PDA

View Full Version : Flirtin' With Disaster!



Bill Grumbine
11-12-2004, 10:00 PM
Since I am in a posting frame of mind, and I just took these pictures on the eve of a show, here are two more cherry burl bowls for your viewing pleasure (I hope!). I titled this thread Flirtin' With Disaster for a very interesting reason, at least to me. When I am in the shop turning, I often have the radio set to a classic rock station. I cannot hear talk radio with the lathe running because of an interference problem with the 3 phase converter. Besides, it is too hard to listen to a conversation and concentrate on the task at hand. I turned these two bowls about a week or so apart, and it just so happens that in the course of turning both of them, Molly Hatchet's song Flirtin' With Disaster came on the radio both times. Now, these radio stations are expert at beating a song to death, but this is one that is rarely trotted out around here, and I found it very interesting that I hit it twice with two tough to turn bowls. Maybe someone is sending me a message. :D

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrybaloneyslice01.jpg">

This bowl was a baloney slice out of the tree, and something I almost never turn, for a couple of reasons. First, it is 100% end grain, and second, the pith has to stay in the bowl. However, I was given this cherry bowl by a student of mine. Some criminal had cut the tree into slices appropriate for firewood, and he came upon it after the fact. The burls were too irregular to cut them sideways and get nice pieces out of them, so I decided to risk it all on one big end grain turning. This was a real bear to get round, being that it was pretty close to bone dry by the time I got it, and you can see from the wing how irregular it is.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrybaloneyslice02.jpg">

Here is a profile shot. The overall height is 3 1/2", and across the widest point, it is 15 1/2". In this shot you can see the little bit of regular grain in the bowl portion.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrybaloneyslice03.jpg">

Here is a shot looking down from the top. The burl figure in this thing has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Down in the lower part you can see the pith. The whole bowl is 1/4" thick throughout. It is finished with Watco Danish Oil.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrywing01.jpg">

Here is Flirtin' With Disaster 2. I was turning this one just the other day, and running into all sorts of punky parts. I am not one for soaking a bowl with CA glue, but in this case that is exactly what I did. I also managed to get some on my big fat fingers in the process, always a treat. This one is not so big, but it had some parts flying off at high speed. You have to turn pieces like this at high speed to get a better surface, and not have the gouge slip into empty space between the wings as it is spinning. The faster it goes, the better it cuts. But, as a friend of mine used to say, this ain't for the faint of heart.


<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrywing02.jpg">

Here is a profile of this one. It is 10" across at its widest point, and 2" high. It is also 1/4" thick throughout. I would have liked to have gotten it just a bit thinner, but I was concerned that it might fall apart, so I am content with 1/4".

Thanks for taking a look.

Bill

Ken Fitzgerald
11-13-2004, 1:21 AM
Bill I really like this type of bowl and these 2 in particular. The LOML and I would like them for different reasons, however. I'd like them for their value as a piece of art :D ....she'd like them because she could serve dip and chips from the same vessel! :rolleyes: :D

Michael Stafford
11-13-2004, 9:11 AM
Bill, perhaps the songs were just subtle reminders to take your time, be careful and do your best work which you obviously did. Absolutely beautiful! Only in my dreams...
So nice of you to post inspiring work for us aspiring turners.

Jack Hogoboom
11-13-2004, 9:12 AM
Bill,

Beautiful bowls. Thanks for sharing.

What's the latest on your DVD? Will I be able to get my copy before Christmas??

Jack

Mark Singer
11-13-2004, 10:44 AM
Bill,

That is beautiful....wow! what a great piece! Ilove the natural feel...

Jim Becker
11-13-2004, 10:51 AM
I truly understand the "Flirtin' with Disaster" theme...reference my "bench update" thread in GWW. And I didn't need the song to get there! (All Things Considered seemed to do the trick in my case...)

These are great pieces, Bill. Not only are they very unique, but you managed to salvage treasure from un-intentional "disaster" of another sort. (Criminal Firewood Processing)

I hope the show goes really well this weekend for the "large reason" we discussed last weekend!

Charles McKinley
11-13-2004, 6:56 PM
Hi Bill,

Great work as always. I hope that the show is going well.

Anthony Yakonick
11-13-2004, 8:56 PM
Nice work Bill! One problem tho, I've got that darn song stuck in my head now :confused:

John Miliunas
11-14-2004, 12:03 AM
Bill, both of those pieces kick butt, BIG time! :D I'm always impressed with your work and these are no exception. Very nice and I'm sure someone will give them a great home! :cool:

Ted Shrader
11-14-2004, 12:17 PM
Bill -

Great song - Great bowls!

The radio and lathes are on separate sides of my shop. And the controller must be fairly shielded - there is no AM interference - although there is an audible pitch coming from the ocntroller.

Regards,
Ted

Kent Cori
11-14-2004, 12:34 PM
Bill,

If your bowls and other woodworking projects turn out this well when you hear that song, you may want to keep it on full time! :D Beautiful work!

Bill Grumbine
11-14-2004, 6:12 PM
Thanks guys. The show went well, although it did not come close to last year's total take. We had a lot more publicity last year than this, and I think that had a lot to do with it. Still, we did fairly well. There were some people seriously lusting over these two pieces, but no one took them home. There is an outside chance that one lady might be back for the one, but we shall see.

Jack, if all goes well, I should have a bunch of DVDs in the next week. I will let you know.

Bill