1/2" deep
Tried your method Chas, much easier, thanks for the tip


This was going to be a natural edge bowl but it was so shallow I turned it into a sort of night light. Since replaced the glass as it got chipped. Hazel 5" dia, 2" deep


Spalted beech vase 4 1 1/2" tall 2" dia at widest.


All finished with sealer and wax polish.

Comments and advice form the experts welcome as always

Pete

 

[CHJ]

Tried your method Chas, much easier, thanks for the tip
Pete

Yes can't see the point in making perfect fits only to find that they are sitting on someones shelf with the lid detached because it has moved and won't fit or they can't get it open at all six months latter.

If you can still make the 14th you will see several variations on the theme.

Glad to here you are recovering some of the costs.

 

[Bodrighy]

Tried your method Chas, much easier, thanks for the tip
Pete

Yes can't see the point in making perfect fits only to find that they are sitting on someones shelf with the lid detached because it has moved and won't fit or they can't get it open at all six months latter.

If you can still make the 14th you will see several variations on the theme.

Glad to here you are recovering some of the costs.

I'll be there weather permitting. Might need a map or something by the sound of it tho' :lol:

Recovering the costs is good but the biggest plus is that other people llike it enough to buy. It's nice to know other people like my work when I see all the faults and defects.

Pete
Pete

 

[CHJ]

I'll be there weather permitting. Might need a map or something by the sound of it tho' :lol:
Pete

Pete, maps and directions will be on my site soon.
Will supply full address by PM to all wishing to attend nearer the date.

 

[Paul.J]

Another nice looking display there Pete.
I do like the look of Pear.
I've got some Apple which is supposed to be very similar to Pear.
I will have to give it a go i think
Paul.J.

 

[PowerTool]

Nice stuff,Pete - like the three-timber box,pleasantly quirky

And also nice to see other people appreciate your work (enough to pay for it.. 8) )

Andrew

 

[Bodrighy]

These two pieces nearly didn't happen. This one had a split right through the wood to the centre going with the grain. It didn't look to bad at first but I saved it by sanding it which filled the hole with the dust and then shoved a load of superglue in on top. That fixed the shake bit left it visible following the grain.
Yew, 4" dia at max, 2 1/2 mm thick and 7" tall. Finished with sealer and wax


This one was the outside of a branch and at first I was going to do a natural edge but there wouldn't have been much left so I did it the normal way and ended up with this.
Spalted walnut, 6 1/2" dia2 " tall thickness varies from 2mm to about 6mm due to it's shape underneath. Haven't finished the bottom off yet, need to get rid of the tenon.


Must get hold of some 'ordinary wood and have a go at something normal :lol:
Comments, as always, welcome

Pete

 

[CHJ]

....Must get hold of some 'ordinary wood and have a go at something normal :lol:
Pete

Steady Pete, them's dangerous waters you are contemplating. :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

....Must get hold of some 'ordinary wood and have a go at something normal :lol:
Pete

Steady Pete, them's dangerous waters you are contemplating. :lol:

I know Chas but I am going to have to dive in some time and try. The really scary part is that I wouldn't be able to claim any defects as 'design features' :lol:


Plus it would mean spending money

Pete

 

[TEP]

Go for it Pete, live dangerously and get a piece of "real" wood :lol: . Only joking.

Like the vase!

While your in a contemplative mood about spending money, you could invest in some powdered metal and epoxy. That crack would have looked good filled with brass powder.