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Huon Pine Puahala Calabash
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Michael Anderson

Huon Pine Puahala Calabash

A while back, @Neil S gifted me a chunk of Huon Pine. I'd wanted to work with it ever since seeing pieces by Australian carvers Hape Kiddle and Carol Russell. Huon Pine (not a true Pine) is an extremely slow-growing tree native to Tasmania. It grows ~0.5-2.0 mm/year in girth, and can live for thousands of years. This little calabash (3.5"h x 2.75"d) has around 120 growth rings. The wood is very soft, but turns and sands well, has a pleasant floral scent, and takes an oil finish nicely. It was a special treat to work--thanks Neil!
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Reactions: Phil Hamel, Tom Gall, Isaac Litster and 7 others
Michael Anderson
I've turned quite a few calabashes, of this form and others, but this was one of the more stressful I've made. I had been saving the blank for over a year--turned quite thin, and no real margin for error. Fortunately, it worked out in the end.

Here are a couple of alternate views, one showing a really interesting flame-like pattern made by some undulating growth rings.

XaozeoL.jpeg

2AlnZo7.jpeg


If you're not familiar with the works of Hape Kiddle and Carol Russell, follow the previous links. Eye candy and whimsy.
 
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Isaac Litster
This makes me grateful for our old-growth forests; Yellow cedar looks nearly identical in color and smells good but has 100-200 growth rings per inch. The trees can be 10+ feet in diameter, but most people cut it for firewood. Our house is framed with it, it's cheaper than fir here. It turns well with a gouge, but what did you do the end grain hollowing with? I have worked with it a lot and eventually would like a hook tool.
 
Tom Gall
I know next to nothing about the Calabash and all the variations on said "form(s)". But to me ... it's perfect!
 
Neil S
Michael Anderson said:
I had been saving the blank for over a year--turned quite thin, and no real margin for error. Fortunately, it worked out in the end.

XaozeoL.jpeg
Click to expand...

It certainly did work out well in the end, Michael, very well!

I'm pleased to have given you the opportunity to turn at least one piece of Huon Pine... :)
 

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