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What’s on your lathe?

Kent Reisdorph said:
Little known fact. Persimmon heartwood is black. There's just never much of it. This piece of wood came from the base of the tree when my daughter in law cut the stump off close to the ground. I'm not crazy about the form. Maybe Crown Royal will be interested. 😂

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Kent, Here is some nice persimmon from an extremely large tree (about 20" base) . It has a lot of ebony looking grain. I have been keeping it submerged in water barrels until I use it. persimmon.jpg
 
Figured maple bowl with an embellished rim. First attempt at using a wood burning tool on a turned piece. A fun little project. I have a ways to go before I attempt a "Shreddies" bowl in the style of Michael Anderson🤔🙄😁!
Cheers.
Barry W. Larson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada eh!
 

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A once turned piece of what I believe is spalted Maple donated by a club member. My daughter and I chucked it up this morning and both of us collaborated in an attempted to turn this into a respectable work. We didn’t know what it would turn out to look like when we started. I think it turned out pretty nice. 3 1/2 inches deep by 6 1/2 diameter. We are planning on turning a pedestal out of African Black Wood.

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I know we're too cool for mere pens around here, but it's what just came off my lathe. African Blackwood with Pens Plus friction finish. My son works for an org. called Africa's Hope. The plan was for him to bring some wood home from his last trip to Africa last month, but Customs seized it, despite it meeting their own published guidelines, so I used what I had on hand. This is for an old friend of mine from 45 years ago who is now a big supporter of Africa's Hope. 1000020606.jpg
 
At the risk of being banned from “What’s On Your Lathe” I again failed to take a photo while this was on the lathe. Turned ‘as a ring form’, I was eager to see the profile so I popped it off the lathe and cut it in half before getting a photo 😬

Hogbin-inspired “Birds in Flight”
 

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Isaac Fisher said:
James, looks like camphor, but you would know if it was. The smell doesn’t leave much room for doubt.

Nice work!
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Thanks! There is no smell, but it would be nice if it was though!

Here is an ambrosia Maple bowl I'm finishing. I am epoxying the bug holes to make it easier to clean as a salad bowl. It looks faded compared to David's bowl.

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Guy Caley said:
I know we're too cool for mere pens around here, but it's what just came off my lathe. African Blackwood with Pens Plus friction finish. My son works for an org. called Africa's Hope. The plan was for him to bring some wood home from his last trip to Africa last month, but Customs seized it, despite it meeting their own published guidelines, so I used what I had on hand. This is for an old friend of mine from 45 years ago who is now a big supporter of Africa's Hope. View attachment 74290
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Guy, that's a nice looking pen. It's been a good 15 years since I made one. What style of kit is it, and the source? Thanks.
 
I was cutting some maple blanks Saturday and there was a piece that had some rot and a soft pith. I cut it and sat it to the side in a trash bag thinking it may make a nice open vase with some voids.
Starting shaping today for the vase and changed directions, decided on a hollow form with voids. Once I got about two thirds in it started flexing and I had to tape it while finishing, but all the soft didn’t fall out.
So now it’s wrapped in stretch film while I decide if I want to remove the soft part, use thin CA to reinforce it, or soak in shellac. I’m thinking CA or shellac and if I follow the shape to the tenon I’ll have a more solid base. Measures around 10” x 7”.

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Not on the lathe at the moment, but will be back soon to finish off the base. Box in White Oak and Cherry; 5 inches tall by 4 inches diameter. White Oak lid with a deer antler handle. I turned a small ebony bead to set the antler a bit higher. I have one more blank like this one so I think I'll try some different wood accents next.
Amendment: I returned the piece the lathe. I turned the recess about 1/16 of an inch deeper so the lid is now inset - I think it looks better. I also turned the tenon off and finished the base.
Cheers.
Barry W. Larson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada eh!
 

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Vase-shaped hollow form cracked while on the lathe trying to get it ‘just a little thinner’
My 95 yr old flat work mentor just gave me this piece of walnut dated ‘Aug 1974’ !
Very dry and brittle as it was out in his shed for all these years in the summer heat… so, I carved the cracks 🤣
 

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Odie said:
Two nights ago, I roughed this 11x3 Red River Gum burl from Australia. Even though the bowl block had a heavy coat of wax, it had a very low MC of 12%. This indicates that it was in storage somewhere for a long time before I came into possession of it. Probably won't take too long to stabilize, ready for the 2nd turning.

No anchorseal necessary on this one....

=o=
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Odie, apart from huge temp fluctuations, this should be very stable, go for it, its gonna be a beauty
 
David Wyke said:
I was cutting some maple blanks Saturday and there was a piece that had some rot and a soft pith. I cut it and sat it to the side in a trash bag thinking it may make a nice open vase with some voids.
Starting shaping today for the vase and changed directions, decided on a hollow form with voids. Once I got about two thirds in it started flexing and I had to tape it while finishing, but all the soft didn’t fall out.
So now it’s wrapped in stretch film while I decide if I want to remove the soft part, use thin CA to reinforce it, or soak in shellac. I’m thinking CA or shellac and if I follow the shape to the tenon I’ll have a more solid base. Measures around 10” x 7”.

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Nailed that form!
 
I've done several bowls out of Pau Santo (aka: Brazilian Blackheart), and I've found this wood extremely difficult to work with. I worked for two evenings on this one, and had to take a break a couple of times out of sheer frustration! :(

Nevertheless, it can be done with great results.

=o=

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Steve Tiedman said:
Guy, that's a nice looking pen. It's been a good 15 years since I made one. What style of kit is it, and the source? Thanks.
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Thank you sir. That is one of what they call the Junior series. I believe a Jr. George in chrome with African Blackwood. Source was my stash.🤣 probably either Exotic Blanks or The Classic Nib.
 
Bob Vaughan said:
That's a beautiful bowl. I've got to ask what makes that wood more difficult than many of the other exotic woods that you turn.
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Hello Bob....

This is what the wood database has to say:
Workability: Moderately difficult to work on account if its density and interlocked grain. Natural oils may interfere with gluing and finishing. Turns well.
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Pau Santo | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com www.wood-database.com

^^^^ Keep in mind that the comment is regarding flatwork....and not bowl turning.

I'm guessing that with Pau Santo, the interlocked grain combined with its great density has something to do with the difficulties I was having with this wood. Since you can't pick and choose the best direction for cutting the end grain in a cross-grain bowl, the goal of achieving "the perfect cut" becomes an almost impossible task.....and, if there is any tearout at all, the sanding is just as frustratingly difficult.

=o=
 
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