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White Oak Button 2
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Sassafras Crotch Bowl #2
White Oak Button 3
White Oak Button 2
White Oak Button 1
NE Elm Bowl
NE Elm Bowl
Peter Van Rijssen

White Oak Button 2

Small burl from a felled white oak. Finished with Mylands Friction Polish. 3" x 5"
Click to expand...
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Reactions: Dimitris Psilopatis, James Seyfried, Gene Pitstick and 21 others
Tom Gall
Peter, I agree with Alan's comment above. Nice little bowl and love that grain!
However, I don't think any friction polish is a suitable finish for a bowl - even a small one like this, unless you spend a lot more time finishing the finish. All those streaks are a distraction from your fine work. Just my 2¢. ;)
 
Peter Van Rijssen
Tom Gall said:
Peter, I agree with Alan's comment above. Nice little bowl and love that grain!
However, I don't think any friction polish is a suitable finish for a bowl - even a small one like this, unless you spend a lot more time finishing the finish. All those streaks are a distraction from your fine work. Just my 2¢. ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice Tom. Your 2c is well received!
 
C
That is one incredible bit of grain pattern. Wow! And a very nice bowl as well. Is it a root burl? I've seen a few other pics of grain somewhat like that that I think were from the root.
 
Peter Van Rijssen
Craig Daymon said:
That is one incredible bit of grain pattern. Wow! And a very nice bowl as well. Is it a root burl? I've seen a few other pics of grain somewhat like that that I think were from the root.
Click to expand...
Thank you. It's not a root burl, I'm not sure it's even a true burl. It was a grapefruit size protrusion on an old dying oak we had to take down in the yard. Our arborist must have known it was something as he singled out this and a couple more like it from the rest of the rounds.
 
Peter Van Rijssen
Peter Van Rijssen said:
Thanks for the advice Tom. Your 2c is well received!
Click to expand...
Tom Gall said:
Peter, I agree with Alan's comment above. Nice little bowl and love that grain!
However, I don't think any friction polish is a suitable finish for a bowl - even a small one like this, unless you spend a lot more time finishing the finish. All those streaks are a distraction from your fine work. Just my 2¢. ;)
Click to expand...
Tom, I'm still pretty new to turning. Do you think a few rounds on a buffing wheel would remove those lines? Also, when is friction polish a good finish? Smaller items?
 
Tom Gall
Peter Van Rijssen said:
Tom, I'm still pretty new to turning. Do you think a few rounds on a buffing wheel would remove those lines? Also, when is friction polish a good finish? Smaller items?
Click to expand...
Re: buffing wheel - probably not ... and if it did remove the streaks it would most likely remove most of the finish as well. You might try a very light touch with very fine abrasive paper ( #600 or higher) to level the streaks. I would follow up with higher grit foam pads (i.e. 3M and/or Abralon). Friction polish is shellac based and the friction/drying is what is causing the streaks. Shellac is a great sealer but not so great as a final durable finish, IMO. Try rubbing the polish on by hand and adding a different and more durable finish on top.

My standard finish for decades was a sealer coat of Zinsser (408 ?) Clear Shellac spray - sprayed onto a pad of folded pantyhose/stocking (great applicator) and wipe on (or under very slow speed on the lathe) - keep it wet. When dry de-nib with #0000 steel wool or fiber pad. Then one or two coats of Waterlox (or any other) and then Beall buff when dry.

Yes, friction polish on smaller items. Hope this helps.
A lot of turners (and some big names) in the Asheville area, and a great woodturning club relatively close by. Are you a member? - if not, I recommend that you join.
 
Peter Van Rijssen
Tom Gall said:
Re: buffing wheel - probably not ... and if it did remove the streaks it would most likely remove most of the finish as well. You might try a very light touch with very fine abrasive paper ( #600 or higher) to level the streaks. I would follow up with higher grit foam pads (i.e. 3M and/or Abralon). Friction polish is shellac based and the friction/drying is what is causing the streaks. Shellac is a great sealer but not so great as a final durable finish, IMO. Try rubbing the polish on by hand and adding a different and more durable finish on top.

My standard finish for decades was a sealer coat of Zinsser (408 ?) Clear Shellac spray - sprayed onto a pad of folded pantyhose/stocking (great applicator) and wipe on (or under very slow speed on the lathe) - keep it wet. When dry de-nib with #0000 steel wool or fiber pad. Then one or two coats of Waterlox (or any other) and then Beall buff when dry.

Yes, friction polish on smaller items. Hope this helps.
A lot of turners (and some big names) in the Asheville area, and a great woodturning club relatively close by. Are you a member? - if not, I recommend that you join.
Click to expand...
I have a large container of Waterlox, I'll try that next. Thanks again Tom.
I am part of the local club, though with my work schedule I've not been able to participate much. I'm looking into taking my first class soon, Youtube can only help so much.
 
C
Hey Peter, I'm wondering if maybe something like a lightning strike may have stimulated this growth pattern? I would definitely love to see more of wood looking like this become available.

Again, a great bowl.
 
Peter Van Rijssen
Craig Daymon said:
Hey Peter, I'm wondering if maybe something like a lightning strike may have stimulated this growth pattern? I would definitely love to see more of wood looking like this become available.

Again, a great bowl.
Click to expand...
I suspect it wasn't lightning. There are a couple more of these I have from the same tree that was taken down in our yard. I don't know for sure, but my guess is it was from some sort of damage to a limb that the tree repaired over time. I have another small bowl that has some similar grain, and I know that while processing some of this oak for the woodstove that there were some other areas that showed similar patterns. I'll see if I can find a photo of what it looked like before turning, with the bark still on. Thanks for the comment!
 

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