Should I finish it, or cut my losses? Poll

[Odie]

This is Australian Outback Yellowbox burl, very expensive.....about $100

I saw a little indication of this huge bark inclusion before I roughed it.....but, it just kept getting bigger and bigger as I roughed it out. I could have returned it for my money back.....but, it's too late now!

It can be finished, but the big bark inclusion will always be there.

Is it worth the effort?

Requesting your opinion.

-----odie-----

 

[robo hippy]

Well, the inside looks nice. Not sure how thin it is from the depths of the bark inclusion and the inside of the bowl. If you have ever had thoughts about doing the poured resins, this would be an opportunity to try it.

robo hippy

 

[Odie]

Not sure how thin it is from the depths of the bark inclusion and the inside of the bowl.

Hey there, Robo.....

I measured with my calipers, and there's about 1/2" to work with there.

Resin is a good suggestion.....I've never tried it.

It has about 16% MC, so there will be at least a few months for this one to stabilize.

-----odie-----

 

[Lennart Delin]

I never try to save anything. It takes much more time than to start with a fresh blank. A known turner said that life is too short to turn crappy wood. However, I would rather say that life is too short to turn boring wood, so sometimes I think it is worth to put in extra effort, but I would not call it saving. This one required several steps to make it stay together and filling the voids, may be two or three times longer than a plain blank.

Your cost is sunken, your question is whether you think you can make a beautiful piece out of it.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Odie it is not that the inside is pristine wood without any defects, having some, even bigger ones on the outside does not detract from the overall piece, I would remove as much as possible from the outside and keep it like that, just IMO

 

[Doug Freeman]

Finish it. Over time I have come to really appreciate pieces like this, particularly since the rim and id are pretty clean. After having done some it takes a bit of skill to know when to stop, and deal with the interrupted cut. Put away to dry now. Unless structurally weak (move with your hand) dont fill it with resin. Sometimes a jam chuck can give enough stability to finish turn.

 

[Monty Ivy]

Some burls I've seen have some bark inclusions that might add to the overall look but I think this one is mostly wart. Given that the tenon is compromised I think resin might be your best path.

 

[Marc Banka]

If I had a firm grasp of the blank, as you appear to, I would keep on. I don’t see any reason or need to change course.
You don’t make utility pieces, clearly this is an art piece. So, it has voids, So what?

It seems you have the inside more or less how you like. Not sure what your intent for the outside is, but it seems there will be more shaping done. This seems like a great opportunity for you to highlight your turning skill. Your precision turning, sharp corners, clean lines juxtaposed with the gnarly voids should be awesome.

I would finish with oil, to avoid shiny areas where sanding can’t be done.

 

[Odie]

Note: Other than the bark inclusion, it appears to be solid. (I know, I know.....that's not a guarantee! ) It was roughed at aprox 850rpm. There is one crack on the rim that will need to be epoxy filled.....I normally do epoxy fills when the surface is near the final shape.....and, preferably mixed with small shavings from the wood itself.

-----odie-----

 

[Steve Chaplin]

Going to second resin. Recommend going with something that stands out vs trying to match colors. For a large fill like that using mica might work well.

 

[hockenbery]

I’d skip the resin on this one unless you experiment and learn to use the resin well.

It looks like a solid tenon. Do inspect it as much as you can and treat the turning like it will fail.

From the photo it looks good but as you know bark inclusions can run hidden.

It’s just different from your usual style. I’d just go with the natural look. I’d consider what rim treatment would go best with the organic. Also I might opt for a round bottom.

At a 1/2” thickness I would expect a non see through 1/4” finished wall. But with this piece a window would just add to it.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I also vote to epoxy but add that the pearlescent powders are fantastic . Have only used a couple times but works well to add impact as well.

 

[Marc Banka]

No! Don’t fill it! I feel in cases like this, epoxy is a bail out. Suggests you’re not up to the challenge.
You know what’s safe. You know your limits.

I wouldn’t use epoxy on those top cracks either. I would just lock them in place with ca.

 

[Randy Heinemann]

I'm not anywhere near as experienced as you. However, when I first started turning, I wanted every bowl to be a success and was always disappointed when they didn't turn out as I wanted. Then, I got to a point where I realized it doesn't matter. Each piece has its own appeal whether it's to just you or others. The only reason I don't finish a pieces is because I feel it's like to break apart or I have cut through the bottom or side (which, in itself usually means the piece is finished). So, if you feel it's a safety issue, then don't finish it. Otherwise, just do it.

 

[Walter Mooney]

Finish It!

 

[Tom Gall]

Saving this one looks very possible. Finish turn the top & interior, sand, etc. Reverse mount and remove a couple of inches (?) of the cone shape into a curve. The inclusion will still be there (a feature!) but should be much smaller. We all know you are up to it, Odie! Of course, you will be turning away about $50 worth of your burl.

 

[Odie]

No! Don’t fill it! I feel in cases like this, epoxy is a bail out. Suggests you’re not up to the challenge.
You know what’s safe. You know your limits.

I wouldn’t use epoxy on those top cracks either. I would just lock them in place with ca.

The big bark inclusion void is just too big to fill in......well, maybe the resin would do it.

As for the crack on the rim.....I've been filling cracks with epoxy, dye, and shavings all this century, maybe longer!.....and, I'm getting pretty good at at it! Besides, with the kinds of exceptional woods I regularly work with, I had better refine my methods of eliminating cracks, or I'd lose a lot more than I do!

BTW: I do leave some cracks, voids, and other flaws sometimes......just depends on if I think leaving it would be better than filling it.....it's strictly a judgement call. This crack on the rim that is in question however, I feel would be better if I did fill it.

-----odie-----

Saving this one looks very possible. Finish turn the top & interior, sand, etc. Reverse mount and remove a couple of inches (?) of the cone shape into a curve. The inclusion will still be there (a feature!) but should be much smaller. We all know you are up to it, Odie! Of course, you will be turning away about $50 worth of your burl.

Definitely something to consider there, Tom

I did another burl very similar to this problem bowl before......and, that one sold......so, I know some people really do like when these naturally occurring flaws show up in the finished piece. This Yellowbox burl is worse off than that one, though.!

-----odie-----

#1835 Australian Brown Mallee Burl

 

[Vincent Vogel]

I would save it, I agree to turn as much of the outside away to make the hole smaller and try a resin pour when its stabalized then turn it. I would do a black or clear resin. Just my tastes. I think it's a very interesting piece of wood with nice grain. That's better to learn resin pour than burn it.

 

[Dean Center]

Maybe the bowl inside this blank isn't your usual shape and style. Are you willing to deviate from your typical bowl? If so, you could potentially remove some of the bark inclusion area outside, and leave much of the 'sound' wood. I'm visualizing an ogee outside, but that's just my eye and shooting from the hip.

The depth of the hollowed inside will limit you more than anything, but when you return the dried blank, you won't have to take much out from the bottom inside, so maybe you can finesse it.

Fantastic piece of wood. It would be a shame not to get something out of it.

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

I agree with Dean. You could make a smaller bowl by parting off the inclusion section. It is a really big void! If this were my piece I would try to finish it, but most likely I would not keep it. Life is too short to turn crappy wood as they say!! Just my opinion...

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

I would fill that one crack in the rim then redo the inside with a much smaller rim, then do the outside to closely parallel the inside which will then eliminate the inclusion and hopefully leave enough material for a small foot.

 

[hughie]

Finish it, I spend a lot time pieces like this, the voids add a great deal of character to the piece, and you have paid a great deal for it. I have found these pieces sell very well and many folk find them irresistible. Its the combination of a fine finish and high detailed grain structure versus nature and the void. I would hollow it out till the void comes right through, the crack on the rim is no problem leave as it is, apart from void etc the burl is solid the just slow the speed down and take your time. Treat it as art seeing it wont hold water.
I reckon you have a real winner on your hands.

 

[Randy Anderson]

I would absolutely finish it. Many times the pieces that I'm most proud of, pleased with and sell quickly have bold character enhancements like the piece in your pic. Beauty through imperfection, with the right wood skill and vision almost always pays off.

 

[Russ Braun]

It’s an opportunity to get out of your box and go for a ride Odie! Take that for a spin Brother!!

 

[Randy Anderson]

Thinking a bit more on this reminded me of an encounter last year at my friends birthday celebration. I sat at a table with woman and her husband. I've known them both from church for years. They have a number of my friends bowls in their home. She's a counselor for people that have past life issues (drugs, abuse, crime, etc) and began to explain how she regularly uses bowls like this to give people a visual example of how they can have past damage in their lives, we all do, but still be functional and beautiful in their own unique way. The "damage" can't be erased but can become a part of who they are without ruining their future or making them useless. The bowl can hold fruit or decorations just as well as one that appears to be flawless. Which it isn't. It can sit on the mantle and even stand out from the others. It has a story to tell. It will last as long as the others. The analogy goes on and on. She was very passionate about how she uses them with people in a very positive way as part of her counseling

I had never thought about this as a way to use any my pieces but I do think of it now when working with what others would call flawed wood. May sound a bit gushy and dramatic but it's very real to me.

 

[Breck Whitworth]

Odie, me personally I would use some resin to make a resin and burl bowl. But regardless finish it because I have had customers buy something that I thought was a train wreck just because it was a wreck. As a matter of fact the only reason they bought it was because of the voids.

 

[JeffSmith]

Finish it - I'm in the camp that says no resin. Finish inside and let the inclusion do what it will. It'll be beautiful.

 

[John Tisdale]

I see two choices (neither include a big epoxy fix):
1. Change the design to a shallow bowl - that will remove most, maybe all, of the negative space. What little is left could be filled with G-Flex black.
2. Continue with the current design and leave that big irregular opening - use G-Flex black and AeroMarine-300 tinted black (shot in #22 syringe) for cracks and small openings.

The objective is to display a drop-dead gorgeous chunk of wood few know or have ever seen.

A comment on "resin" - not sure what that means. I know what epoxy resin means although that is a wide range, not all of which are equal. If WEST G-Flex with black pigment is mentioned, we are then communicating.

 

[Odie]

Finish it - I'm in the camp that says no resin. Finish inside and let the inclusion do what it will. It'll be beautiful.

^^^^^ This is where I'm leaning at the moment.....but, for the present time, the bowl is on the shelf and won't be ready to finish turn for a few months, or more. I've got all the time in the world to think about it!

Plenty of other bowls to think about until at some point, I'll get good and tired of seeing it!

-----odie-----


.

 

[Dale Lynch]

I'd clean up the outside taking as little off as possible. Open up the inside till you get through the bark, and put a laquer finish on it. You've already spent the hundred might as well see it through.

 

[Peter D'Attomo]

Save it, the outside looks like this , otherwise, I'll take it off your hands

 

[hughie]

Perhaps this is the best answer, Redgum that been caught in the fire

 

[Daniel Henry]

Odie, might you extend to me the privilege of offering a yet unconsidered option? You could shipped it to me and I will pay the shipping charge. I assure you it will have a good home AND will NOT be used for firewood!!

 

[Odie]

Odie, might you extend to me the privilege of offering a yet unconsidered option? You could shipped it to me and I will pay the shipping charge. I assure you it will have a good home AND will NOT be used for firewood!!

Hiya Daniel.....

There have been severely handicapped bowls in the past that I could have saved myself a lot of trouble trying to save them.......but, alas.....I will probably try to finish it.....after it's fully seasoned. I have so many much more promising bowls in progress, that it might stay on the shelf, until I'm good and tired of looking at it! Occasionally, these flawed bowls do turn out to be a complete surprise, and have a successful conclusion.......I wouldn't bet on the odds of that happening, though!

-----odie-----

 

[Dean Center]

Hiya Daniel.....

There have been severely handicapped bowls in the past that I could have saved myself a lot of trouble trying to save them.......but, alas.....I will probably try to finish it.....after it's fully seasoned. I have so many much more promising bowls in progress, that it might stay on the shelf, until I'm good and tired of looking at it! Occasionally, these flawed bowls do turn out to be a complete surprise, and have a successful conclusion.......I wouldn't bet on the odds of that happening, though!

-----odie-----

I've had the same experience, Odie. Some failed project gets tossed on the pile and sits there, usually for years, then one day, I'm between projects and something about a piece of junk catches my eye. A couple times, my by then improved skill set and additional experience solving problems has ended up producing something interesting and worthwhile. And sometimes it has become unquestionably firewood.

 

[Jeff Hamby]

I would finish it!

 

[Richard Morgan]

It looks like you have at least a few months and possible a few years to think about it. Like @Dean Center says, put it on the shelf and look at it occasionally and eventually you'll probably finish it, maybe with a completely different vision.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

no opinion on what to do now

my ? is why you did not turn the defect out as in inverted the bowl in 1st place, some rough places might have been inside the bowl but I find that attractive.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Just send it to me.


I can see doing a shallow bowl (inside is nearly done) with a minimal foot. I think it's a potential two-fer: The tenon part could be parted off and maybe a small box or other item made from it.

 

[Odie]

no opinion on what to do now

my ? is why you did not turn the defect out as in inverted the bowl in 1st place, some rough places might have been inside the bowl but I find that attractive.

There was no indication on the pre-roughed bowl blank that there was such a big void in the interior. As I turned it, the void just kept getting bigger. If I had known what was to be revealed beforehand, I might have had a whole different game plan for it. I'll have to deal with what I have, as a result....but, there is still a chance the big void can become a part of the finished bowl....and still look like it was planned that way from the start.....we'll have to see about that!

Just send it to me.


I can see doing a shallow bowl (inside is nearly done) with a minimal foot. I think it's a potential two-fer: The tenon part could be parted off and maybe a small box or other item made from it.

The roughed bowl is still in the seasoning process.....we'll have to wait to see what I can do with it. At this point, I'm hopeful!

-----odie-----