Spalted Hackberry and Walnut

[Ken Vonk]

This is the biggest hollow form I've attempted. The hollow form is spalted hackberry and the lid is claro walnut. Both pieces have turquoise filling. It measures 10" in diameter and 4 1/2 inches tall not counting the lid. The lid is 2 1/4" in diameter and 2 1/2" tall. The whole thing is finished with gloss poly. I'm going to put on a last coat of semi-gloss or perhaps sand with about 2400 grit micromesh to soften the shine a little. I call this piece Genesis. Please give me your comments and suggestions.

Thanks, Ken

[Jarrod McGehee]

That thing is AWESOME!!!!! and I love the turquoise you put in there. it really makes it look way better. Nice work

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking piece out of some outstanding wood.

[Dewey Torres]

Nice looking work. How did you come up with Genesis for the name?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Very nice work Ken! Real good form, beautiful wood and I love your use of color! This piece really catches your eye! Very nice!

[Benjamin Dahl]

Ken, very nice piece. The turquoise really adds to it.
Thanks,
Ben

[Dave Halter]

Wow, very eye catching. There's a lot going on visually in that piece of wood and the inlay really sets it off.

Dave

[Ken Vonk]

[quote]Nice looking work. How did you come up with Genesis for the name? [quote]

Dewey, the spalting reminds me of clouds or mist. When I added the turquoise it reminded me of Genesis 1:2b "And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Thanks for all the kind comments,

Ken

[Don Carter]

Ken:
That is a beautiful piece! How was the spalted hickory to turn? I have some spalting as we speak.

[Ken Vonk]

Don, this piece was spalted Hackberry, not hickory. The spalting is very nice looking and I've heard that this type of wood spalts easily. As for turning Hackberry. I didn't like it very much. I roughed turned it to about 1" thick and that wasn't too bad. Very wet though. After 3 months or so it quit loosing weight and then I finished it. When dry it was terrible for tearout (pun intended..lol). Then there were hard spots that were hard to sand and keep smooth. So I had to use the 120 grit gouge....lol. Just a few small cracks after drying. It has a porous grain that really sucks up the poly. Other than that I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Ken

[Jim Kountz]

Just when I thought Ive seen some neat looking grain.......That is amazing!! Great job!!

[Don Carter]

Sorry, Ken, I meant to say hackberry....thanks. I am trying to judge when the right spalting stage has been reached.

[alex carey]

That is a great piece, the color of the wood combines with the turquoise is awesome, nicely done.

[Jeff Nicol]

Ken, That is very nice! I like the turquoise inlay and I just bought some at woodcraft on Saturday so I will be trying it soon! Great job on the HF and keep up the good work!

Jeff

[Ken Vonk]

Jeff, I got my turquoise from a big gem show in Tucson. I put the big chunks in an old blender and then sift the pieces. I then fill the voids with turquoise powder and CA glue in place.

Ken

[Wayne Bower]

WOW, that is a beautiful piece. Great wood and shape.