Started roughing some blanks for urns from box elder. I thought the chunks were just plain, but was pleased to discover they are curly and blistered. Should be fun hollowing.
-
November Turning Challenge: Puahala Calabash! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to James Seyfried for "Cherry and Redheart Ornament" being selected as Turning of the Week for November 18, 2024 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
What’s on your lathe?
- Thread starter Rusty Nesmith
- Start date
Two fails on one bowl. I might try to fix this one. I had gone deeper than I wanted when I converted it to a bowl, so I knew I needed a foot. I just didn't make it tall enough.
I think it looks fine, just enough lift.
Started with a piece of cherry burl 8X8 inches. Finished with a bowl 3X6. Chunks were flying everywhere.
About to turn the tenon off this pear bowl. My wife offered to paint it, if she does I'll post pictures.
Banged out 6 more trees this morning. Selling like crazy.
About an hour into it.
About an hour into it.
Birch hollow form on the late today. Should finish at 10-1/2” tall and 8-3/4” wide. This is an experimental piece as I have a plan for embellishment, thus the reason for the thicker rim on top.
I’ve been told my hollow form vases are lacking on shape. Do you think this one is too fat at the top?
I’ve been told my hollow form vases are lacking on shape. Do you think this one is too fat at the top?
To my untrained eye it seems either a touch too fat at the widest point or just a little too tall. I think I would like the shape more if the curve continued to the base and it stopped before the spot where it curves back.
Keep in mind, my grade 4 report card said, "Russell shows no artistic ability" 😄
Keep in mind, my grade 4 report card said, "Russell shows no artistic ability" 😄
Ignore those that have been telling you that your hollow forms are lacking in shape. I have particularly noted your hollow form shapes and overall they would get a distinction grade in my art and design classes (I was a lecturer in the art depart of a large university...
)This latest piece references historical ceramic forms and it will be interesting to see the embellishment you have in mind for it. My subjective opinion on the shape is that it is approaching the limit of how full the form can go on such a narrow foot, but it is good to see you experimenting with your forms.
There are formulas for forms that some follow and they are OK for those who need them, but others are able to find their own path and discover new forms that delight our senses while breaking the so-called rules!
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2004
- Messages
- 9,004
- Likes
- 5,501
- Location
- Lakeland, Florida
- Website
- www.hockenberywoodturning.com
You develop your forms to what looks good to you. They look pretty good to me.
a couple of things I do in turning many of my forms
1. I position the widest part either a 1/3 from the top or a 1/3 from the bottom - poor man’s golden mean
Sometimes at center.
2. I try to avoid flats. Rolling a straight edge over the surface of a curve with a light behind will touch at one point. On a flat it touches the length of the flat.
3. I try to have a curve at the bottom of the form to avoid the hard look against the table. A lot are footless.
4. I use a recurve on some rims and try to favor convex curves on the form to emphasize the sense of volume.
Last edited:
I think that all that it needs is a rim at the foot to add visual stability and echo the rim at the top. Butt what do I know?🤪
Thank you. I’m still working on shapes and always looking at hollow forms online. Funny you should mention ceramic forms as I draw a lot of inspiration from ceramic art.Ignore those that have been telling you that your hollow forms are lacking in shape. I have particularly noted your hollow form shapes and overall they would get a distinction grade in my art and design classes (I was a lecturer in the art depart of a large university...
This latest piece references historical ceramic forms and it will be interesting to see the embellishment you have in mind for it. My subjective opinion on the shape is that it is approaching the limit of how full the form can go on such a narrow foot, but it is good to see you experimenting with your forms.
There are formulas for forms that some follow and they are OK for those who need them, but others are able to find their own path and discover new forms that delight our senses while breaking the so-called rules!
This is what I am working on right now.
Thank you for the advise, I’ll keep that in mind on the next one. This one may look a little fat at the top but I had an idea floating round in my head and thought this shape would be the best to try it on.
I taped up one side with painters tape and drew my design out to see wha tit would look like. The top rim will be cut and a flowing curve will go down halfway or two thirds of the form. I plan to texture and and color trout side the curve to give some depth. Looked good drawn on the tape but will wait till it’s had a chance to dry before starting.
I can’t get better if I don’t try new things and step out of the comfort zone😁
I noticed a red oak on an adjoining property had blown down and had many good live branches so I cut some 3 1/2" branches off to make some thin walled natural edge goblets. The annual rings are so small it is difficult to count them, but that gives the goblets an interesting look when turned to about 1/32" (0.79mm) thick.
I've been taking a break since the scenic drive (local craft fair thingy) and decided it was time so I drug a rough turned catalpa off the shelf for S & G. This is the result. I'm a little rusty but I got to try out my new crown texturing tool which didn't like the soft catalpa so I finished it off with a little 3mm iwasaki file.
9 x 3.5 first coat of wipe on. I don't know how you guys get by with just a couple coats of this because I seem to have to put 5-6 to get a decent look.
9 x 3.5 first coat of wipe on. I don't know how you guys get by with just a couple coats of this because I seem to have to put 5-6 to get a decent look.
Attachments
Got a couple of black walnut and a couple of cherry chunks from a neighbor. I’m hoping the bark inclusion doesnt cause the rough turned bowl to split as it dries.
Did you put thin CA on the bark area? It will look great if it doesn’t crack.
I needed a handle, so I turned one. I think it's hard maple, the blank wasn't labeled.
![20241116_135543[1].jpg](/community/data/attachments/66/66073-492bd51cdeaa25770af828ebe6917d68.jpg)
Looks nice. I was turning a handle for a the Ron Brown parting tool for a BFaB turning too.
Wow ... we should both go buy a lottery ticket 😉 ... probably should have done the same (with a Ron Brown tool) ... will definitely go that route if this doesn't work out.
A chunk of apple and a chunk of basswood. Small piece of Padauk too.
I'm kind of late giving a reply to this but here's my .02. When I'm trying to decide on shapes for bowls or whatever I might be making I will go to the kitchen and look in the cabinets for bowls, plates, cups, etc to get ideas for shapes or look at ceramic vases my wife has sitting around. Another thing I keep in mind is @hockenbery comment on thirds and halfs for placing the thin/thick parts of an item. He's posted this formula before and it is a good guideline. A lot of times I think thinner is better when I'm working on a shape. It has to be something you like in the end or it's not fun. I made a set of end tables about a year ago and it took me quite a lot of turning to get where it looked ok even after I made a full scale drawing. Sometimes that helps too, make a full size cardboard template.
When you turn something like this, do you turn the whole log? Is the center heart in the core, or do you have a section of log that large?
Yes, this was a whole log for end grain turning. It started at 12-1/2” diameter and I tried to turn all the sap wood off of it. This is around my 12th hollow form so still learning and working on shapes.
Dogwood.
Lacking in shape? Not to my eye for what it’s worth.
Sassafras heart bowl finished with Danish oil.
Cherry heart bowl, as yet unfinished, for an engagement gift as my nephew is getting married.
Hat tip to @David Wyke for sharing his method and skill. I hope I did his directions justice.
Bob
Cherry heart bowl, as yet unfinished, for an engagement gift as my nephew is getting married.
Hat tip to @David Wyke for sharing his method and skill. I hope I did his directions justice.
Bob
Looks great……that’ll be $40, send cash😂
Mill owner commissioned me to make something out of apple that he could display at his office.
Going thru my stash now looking for a nice piece.
Finished the hemlock dish on the laser. Not sure what the final finish will be. Might just leave it with the Mylands on it.
Going thru my stash now looking for a nice piece.
Finished the hemlock dish on the laser. Not sure what the final finish will be. Might just leave it with the Mylands on it.
What are you using for a laser?
Our club is going to do a bowl exchange this year. I have seen similar bowls done with beaded rims and decided that is what I will do. Beading and burning between the beads is done. A little more light sanding and then will burn and color the beads. Cherry with overall diameter 12 1/2” and bowl diameter 9”.
What lathe did you buy?