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John Hart
06-11-2010, 8:38 PM
I went down to one of the amish sawmills in the area and picked up the wood I needed for a deck project. (Its a Poplar and Cherry design)

Anyway, the guy running the sawmill heard I did some turning and wondered if poplar was any good for that sort of thing. So I cut off a chunk of one of the 4X4's and made this little vase.

I delivered it to him this evening. You shoulda seen the smile :)

3.25" Diameter 7" High....finish clear lacquer.
Pic isn't that great...I was in a hurry. Lots of nice colors in there....mostly a variety of greens.
153044

Jon Lanier
06-11-2010, 8:44 PM
That is beautiful. Love that classic form. :)

bob svoboda
06-11-2010, 8:46 PM
John, that's beautiful. No wonder he was smiling, I would too.

Steve Schlumpf
06-11-2010, 8:49 PM
John - that vase is sweet! Great form, color and finish! The guy you gave it to must have been thrilled!

Very nice work!

Scott Lux
06-11-2010, 8:50 PM
I would have bet poplar wasn't pretty at all. That'll teach me.

Isn't poplar a bit soft for a deck? I just did mine in Black Locust. OK, Maybe a little overkill.

Lux

James Combs
06-11-2010, 8:55 PM
A real beauty John. Would not have expected such good looks from poplar.

Keith Burns
06-11-2010, 9:02 PM
John, that is s-w-e-e-t !! Great form. Poplar is another one of those woods like oak that we all think of as not good for turning but this proves that it is.

John Keeton
06-11-2010, 9:24 PM
John, this is a very nice piece! As others have commented, the form is great, and the poplar is a nice surprise. I have not turned any, but I have used a bunch of it over the years for flat work stuff. It can run from just plain ugly to some really nice coloration.

And, it makes a complimentary setting next to the lamp, which looks to have a littlle verdigris appearance.

charlie knighton
06-11-2010, 9:55 PM
very nice....

David E Keller
06-11-2010, 10:08 PM
Nicely done, sir. Uncommon beauty from a very common wood.

Paul Douglass
06-11-2010, 10:10 PM
WOW! Very well done and a beautiful piece of wood.

Curt Fuller
06-11-2010, 10:34 PM
Holy Mackeral John, That's nice!

John Hart
06-12-2010, 6:47 AM
Thanks everyone. I enjoyed gifting it....but most of all, I enjoyed getting a little lathe time in.:)

Scott -- Most of the decks around here are made of some variety of pine, so I figured that poplar would be alright since it is a bit harder...I might be wrong...In which case, I'll have another project in a couple years. :eek:

John Keeton
06-12-2010, 7:12 AM
John, I think the biggest problem with the poplar would be a tendency to warp in the sunlight, but hopefully, you have good luck with this stuff.

John Hart
06-12-2010, 7:29 AM
John, I think the biggest problem with the poplar would be a tendency to warp in the sunlight, but hopefully, you have good luck with this stuff.

Yeah...I thought about that John. I'm hoping to beat the warp with screws and lots of sealing. We'll find out!! I'm set to start laying the deck top today.

Barry Stratton
06-12-2010, 8:49 AM
Sweet looking vahse Mr. Hart!

Hows the horse ranching going???:D:D:D

Ted Evans
06-12-2010, 8:55 AM
Beautiful job John, it looks much larger to me than your dimensions, great detail.

Bernie Weishapl
06-12-2010, 10:33 AM
The vase is a beauty John. I like the form and finish. Wood is nice.

Tony De Masi
06-12-2010, 2:41 PM
Very nice vase John. Sometimes it's amazing whats inside a piece of poplar.

Well done.

Tony

John Hart
06-12-2010, 7:07 PM
Thanks again guys....I got that itch again!!! Man it feels good to be back!!!:)


Sweet looking vahse Mr. Hart!

Hows the horse ranching going???:D:D:D

Hey there Mr Stratton!!! Nice to see you.:)
Horse Ranchin'? Aw shucks...you oughta see the herd. I don't feed 'em...I don't groom 'em....I don't clean their stalls. Neighbors take care of all that stuff and I have a nice view of them every day. I think I'll keep it that way. ;)

Mike Willeson
06-13-2010, 12:21 AM
Beautiful piece John. I am sure he loved it.

Karl Card
06-13-2010, 1:34 AM
that is absolutely beautiful.... the wood, form, finish etc...

Michelle Rich
06-13-2010, 5:03 AM
I'm not surprised at the poplar being pretty..sometimes it can be stunning. Nice classic style. Poplar deck....hmmmmm.....

Mark Hubl
06-13-2010, 1:38 PM
Very nice form. Classic.

Scott Lux
06-13-2010, 9:29 PM
lots of sealing

And that's why I went with Black Locust. I shouldn't ever have to seal it.