I may have 'turned' the corner... (pics)

[Walt Caza]

Good Day All,
On the weekend I finally got my long awaited bowl DVDs.
After watching Bill Grumbine's first one, I got a couple hours of shoptime.
I grabbed a waxed chunk of mesquite from WoodCraft in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
I was not prepared for a pair of surprises.
Under the wax was a concealed split, and Mesquite is Hard!

I kept tuning up my virgin Elsworth bowl gouge for a keen edge.
Sanded up to 400 spinning on the lathe.
Satin poly was all I had on hand.
Not sure if I will leave the tenon on?

Up until now, I have just been a caveman hitting the spinning wood with sticks.
I think I have turned the corner and am now at square one.
Much better than the zero skills I had been sportin' around town!
I actually know a proper cut now and used it to big Fun.

I filled the crack with Kwazy glue and salvaged my $10 blank.
Broke a screw in mounting faceplate...
dug it out with my 3/8" plug cutter on the drill. (predrill next time?)
Dry chips kinda burned my hand.
Undaunted... I soldiered on...
I think a new turner is born?!?

Wifey claimed it my best work yet. Not hard to do as I set the bar reeaal low. hehe
I fear I will regret posting my early works down the road when I get better?
Kinda like my early crayon drawings under a magnet on Mommy's fridge.

Now I wait for a tasty tree to fall down...
thanks for lookin'
Walt

ps the vortex just keeps getting bigger... now I gotta figure out how to
take better photos... uggh

[Curt Fuller]

Excellent bowl Walt! I even like the foot on it.

Some will pelt me with rotten vegetables for this suggestion, but a fingerless leather glove on the left hand (if you're right handed) saves a lot of the scalding from super heated dry wood shavings.

[gary Zimmel]

Nice looking bowl Walt...
Lots of progress to my newbie eyes.
Looks like you are spending more time in the round world than flat!

I will really know you are in trouble when you tell me you are starting to pack a chain saw around in your car.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Walt....You have indeed become a turner. Very nice bowl! Mesquite sure is pretty wood but doggone it can be hard!

[David Christopher]

Walt, you have raised the bar...beautiful bowl

[John W Dixon]

Walt, that looks great! Only thing missing is your name and date on the bottom. Nice to look back after awhile and see how much you have improved. Sure looks nice though!

John

[Cody Colston]

I'd say you have turned the corner! That's a beautiful bowl and a great shape. Mesquite is very hard but the payoff is that beautiful sheen that it displays after sanding and finishing. Nice job.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Walt that is a nice looking bowl. I wear a fingerless weight lifting glove on my left hand to keep the hot wood off my hand. Works great.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Walt - very nice bowl! Love the form - has a sort of rice bowl look to it.

I wear gloves (tight fitting buckskin) - to protect my hands from hot shavings plus they also insulate from the cold tools.

Looking forward to seeing what you turn to top this! Very nice work!

[David Walser]

Walt,

That's a very nice bowl. The mesquite has some nice figure and you've shown it off with a nice shape to the bowl.

[Jeff Nicol]

Walt, The bowl has all the things it needs for eye appeal! The wood grain and color is very nice and the shape is nice looking and a great standard of all turners at one time or another. The finish is soft and brings out what the wood has to offer. The raised foot adds to the bowl so it is a good thing. Sometimes the cracks are the thing that makes the piece, but still a dissapoinment when you find it after you pay good money for the blank. Keep on turning and the addiction will sink deeply into your soul!

Thanks for the update!

Jeff

[ROY DICK]

Walt,
You are there my friend, you are there!
Beautiful wood and you indeed did it justice.
I too turn with a light weight glove. My sister (a nurse), was watching me one day and started telling me it made her nervous watching me with a glove. I pointed to the door. She laughed and said. "I know, I know". Your shop right I said "Zactly".
I don't worry about the pictures I just do the best I can and let it go.

Roy

[Ken Glass]

Walt,
You have arrived in a limo.....That is really quite good for a first or twenty first bowl. Videos do make the learning curve advance quickly, and you have scored high in Bill's class. Well Done. I also use a tight leather glove on both hands. It really makes a difference for me.

[Rob Cunningham]

That's a good looking bowl. Nice shape and finish. I would leave the tenon on the bowl, it gives it a nice look.

[robert hainstock]

the only suggestion I would have is aa slight dishing on the bottom ala Grumbine, to help it sit flat and not wobble. If you got this one to sit flat the fiest time, you are ahead of me already. :D:D
Bob

[steven carter]

Walt,

You have turned the corner and it is round! Good job on the bowl. Ditto what Bob said about dishing out the bottom a little bit. I'v not turned mesquite but hear it doesn't move much so you may be ok on this bowl, but on other wood, I would always concave the bottom.

Steve

[Chris Rae]

Great looking bowl Walt! I really like the shape, the foot, everything. Very nicely done! I also use a tight, fingerless glove on my left hand.

[Mark Burge]

Hey Walt! Nice one. Great job on the finish and smooth surface. I like the base myself. Keep it up.

[Mike Minto]

Walt, nice bowl; glad to see you are feeling more confident about your turning proficiency. don't regret the earlier photos - it's nice to watch a person's skill progression. Keep it up! Mike :)

[Harvey Ghesser]

Really really nice work, Walt!

[Paul Engle]

Walt very nice bowl I like the form , be sure to save mesquite chips for smoking on the bbq, really get all the use from the cost indeed. wrap em in foil pack size of hersey bar , poke a couple holes and rest on the the coals or just over the flame of a gas grill , close the cover until smoke all gone, do again for heavier flavor ....:D almost like be in in Texas.....and on a brisket slow roasted and smoked .....oh man .... er, in case you are vegitarian I do appoligise ....:o

[Andy Bardowell]

Very nice Walt.

[Jerry Rhoads]

Very nice bowl Walt.
I to use a glove on the left hand. When there is bark coming off or when the wood coming off is hot.
The foot gives it a nice lift, but maybe should be concave.

Jerry

[Tom Giacomo]

Great looking bowl, and the pictures look good to me.