Turning a sponge!!!

[Bodrighy]

This is Alder and when I got it I could literally cut it with my fingernail. I was determined to have a go as I really didn't want to waste all those markings from the spating. I left it really thick as I guessed it would fall apart if I went much thinner so I have tried to incorporate the thickness into the design. It's 8" dia and 2 1/2" tall. Once I put a couple of coats of sealer on it it hardened up and allowed me to sand it down. The spalting goes right through the wood and as soon as it cooled off the wood contracted at different rates within minutes leaving indents and furrows all over it.
OTT or what :?:

Pete

 

[CHJ]

Well you captured it Pete, others may think it a waste of time but at least you achieved your aim and preserved the features, obtained a talking point and a better understanding of what sort of results are likely to ensue when incorporating similar in other projects, I have had several pieces (somewhat smaller) that have only been held together with CA that have found most unexpected homes due to the appeal of the unusual.

 

[TEP]

Hi Pete.

Nice colouring in the plate. I admire your perseverance, I think I may have given up on a piece like that. It is often just too time consuming for what you get out of the exercise. IMO :roll: I like it, it would make a nice centerpiece on a sideboard or small table.

Just a thought on the hollowing when sanding to finish. In my experience that is usually because you have alternate bands of soft and hard wood in the blank, and the softer parts get under cut and hollowed by the paper.

If you turn another piece of wood of similar condition, before you finish turning soak the whole piece with a few coats of sanding sealer, let it dry off and harden. Sharpen your tools and take some some very fine cuts over the whole piece, if you can get a good finish "off the tool" it will save on sanding and no hollowing.

Also if you can sand using shaped sanding blocks it sometimes helps to stop the paper cutting down into the soft wood. When you sand using your fingers the paper tends to follow every contour of the wood, and if it is soft in places you see what can happen. :wink:

 

[duncanh]

Looks good. Lovely colouring. Any chance of a side view?

I've had a few highly spalted pieces in the past but I gave up on them as they were taking too much of my time. If they'd been as attractive as your wood I may have continued.

Duncan

 

[Bodrighy]

Thanks Duncan, I am at work at the oment but I'll post a side view for you tonight if my brain is still functioning

Pete

 

[Paul.J]

Nice looking piece Pete.
I know what you have gone through,i had the same problem with the log of Spalted Beech or Elm i had.
I did throw most of it away that was as you say spongey,but i did manage to get some nice pieces out,though all mine was soaked in meths,and this did seem to harden the wood as turning was better,don't know why :? though the final finish was well sanded to get rid of some of the tearing out that was still there,due to the rot.
Got any more to do :?:
Paul.J.

 

[Bodrighy]

I had a spalted sycamore log which I was going to make a vase from. Lovely looking piece about 18" long and 3" wide. I was using a ring tool to hollow out and had a catch which blew it up. No damage to me but the end of a vase. ay be able to rescue the bottom and make something. Also have a small piece of black walnut but don't know what I'll do with that yet. I have a spalted beech bowl which I'll put up tonight that worked out well. It's quite a challenge working with this wood. Perhaps I'll lash out an get a piece of 'normal' wood from yandles or something just to see what it's like turning decent wood :lol:
The spalted,natural edge, voided stuff really sells though. I have paid for my chain saw now and if I keep getting asked to do these sales I'll have paid for the lathe as well. Not bad for doing something I enjoy. I was asked the other day if I could do 24 rails for a staircase. said no....that takes real skill in my opinion, repeating the same thing over and over. I'd have to measure things!!! :shock:

Pete