Big Leaf Maple

Awesome piece Kevin. Wish I could see original blank on lathe and see how you get the direction of the grain just right. I struggle with which way to cut and position blank on lathe for grain direction for hollow forms. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Very nice Kevin, this piece looks familiar, perfect form.

Beautiful!

Norm Marentette said:

Awesome piece Kevin. Wish I could see original blank on lathe and see how you get the direction of the grain just right. I struggle with which way to cut and position blank on lathe for grain direction for hollow forms. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Thank you, Norm. For me, it depends much on what I have to work with. Many of the pieces I turn are side grain oriented because I prefer forms that are wider than they are tall and I want to showcase the best grain across the top of the vessel. I do have a number of end grain blanks set aside that anre taller than they are wide, and those will have the best grain positioned in the side of the vessel. If a blank is plain grained (no figure), and I want to turn it side grain, I will usually cut it from the log in a way that allows me to balance the grain so that it is even on both sides of the opening (and the foot, if I can). When turning green, this also allows it to warp evenly into a pleasing oval shape. I start every piece between centers so that I can manipulate it just the way I want before putting a tenon on it.

Thanks for the reply Kevin. Really admire your work. Just to be clear, side grain as I would normally turn for a bowl orientation with grain running perpendicular to lathe? No pith included when sawing rough blank correct? I have a ton of walnut that I would like to try. Thanks for the info., just learning how to get the best grain showing on my pieces.

Norm Marentette said:

Thanks for the reply Kevin. Really admire your work. Just to be clear, side grain as I would normally turn for a bowl orientation with grain running perpendicular to lathe? No pith included when sawing rough blank correct? I have a ton of walnut that I would like to try. Thanks for the info., just learning how to get the best grain showing on my pieces.

Click to expand...

Yes, side grain = typical bowl orientation. Some people turn hollow forms with the pith in, I generally do not.

Thanks again Kevin. Going to turn one this morning and see what happens with some walnut. Have a good day.

Just one more of your consistently lovely pieces. I was wondering, at this point can you assess wall thickness by feel, or do you have a preferred measuring system?

John Shannon said:

Just one more of your consistently lovely pieces. I was wondering, at this point can you assess wall thickness by feel, or do you have a preferred measuring system?

Click to expand...

I know when I’m getting close, but use a bent piece of wire as a caliper to be sure (these are detailed in Ellsworth’s book). I recently picked up a set of Mike Jackofsky’s calipers and I really like them for measuring the bottom thickness before reversing to turn offf the tenon and form the foot.

Shhh, expert at work, lol!!