Question on form

[Jim McTavish]

Hi Everyone,

I'm working on a hollow form, it is a poplar burl that I've just roughed the outside shape (see the attachment for a photo).

The end with the tenon (tailstock end) will be the foot. I guess the question that I have is on the opening (headstock end). Should this be made smaller so that it matches the diameter of the foot? Or should I leave it larger? The max OD of the vessel is 8", the foot is about 4" (not quite the 1/3 max diameter rule), and the top end is just under 5.5". I have not begun hollowing yet, so I still have time to adjust the shape.

I'm open to any and all ideas, so fire away!

 

[Michael Kuehl]

Good start! The shape is basically good, the way the curves flow, and it is a great looking piece of wood. However, I would decrease the size of the foot, and even decrease the size of the opening.

 

[Richard Baker]

Jim,
Potentially beautiful just as is, with very nice curves. But tend to agree w/ Hackle to reduce size of both the foot and the top, maybe keeping about the same size ratio between them though.

 

[John Jordan]

You need to put a second step after the tenon so that the outside curve "disappears" into that step. That way when you reverse turn it, there will be enough wood to continue the outside curve down to a more proportional (smaller) base/foot/bottom.

John

 

[Ed Reiss]

Jim...nice piece of wood your working on, and the shape is definetly headed in the right direction.

Back in the day when I was just starting out, one of my mentors, Jim Rozelle told me that you want to have the base shaped so that it seems to "float". To do this you certainly want to make the base as narrow as posible while still keeping proportion with the rest of the model

 

[Charlie Knighton]

I'm open to any and all ideas

i believe that form is a progression, that is as you turn more items experiment with different shapes, the above suggestions will help make your turnings more pleasing, but if you get the chance to see an instant gallery you will see that there is no only one form. hope to see your progession down the road. 😀