Help with turning challenge

[Ed_McDonnell]

My local club's latest turning challenge is all about turning non-traditional materials. We all drew from a hat full of possible materials. Some guys got things like bowling balls and spaghetti. I drew largemouth bass. This is really tough.

I tried casting it in resin, but the resin doesn't penetrate very far and it's a really messy process with the fish flopping all around. Not to mention the mess that results once you turn through the part hardened by the resin and hit the "soft" center. I thought it was hard cleaning wood sap off the ceiling and walls. That's nothing compared to Bass.

I next tried freezing the bass. That worked ok, but it's pretty warm down here right now and you only get a couple minutes of turning before you have to put the whole thing in the freezer to harden up again. The project is due today and I don't think there will be time to finish it if I go the freezing route.

Anyone have any better suggestions on how to turn this thing?

Would also appreciate any thoughs on the best finish to apply.

Thanks

Ed

 

[Mike Cunningham]

Sounds like Smoked Salmon.....really good but hard to keep lit.

For a finish I'd use a home-brew tartar.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Bass(wood) with a large mouth. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/GoodOnesGone/a06f7f94.jpg

Finished with walnut oil.

 

[Griesbach]

Ed, You're an April 1st kind of guy aren't you? Thanks for the grin.

 

[hockenbery]

The way you turn large mouth bass is to let her run for a bit( the large ones are female). Tighten the drag a bit. when she start walking on the water drop the rod a bit. start reeling and she will turn.

Lucky you didn't draw jelly fish.

thanks for sharing

 

[Mark Warden]

Use a Spit.