Just finished another Peppermill

[Keith Palmer]

Jen, a coworker of mine, shares my love of beautifully turned wood pieces. She even found out when there were some pieces in a gallery nearby and took me to see them. She has been very supportive of the pieces I have been turning over the past year. She really loved the peppermills I made for my mom and mother-in-law (http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=99053).

She loved them so much she commissioned me to turn a set for her dad’s birthday, but while I was gluing the blanks up for those, I glued an additional blank just for her birthday. I found some purpleheart for hers and glued it up with the same maple and dyed black veneer. This time, I saved some of the waste from the blank and turned a base for the mill to sit on while not in use. It will work great to collect pepper remnants that fall out.

I also experimented with using a precatalyzed lacquer that I had to mix and spray with spray equipment. The lacquer worked much better than the polyurethane I used in the past. The lacquer was hard within just 24 hrs to wet sand and buff to a beautifull high gloss. I also prefer the curves of this mill over the previous 2.

BTW, I just finished creating a blog to show the woodturnings and some other stuff I do in the shop. Just click on my name - then on my Homepage Link.

I am still playing with the camera settings and lighting for the pics.
Please critique the piece as well as the photos.

Thanks!!

http://kapsworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/img_5348.jpg

http://kapsworkshop.wordpress.com/files/2009/06/img_5354.jpg

http://kapsworkshop.wordpress.com/files/2009/06/img_5376.jpg

[Chris Stolicky]

I like the design. I have made a few mills so far, but they were not as curvy. The color laminations work, too.

As far as the pic - you definitely have the mill in focus and the white balance looks pretty good. I find the wrinkles in the background distracting - I have the same problem myself when I take pics, but I'm picky.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Keith - this is a really good looking peppermill! Nice colors and shape! I also like that you turned a matching stand for the mill - very nice touch! I am sure your friend must have been thrilled with the gift!

Photos look pretty good. Good focus. The top of the mill in the first photo seems darker than it should be - don't know if that is just a trick of the lighting or if the wood is that much darker than the rest of the piece. Chris mentioned the backdrop and it may be something worth experimenting with.

[Ron Lynch]

Nice work. The landing platform is a great idea. My wife puts our peppermill in a custard bowl to catch the "droppings", I like your idea better. Consider it stolen.

[Keith Palmer]

I find the wrinkles in the background distracting - I have the same problem myself when I take pics, but I'm picky.

Yes, the wrinkles drive me crazy too. I didn't have time to play with it before giving her the mill today.


The top of the mill in the first photo seems darker than it should be - don't know if that is just a trick of the lighting or if the wood is that much darker than the rest of the piece.

I think it might be a combination of shadows and the fact that that part of the maple is mostly end grain. Some of that maple I had had some real color variations.

[Thom Sturgill]

Way more curvy than the ones I've tried. I like the 'landing pad' had been thinking along similar lines.
Were do you get your grinders mechanisms? The ones I've seen all have a metal knob on top to adjust the grind.

[Richard Madison]

Appears to be a very ergonomic and attractive shape. Nice work. Like the lacquer finish. I quit using polyurethane years ago.

[John W Dixon]

Keith, Very nice. I think the curves of the piece with the laminations give it a feminine look and it is very attractive. Absolutely love the idea of the grinder coaster. Beautiful work.

John

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is a good looking peppermill. I really like the seat it sets in.

[Keith Palmer]

Were do you get your grinders mechanisms? The ones I've seen all have a metal knob on top to adjust the grind.

I have picked mine up at Rockler, they are the CrushGrind brand. I use the ones with metal shaft that can be cut to length. Craft supplies also carries them http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Projects___Pepper___Salt_Mills___Crush_Grinder_Mec hanism___crush_grind?Args=

I will have to take a picture of one with the top off.

[Jon Knauft]

Keith,

If you want a perfect background go buy a large piece of tag board. Then curve the tag board so it becomes a seamless background. Pro photographers use large paper rolls to do the same thing but I found tag board to work just fine for smaller photos.

-Jon

[Jim Kountz]

Great looking mill!! One of the best Ive seen, super job!!

[Keith Palmer]

Way more curvy than the ones I've tried. I like the 'landing pad' had been thinking along similar lines.
Were do you get your grinders mechanisms? The ones I've seen all have a metal knob on top to adjust the grind.


I have picked mine up at Rockler, they are the CrushGrind brand. I use the ones with metal shaft that can be cut to length. Craft supplies also carries them http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Projects___Pepper___Salt_Mills___Crush_Grinder_Mec hanism___crush_grind?Args=

I will have to take a picture of one with the top off.

Here are a couple pictures of my wife's mill with the top off.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2414/3637235955_b0c73df8b5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3638048796_20c309ff36_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/3637235985_08907ce706_o.jpg

[Billy Tallant]

Great looking peppermill. The stand is a great idea. I always have to tap mine a few times to make sure I shake any remnants off. The stand would solve this problem.:)

[Bruce McElhaney]

Very nice work Keith, that's quite curvy but I like it. I'm wondering what the dimensions are?

[Keith Palmer]

Thank you all for the kind words. I will work on the background for the pics.


Very nice work Keith, that's quite curvy but I like it. I'm wondering what the dimensions are?

The mill is 8.5" tall and just under 3" diameter. The seat is 1" tall and 3.25" wide.