The Sphere...

[Mike Minto]

This started out as a hollow, spherical form ala Ellsworth; about 7 inches in diameter. I managed to get the wall(s) pretty thin, and tried to keep the opening small, but as the wood got thin, the hole widened to an inch or so, with uneven edges - rats!. So I decided to turn a small gabon ebony foot and mount it as you see here. Now if I could just find someone who can read a spalted holly ball...

[Charles Bouchelle]

wow!! nice work

[John Keeton]

Mike, with that and a ouija board, no tellin' what your future would hold!! Turned out nice, and you did well with the design opportunity.

[David E Keller]

What a striking piece of wood. Nicely done. I like the foot, but I'm wondering what it might look like elevated even more on a small turned pedestal.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Nice job on the sphere Mike! Love the wood!

David - nice new avatar!

[Derek Gilmer]

You could turn it into the world's prettiest magic 8 ball!

[Richard Madison]

That's cool Mike. Have you already glued the foot in place?

[Mike Minto]

That's cool Mike. Have you already glued the foot in place?


richard, yes, sure did.

[Allen Neighbors]

Cool sphere. Looks round. :D

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is a great looking sphere. Really nice wood.

[Mark Hubl]

Love the spalted wood. Nice shape to the sphere. Could have always made the foot a collar. Spalted stuff can be soft, and the entry point does have a tendency to grow. Nice job.

[Rob Cunningham]

Nice job Mike. Great looking wood.

[Rob Cunningham]

Mike, did you finish turn that while it was wet or allow it to dry and finish it?

[Baxter Smith]

Looks cool! Don't know enough about those kinds of turnings to say anything else.:)

[Mark Burge]

Wow. I, for one, can't even see the opening in the pics, so I don't think it grew too much. I love the spherical form and I have a piece of spalted maple that I may try a sphere with. Nice job.

[Mike Minto]

Mike, did you finish turn that while it was wet or allow it to dry and finish it?


Rob, the piece was very dry, after having spalted to the point of having become almost punky. Alot of sanding was involved, as it turned so rough and chipped even with sharp tools. Wish the opening hadn't enlarged so much, but am glad I got away with what I did :o.