A few little turnings for practice.

[Derek Gilmer]

I had some free time this weekend so of course I skipped the honey do list and wet to the lathe! I'm fairly happy with them. The two bowls have a pleasing shape to my eye. The goblet thingy is all out of wack I know. Details on that below. Still tons of tear out. I know some of that is technique on my part but part of it also do to my lack of a good sharpening setup. The worksharp 3000 just isn't cutting it. I'll be getting a grinder today and a wolverine jig + varigrind sometime soon.

First was a small poplar blank Mark gave me last week. The wals and base are nice and thin probably around 1/4". The bowl feels really nice in your hands. Light and delicate even.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q54K4tK5t9E/Tsj5apLNNwI/AAAAAAAAHjc/a_WYctQ1gCA/s640/IMG_1839.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NGmTBhIt1Ig/Tsj5ayhM7pI/AAAAAAAAHjg/2vsqZfhESYo/s640/IMG_1840.JPG
You can see the tear out pretty clearly here:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8urEFH-FSVg/Tsj5bVuq8RI/AAAAAAAAHjk/QWzz2HrMRLk/s640/IMG_1841.JPG


Now for a little cherry bowl. Tear out wasn't so bad here except for the hole I put in the bottom while trying to trip up the tenon and base. After I put a whole it in I stopped working on the foot out of fear of doing more damage.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J7ID7LErOr4/Tsj5bht5f_I/AAAAAAAAHjo/EZBKC2QYBvA/s640/IMG_1842.JPG
This reminds me of some socks I refuse to give up:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5b1_lJUNRho/Tsj5cJzO2MI/AAAAAAAAHjs/PBCUDSS2hBo/s640/IMG_1843.JPG

And finally a little goblet thingy. No real point to it I just wanted to try making a ring around the stem.
The short comings are many here, the stem is not consistent in diameter, I forgot to finish sand the ring before cutting it free, the top curve of the goblet part is too small, the ring is more of a teardrop profile than circle, and the cup portion is not hollowed out enough. But I noticed a little flexing in the stem and got nervous. I figured I'd rather have in imperfect goblet to remind me to do better than two halves of a goblet I sweep away and forget.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y9ta_GFQvkg/Tsj5cmFVSxI/AAAAAAAAHj0/lBt2sMJsvs8/s640/IMG_1845.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-69n73Hj24_w/Tsj5dCKxH-I/AAAAAAAAHj8/jIqDauR1FVg/s640/IMG_1847.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QhVDhZg5S-o/Tsj5d_kH8rI/AAAAAAAAHkE/iB2qjOM9a30/s640/IMG_1849.JPG

All three together:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UCTiO4FBPwY/Tsj5eE_sIKI/AAAAAAAAHkI/1_x1-Enx_aA/s640/IMG_1850.JPG


Despite the issues I have with them they were all a blast to turn and good learning experiences.

[Scott Hackler]

Looks like your progressing nicely. The Cherry bowl has a very pleasing shape to the outside and you should attempt to repeat this one, short of making it into a funnel. Seems like everyone who is starting makes more funnels than bowls, but understand that even an experienced turner makes a funnel every once in a while. My suggestions are to only hollow out about an inch and then after EVERY full hollowing cut, measure your depth. Most all bowls are a bit thicker on the bottom than the sides so don't try to make the bottom the same thickness as the sides.

If you haven't figured it out by now, the best way to limit how much sanding you'll have to do is commit to the cut. Meaning that when you start the cut at the rim, don't stop until you've reached the center (or the bottom if on the outside). This will help not only for the tool marks but a lot for a smooth curve.

Keep at it!

[John Keeton]

Go, Derek, Go!!! Great bunch of practice pieces - the best of which is the funnel. Funnels happen, but as far as form, this one could be an excellent starting point for you to practice with, as Scott said. If you can get the base/foot down to about 1/3 of the widest diameter, and carry the outside curvature to the foot you will have a very nice piece! The poplar piece is interesting, as well, but the transition point where the inside "sides" meet the bottom, is always going to be problematic on this form. Nonetheless, as you say, it is fun, and they are all good learning experiences.

[David E Keller]

Nicely done, sir! I think the cherry bowl is the best of the bunch, and a few tweaks on the next one will yield a fantastic bowl! The socks comment made me laugh out loud! Keep it up!

[Primvs Aebvtivs]

I'd be happy with that lot - except the hole, of course... The goblet looks fine on the stem argument in my opinion, I'd don't think that they should all be perfectly cylindrical! A nice taper top to bottom with a sturdy base - A* in my book. As for not hollowing it out enough - that comes with more practice I believe.

[Dennis Ford]

You are coming along great. Just keep on making things.
A little advise on goblets; hollow the bowl section before cutting on the stem area. Once you have started on the stem area, it is not stiff enough to allow hollowing.

[Jim Burr]

You go cowboy!! Practice is great and to many times we practice and actually make something all along needing to practice! We all need some cheap wood with the intent of stoking the fire pit when done!

[Allan Ferguson]

Nice cherry bowl. You can drill a pilot depth hole to your desired depth. Stop when you reach the bottom of the hole. Looking good and keep on trying different things.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Looks like the practice is paying off and you are moving forward. The bowl has a pleasing shape but remember measure, cut, measure, cut, and then measure some more.

[Derek Gilmer]

Thanks to all for the kind words and advice.

The cherry bowl would have been OK if not for my lack of skill and/or dull tool. While trimming the tenon of the tip caught and broke on through to the other side.

Thankfully I have tomorrow off work so lots of time to go turn up some more stuff and maybe look around for a few more blanks to turn.

[Baxter Smith]

Lots of variety there Derek. You are progressing! Holes in the bottom still happen - even when you think you are starting to get the hang of it. At least for me!

[Dan Forman]

Looks like you are coming along nicely!

Dan

[Steve Schlumpf]

Looks like you are learning a lot!! Remember that all this turning stuff comes with time and lots of practice. The most important thing is to keep it fun!!

Looking forward to seeing more of your work real soon!