I've been kind of a lurker for a long time on this forum. I have learned a lot. But I'm not an AAW member...yet.
I am posting this photo not as an example of my great artistic talent or admirable skill in turning, but rather as evidence that serendipity sometimes bestows a blessing upon the ignorant. This started off as an off-cut from some very large logs that had been laying around, untreated, for a long time. The fellow I got it from (bless his generous heart) cut the good stuff up into turning squares and offered the left-overs to me...which considering my skill and knowledge, at the time, was just about right.
One end of the piece had numerous micro cracks and was getting kind of "weathered" or "punky."
I rough turned the vase, fighting cracks all the way--went through a whole two ounce bottle of CA. I soaked it for 72 hours in alcohol and let it dry about six weeks.
At first, the rim was just kind of a wide bead. But trying to get some of the cracks out, it became almost a collar. I never did get the cracks out but a little judicious texturing camouflaged them very nicely.
I ebonized the interior with leather dye and it was so strong, that in spots, it soaked through the three-sixteenth inch walls. An attempt at a pure tung oil finish (cut 3:1) only made it worse. Hence the antiquing in the texturing.
The colour is Artisan red although in my mind it is almost more orange than red...call it "burnt orange."
Finally, I put a MinWax Wipe-On Poly on the outside and, by golly that's the easiest and nicest finish I 've done yet. Buffed with White Diamond and Carnuba.
Measuring 5.5x4.5...I kind of like it.
Comments welcome...
I am posting this photo not as an example of my great artistic talent or admirable skill in turning, but rather as evidence that serendipity sometimes bestows a blessing upon the ignorant. This started off as an off-cut from some very large logs that had been laying around, untreated, for a long time. The fellow I got it from (bless his generous heart) cut the good stuff up into turning squares and offered the left-overs to me...which considering my skill and knowledge, at the time, was just about right.
One end of the piece had numerous micro cracks and was getting kind of "weathered" or "punky."
I rough turned the vase, fighting cracks all the way--went through a whole two ounce bottle of CA. I soaked it for 72 hours in alcohol and let it dry about six weeks.
At first, the rim was just kind of a wide bead. But trying to get some of the cracks out, it became almost a collar. I never did get the cracks out but a little judicious texturing camouflaged them very nicely.
I ebonized the interior with leather dye and it was so strong, that in spots, it soaked through the three-sixteenth inch walls. An attempt at a pure tung oil finish (cut 3:1) only made it worse. Hence the antiquing in the texturing.
The colour is Artisan red although in my mind it is almost more orange than red...call it "burnt orange."
Finally, I put a MinWax Wipe-On Poly on the outside and, by golly that's the easiest and nicest finish I 've done yet. Buffed with White Diamond and Carnuba.
Measuring 5.5x4.5...I kind of like it.
Comments welcome...