Holly: A Little Bleach and Burning

[Baxter Smith]

Last spring, I ordered some two part wood bleach to use on holly roughouts that had stained. Finally got around to opening the box a couple of weeks ago. Thinking that the bleach and water rinse would raise the grain, I didn’t sand the boxes well enough before bleaching. By the time I had resanded after bleaching, most of the bleached cells had been removed. Being too impatient to repeat the process again, I went ahead and played with the burner and dye.
1 Holly Boxes r.jpg2 Holly Boxes r.jpg

I did a better job of presanding this bowl so had less to do after bleaching. It was also less stained to begin with I believe.
3 Holly Bowl r.jpg4 Holly Bowl r.jpg

The color difference is pretty obvious.
5 Holly r.jpg6 Holly Boxes r.jpg

Especially on the bottoms where I didn’t remove the tenon until after bleaching.
7 Holly Bowl and Boxes r.jpg

All my stuff is just practice anyway. For what I am not sure.

8 Holly Boxes r.jpg
The boxes are 3.5”w x 4.25” and 3.25t. The bowl is 7.5” x 2”.
All three are finished with a matte final fixative and renwax.

Thoughts and suggestions are always welcome!

[Billy Tallant]

Everything looks great! Neat idea about bleaching. Never would have thought of that...

[Kathy Marshall]

Those all look Great Baxter! Awesome job on the pyro and dye, really nice ogee on the bowl and the boxes look great too. Really like the contrast of the white wood and the burning, especially on the bowl.

[Carl Civitella]

I like your burning and your color. Of course your turning as well. Is the one lid pierced ? I have been playing around with some burning, no where good at it yet. Carl

[Thom Sturgill]

I really like the burn-only pieces. the patterns, especially on the bowl, are very clean. The dye leaves me cold. The bleach gives a very clean uniform 'canvas' for the burn art. The turning are nice in form and the burnings complement that form well.

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

Bax
All nice but I love the bowl. You hit on a beautifully proportioned shape and the pyro is the perfect compliment.
faust

[bob svoboda]

Great stuff, Baxter. Really like the Pyro work!

[kevin nee]

You are getting pretty fancy with the pyro. I also like the bowl. I have been thinking about trying bleaching. I like the light colored woods. NICE JOB!

[jwjerry w kowalski]

Man Baxter, all your work is outstanding I love the pyro, the form and the detail is exquisite. The platter has a calming effect on me as I look at it, like I could just gaze at it all day, just wonderful work as always.

[Michelle Rich]

I think you are on your way..these are delicate & very appealing..I like the color in it. The liittle box with red & green is just super..hope you stick with this awhile & share more, more more!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Those are all beauties Baxter. Excellent pyro.

[Allan Ferguson]

Beautifully done and the art work has a refined understated appeal. Allan.

[charlie knighton]

very nice, i espically like the boxes, the holly stands out, the form of sideview, top , and bottom super

get ready for xmas cuss once the relatives see one , all will want some, cheers

[Roger Chandler]

You just keep upping your game, Baxter! Those are fine! Sweet pyro and geez........from the looks of things that you have posted lately, one would get the impression that you are serious about this woodturning thing!

Superb work........congratulations on some finely done items.

[Hayes Rutherford]

All nice forms and they look good together as well.