spalted beech form's

[cornucopia]

Hello folks

All of these piece's (except the last carved/textured piece) are from the wood from this previous thread about spalting

It was a bit overcast when i was taking these pics and so i experimented with the iso settings on the camera :roll: on the whole i'm happy with the pictures but a couple of them look a bit too bright and artificial but comparing these pictures to the one's i tried on the so called "Intelligent auto" setting these are much improved.

A couple of the shapes arent to my taste but i wanted to experiment with tall narrow forms and also a way to use certain size logs/blanks to the fullest.

All of these pieces are dry and have been oiled.

 

[Dave H]

As usual some lovely pieces again.

Interesting wood, beautifully finished. As a personal preference I like the 7th/8th pictures the best, but i also very much like the "pinched waist" effect on the more upright forms.

 

[Aled Dafis]

Excellent work as usual George. Spalted Beech is my favourite wood for work like this, so random and so interesting.

Personally though, I think that you've gone just a step too far with the texturing on that last form, it may have worked with a plain wood (sycamore, maple etc.) but I feel that the texturing is somehow competing with the spalting, and thus resulting in a confused result.

Again, just a personal view, but I find that your "rounder" forms look better than the taller ones, there's nothing wrong with a bit of experimentation though (as the pastor said to the vicar).

Cheers
Aled

 

[Bodrighy]

Hi George,

I do like the 'peanut' forms (at least that's how I see them. I have to ask, were the textured ones inspired by Cindy's (and a few others) sea urchin decorations as again that is what they remind me of. Normally I would agree with Aled but in this case they work for me as they look very organic. Much more pleasing than your usual style (even if it is not something I could achieve myself :lol: ) which whilst immaculate in workmanship and design are perhaps not so much to my taste.

Keep 'em coming, gives us mortals something to aspire to

pete

 

[CHJ]

Some what mixed feelings about commenting on these forms, as with others you produce George.
Hollow form work of this type is not my scene on a regular basis and to date has failed to draw me to attempting similar, but it does give me the confidence to tackle some of the less co-operative wood samples knowing that it is possible to tame them with enough practice and attention to method and detail.
Your use of the timber, catching it at just the right stage of development and working it to such limits is an inspiration in itself regardless of form.

Having seen the results of my last 24 months or so handling spalted beech your output has shown me that I need to pay more attention to methods of storage and timing, and hopefully achieve similar spectacular figuring.

 

[Jenx]

-- Thats the one for me, George... i love the shape :lol:

As Chas mentions .. you really do seem to have the knack of getting your beech to come out 'spectacular' .. its fab ! 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[Aled Dafis]

-- Thats the one for me, George... i love the shape :lol:

Same here, a very well executed piece, the shape is so well done that it lets the natural beauty of the spalting speak for itself. Stunning!

I hope to get my new lathe up and running next week, I'm definately going have a go at something along these lines then.

Cheers

Aled

 

[Paul.J]

All very nice George and all have gorgeous figuring.
I think the taller slimmer ones would look better if they also tapered down instead of been straightish.
Did you cut the pith out of the pieces when you cut the logs up :?:

 

[Aled Dafis]

Post removed, not quite sure why it was there in the first place.

Cheers

Aled

 

[cornucopia]

Thank you for all of your kind comments

Yes paul- there's no pith in any of my work.

Chas- i'm picking some fresh beech up soon i'll try to remeber to do a wip as i store it away for the spalting process.

 

[CHJ]

...Chas- i'm picking some fresh beech up soon i'll try to remeber to do a wip as i store it away for the spalting process.

It would help to compare notes so to speak. Most of that I've had to date has been pretty well infected before I started storing it, I will certainly have to pay more attention to its progress if I get any more at the same stage. Lost some to the dreaded grey mould cast that just looks dirty when finished.
I am due to pick up the bulk of a couple of windfalls soon, way overdue in fact, so am hoping that it is at an early stage so that I can try and influence its progress.

 

[Harlequin]

I like the one that Jenx picked as well - nicely done and pleasing to the eye.
Spalting looks nicer when running along the axis as well.

Wondering - have you considered using stains on some of these forms, how does this wood take to stains?

what do you use for the finish Mr C ?

 

[Oakbear]

Top banana as ever George!

Glad the wood was better than you hoped!

I'm also not a big fan of the tall shapes, although it's just taste, and they're beautifully executed.
A lot of David Ellsworth's recent stuff seems to be going down this route too

 

[cornucopia]

Thank you Ryan

Thank you harlequin: i use organoil hard burnishing oil as the final finish oil and lemon oil to protect them when there still wet.
I've never tried staining spalted wood- i imagine it wont take it brillantly due to the diffrence in porosity between the diffrent spalted area's.