The Illusion

[Bill Wyko]

The piece of wood I used to create this didn't look like much. Many of us have looked at it and can't really be sure of what it is. What I do know is, I'm glad it was saved for this project. This vessel is styled off of the technique developed by Trent Bosch. The inner vessel is Tropical Walnut. If you look, the grain really lent to the flower pedals. I couldn't believe how lucky I got when I started drawing the pedals. I was originally just going to do it as a vessel but then I remembered the illusion technique and decided to step it up a notch, good thing I did. There is a variety of tools used to turn, grind, carve, sand, sand, sand, shape and finish a piece like this. I'll try to lay out all the stuff and take a picture for you all to determine if you want to give it a shot. I wanted to shoot it in my photo tent but I won't be back to work til Tuesday and I couldn't wait. In the mean time, please enjoy.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401659389.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401659385.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401659395.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401659398.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401659402.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401538201.jpg

[mike ash]

Bill - this is stunning!! I'd like to see photos of the underside, so I can figure out some techniques.

Nice work, Mike

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks Mike, I'll take a picture today sometime. The outer vessel is one piece though, no seams.:D

[John Keeton]

Phenomenal piece, Bill - just phenomenal!! I look forward to seeing additional pics. Whatever that wood is - it has some great character.

[David DeCristoforo]

Beautiful, Bill! The figure does, as you have already mentioned, work really well with the flower petal design. Pretty cool!

[Ted Calver]

WOW! Fantastic! Those petals look absolutely beautiful. I'll bet you wish you had a truck load of that mystery wood. I took a two day class with Trent and enjoyed every minute of it.

[Sid Matheny]

Oh yeah that's a super piece and looking forward to more info.

Sid

[Doug W Swanson]

That's really a great design. The woods go so well together. Excellent work!

[Roger Chandler]

Nicely done Bill!

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

Bill,
A turning that stunning could be shot in a pup tent with a box camera and still look great. I watched Trent Bosch make one of those and saw several he brought along for display and none of the pieces were done with a chunk of wood that lent itself so well to the piece as yours. Beautiful carving and as always, outstanding work!!
faust

[Alan Trout]

Bill,

Really nice piece. very well done.

Alan

[Mike Tilley]

Bill as already stated great looking piece

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks very much my friends. I had to run down to my work to get my battery charger for the camera. It'll be an hour or so before I can take more pics but I'll get on it asap. I also picked up my smaller photo tent. Lets see if i can improve on the photography too. with the new lathe coming, I'd like to try one of these on a larger scale with a few touches I have in mind. This was so much fun, you can bet I'll be doing more of these.

[Richard Kennedy UK]

I saw your previous post the other day and having not come across the vessel of illusion I had a root about the internet WOW! I have to say it has captured my imagination I will have to track down a copy of the dvd to see how its done! Having said all that its great to see your piece the wood is amazing and the finished piece looks fabulous Can't wait to see more pictures!

[Jeff Hamilton Jr.]

Wow Bill; the trip to Glaser's really inspired you! That is awesome . . .

[philip labre]

Fabulous piece, Bill!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Allan Ferguson]

That is a lot of WOW! power.

[Fred Belknap]

When you originally posted that you were going to make an illusion bowl I had no idea what you were talking about. It sounded like something Merlin the Magician would do and I wasn't disappointed. Wow that's a bunch of smoke and mirrors. I realize it isn't magic but a lot of hard work.

[Jim Burr]

I'm in Fred's boat...did it look like a bowl but was really a box?! Really fun effort Bill!! The grain orientation really adds to the effect!

[Harvey Ghesser]

Truly beautiful, Bill...wow!

[charlie knighton]

great turning, i really like it Bill

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks very much everyone. I really got lucky on this piece of wood. I have to finish a humidor but after that I'll try another one asap. More pics soon.

[Steve Schlumpf]

I like it! Beautiful grain pattern and I love the surprise when looking into the opening! Nice work Bill!

[Baxter Smith]

Great work Bill. Both wood and form are first rate!

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is just beautiful Bill. Love the wood.

[Rick Markham]

Ha! That's amazing, I was reading through the other thread and finally figured out you had posted this. Too cool, I'm not familiar with Trent Bosch's work, guess I'm gonna have to do some internet research. This is a super cool effect, and yes that hunk of mystery wood, lends itself perfectly to this, both in grain pattern and in aloofness. I'm looking forward to seeing all the tools you had to use to create this. I've become increasingly interested in carving, I'm just trying to resist that vortex at least temporarily until I can save some money for tooling. Now you have me wondering what you are going to pull out of your hat next? :)

[Bill Wyko]

Wow Bill; the trip to Glaser's really inspired you! That is awesome . . .

I'm tellin ya, It was a real game changer. Paulo really motivated me. I have a new Powermatic 4224 on the way so now I can go big. I plan on making some videos of the work I do too. I think I'm gonna be busy for a while.

Sorry I haven't posted the rest of the pictures, My USB card reader for my camera has a bent pin and won't read the card. I'll get a new one tomorrow and get the pics up.

[Bill Wyko]

Ok, I fixed the pin with an xacto knife. Here are some more pics.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401668003.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24055705/401668004.jpg

[Rick Markham]

Ok, now tell us what the goodies are. Looks like you have some nice rotary tools, what's the pneumatic tool at the bottom? I think the balloon is my favorite of the bunch, and also the key to the "illusion" I'm sure.

[Bill Wyko]

I've had that old air saw and air grinder for over 10 years. As far as the Baloon & cork go, the cork allows me to reverse the inner vessel on the vacuum chuck. The baloon is a clamp inside the vessel. Once you get the illusion in, the baloon is the clamp. The tools on the right are the Glaser MiniQR's I used them to turn the whole thing. The 2 below the vessel are cable driven, one is a grinder and the other is a power carver.

[Rick Markham]

So, I'm assuming you turn a really thin inner bowl (with a hole in the bottom) plug the hole with a cork reverse it on the vacuum chuck, turn the lip on inner vessel, boil the inner vessel until it becomes flexible enough to work it inside the other vessel, insert balloon and blow it up, once the wood dries and becomes rigid you let the air out of the balloon and 'poof' a vessel inside a vessel. Did I get it right? How thin did you have to turn the inner vessel for it to become flexible enough after boiling to get it in there.

This is super cool, I definitely am going to have to play with this idea :)

[David DeCristoforo]

I noticed your signature.... "William", is it now?

I really would to see how these are done. Again, I have to say, this is an excellent piece. I like it more every time I look at it.

[Bill Wyko]

Rick, you got it. I turned the walnut to about 3/32"
David, I've always signed my name William on everything for as long as I can remember. When using a wood burner, it flows muuch better. The "L"'s are hard to get to flow across the grain. 8-)

Davis, I think these would be right up your alley. I could see many extraordinary pieces done this way coming from you. They are fairly easy and a lot of fun.

[David DeCristoforo]

Well, I like "William" better than "Bill". And I would love to take a whack at one of these...

[Rick Markham]

Bill thanks for sharing, I am going to have to give this one a shot at some point. It looks like fun to me. :)

[Dane Fuller]

Awesome job, Bill!

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks again everyone. I plan on another one with a new twist as soon as I get my PM 4224 set up. I see so much potential for these techniques that I want to put to use asap. The new lathe has me as excited as I felt when I first started turning. (But with more experience under my belt)So there'll be more coming soon.

[Bob Lloyd]

As someone who has never turned anything but their ankle, I am amazed at what you guys do. Thank you for sharing.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks Bob, feel free to jump into the vortex, you'll be glad you did. Lots of fun and lots of incredible people. I started on a Jet Mini in 2006 and haven't stopped since other than going bigger & bigger on the lathe size. (and turnings)

[David Reed]

Bill, this is stunning. And the technique described is unbelievable. I just figured you cut the bottom out of the outer vessel and replaced it in a very stealthy manner. I too am excited to lend my hand at something like this.

[Bob Lloyd]

Thanks Bob, feel free to jump into the vortex, you'll be glad you did.

Bill

Thanks for the offer but from what I have read, one does not jump into the vortex but gets sucked in!:) I have too many projects waiting right now and I know that if I bought a lathe I would get distracted. Maybe down the road, I did check out Craigslist though............

[Bill Wyko]

And it's there that the Vortex starts, only a matter of time now.:D

Kidding aside, I'm glad everyone enjoyed this one, thanks very much.

[Russell Eaton]

Bill I just saw this thread. All I can say is wow. I look forward to seeing what you crank off of the new mustard monster. I have not turned anything in 2+ weeks. I should be able to move all 5 lathes by this weekend to the new shop. I am getting ready to sling some shavings. Once again, another wonderful piece.

[Ken Glass]

Bill,
Been busy and missed this one. The WOW factor is amazing. I truly love the concept and your execution. I am, as others, interested in the process and would love to try one for my upcoming Gallery show, if you haven't already patented it? lol Great work, Bill!

[Jim Underwood]

Wow. I remember when you first posted that piece. What a transformation! Really nice work on this...

[Greg Just]

Trent did a demo at our club last weekend. Looks like you figured out his technique really well - that is a beautiful piece.

[jwjerry w kowalski]

Bill, that's a great piece, outstanding wood too, but your tool skill really made it special, congrats on making the wow cover.

[Bill Wyko]

HOLY SMOKES!!! I had no idea. What an incredible honor, I'm completely surprised. I really did enjoy making this piece but never thought I would be recognized like this. I must thank Trent Bosch for the inspiration. I watched his video and put my own twist on it. I also want to thank all of you for the wonderful compliments and inspiration. I better pinch myself, I might still be sleeping. Again, I'm truly honored, thanks fo letting me know.