The word "tranlucent".......

[Odie]

"Translucent" is a descriptive word used frequently when describing wood characteristics. I use it myself, as well as see it used by others......but, my dictionary says the word means "clear, crystalline, see-through, transmitting light, but diffusing it sufficiently to cause images to become blurred".

I use the word for such things as quilting, fiddleback, etc.......

What is your thinking on this word?

ooc

 

[Bill Blasic]

Keep using it the way you have been as most turners will know what you mean without running to a dictionary.
Bill

 

[hockenbery]

"Translucent" is a descriptive word used frequently when describing wood characteristics. I use it myself, as well as see it used by others......but, my dictionary says the word means "clear, crystalline, see-through, transmitting light, but diffusing it sufficiently to cause images to become blurred". I use the word for such things as quilting, fiddleback, etc....... What is your thinking on this word? ooc

Translucent to me is any work that passes light. Extremely thin pieces and Norfolk Island pine bowls are examples, lamp shades.....

Chatoyance is a word the describes fiddleback and other grains that cast light in different direcections. Wood with chatoyance is excellent for coloring as the twists in the grain that reflect light in different directions also a nosed the colors in different amounts and they sand back nicely.

I only use translucent for objects that pass light.

 

[Mark Mandell]

Translucent to me is any work that passes light. Extremely thin pieces and Norfolk Island pine bowls are examples, lamp shades.....

Chatoyance is a word the describes fiddleback and other grains that cast light in different direcections. Wood with chatoyance is excellent for coloring as the twists in the grain that reflect light in different directions also a nosed the colors in different amounts and they sand back nicely.

I only use translucent for objects that pass light.

Correct. "Translucence" has nothing to do with "chatoyance" other than they both end in "nce".😉

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Translucent to me is any work that passes light. Extremely thin pieces and Norfolk Island pine bowls are examples, lamp shades.....

Chatoyance is a word the describes fiddleback and other grains that cast light in different direcections. Wood with chatoyance is excellent for coloring as the twists in the grain that reflect light in different directions also a nosed the colors in different amounts and they sand back nicely.

I only use translucent for objects that pass light.

I would go with Al on this. I will give you a good use of the word. Apply it to the finish : meaning that the finish is clear and looks deep.
That's my story and i'm sticking to it.

 

[KellyDunn]

Odie, I am going with Al and Mark on this. You may seem to be able to see deeply into some very Chatoyant woods but they do not pass light through the cell structure. And not all Forms in woods that transmit light work well. A V or flatter form works best. Straight up forms have to have the side walls very thin to transmit light. And then theres the oiling process needed to help the whole thing along.

 

[Bill Boehme]

I agree with Al, Mark, Gerald, and Kelly. Chatoyance is the term for the changes in light reflection and perception of depth caused by figured grain. The wonderful chatoyance in maple has caused me to buy huge quantities of it when I come across some that is really nice. Chatoyance comes from the French word that approximately translates as shine like a cat's eye.

Here is a definition that I found when talking about gems:

the property of some minerals to exhibit a wavy, luminous band with a silky lustre, reminiscent of the eye of a cat, in the centre of a cabochon-cut (polished, with a rounded, unfaceted convex surface) stone. The effect, caused by parallel fibres or by oriented imperfections or inclusions within the stone, is typical of cat’s-eye, tigereye, satin spar, and bronzite. The fibres, imperfections, or inclusions are oriented along a crystallographic axis; it is this same kind of orientation, but along three axes, that accounts for the asterism of star sapphire and ruby.
​

 

[pat miller]

I was turning a small, thin bowl the other day and was taking the "just one more pass" on the bottom and the wood rather quickly and in order exhibited opacity, chatoyance, translucence and finally transparency........oops...

 

[Bill Boehme]

I was turning a small, thin bowl the other day and was taking the "just one more pass" on the bottom and the wood rather quickly and in order exhibited opacity, chatoyance, translucence and finally transparency........oops...

Well, at least it was fun while it lasted. 😀

 

[pat miller]

If I'd had the camera running I could have produced the world shortest instructional video to boot 😉

 

[hockenbery]

I was turning a small, thin bowl the other day and was taking the "just one more pass" on the bottom and the wood rather quickly and in order exhibited opacity, chatoyance, translucence and finally transparency........oops...

Sure happens fast too! 🙂

I turn wet light colored wood with a light to guide thickness.
The wet wood acts a bit like fiber optics the light is transmitted through the water in the wood and once dry won't be translucent.
It is great way to turn goblet bowls/cups
The trick is to get thin measure with a color match. A consistent bright yellow rim to bottom

When it gets white that is the color of air. :-(
It is one of those things I see happening and can't stop it because it is already done. ( fortunately this a rare event for me now)

 

[Odie]

OK......you know, my dictionary didn't even have chatoyance in it!......and, as I type this, I see my Google spelling checker doesn't have chatoyance either!😱

The online dictionary describes chatoyance as:

..........................................................


1.

changing in luster or color: chatoyant silk.


2.

Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon

.........................................................

A lady who purchased one of my bowls described it as "translucent".....she was describing the bowl in photo #1. I guess this is what caused me some confusion as to the meaning of the word. She certainly seemed like a sophisticated lady, and very knowledgeable.

Probably all three of these bowls would be better described as having "chatoyance", correct.......?


Well, I knows how to makes 'em......just don't know what I made! Heh,heh,heh......😀

ooc

 

[Bill Boehme]

If somebody buys it because they like the "translucence", then translucent it is. 🙄 (customer is always right)

Just between you and me, the wood in those bowls have some really beautiful chatoyance.

 

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

chatoyance is the "shimmer" you see in those pieces.

do like Jimmy Clewes does and say the word with a French accent - and it really sounds that you know what you're talking about.

sha-TOY-anss