Turning Air

[Curt Fuller]

I would guess that at the widest circumference of this piece it's about 80% air. It was surprisingly stable and easy to hollow, I think I hollowed it in under an hour. But it's not very big either. About 5" tall. The wood is local fruit cherry and it turns like butter. So, by using the amazing Nyvall hollowing system and a couple homemade cutters I was really surprised it stayed in one piece. Definitely wasn't hard to watch the cutter and see where it was working. The biggest problem was that it won't stand on the small foot, it's pretty heavy on one side. So I made a stand for it from a slice of BE burl and pinned it with a small brass pin.

237889237890237891237892237888

[Jim Burr]

Where's the rest of it Curt!? Not to many would think about, much less even try that...way over the top!!!!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Absolutely beautiful Curt! Love the wood... or lack of it! Funny how the eye fills in the rest of the curve!! Like always - love the imagination!!

[James Combs]

Looks like it would make a great finger or hand grabber also.:eek: But it is definitely interesting and far out to look at. Looks to have a great finish as well.

[David DeCristoforo]

That's amazing! I'd think you would get dizzy watching it spin around!

[Allan Ferguson]

Absolutely wild.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Very interesting and well executed Curt! Nicely done!

[Ken Glass]

Curt,
A great turning with tons of character. I like the contrasting base as well. Well Done!!

[David E Keller]

Fantastic, Curt! I aspire to turn as little wood as you do! As good as this piece looks in the photos, I think it would be unbelievably beautiful in Oklahoma!

[Roger Chandler]

Oh, I see! A "hollow," hollow form! Nice work Curt!

[francesco dibari]

I would guess that at the widest circumference of this piece it's about 80% air. It was surprisingly stable and easy to hollow, I think I hollowed it in under an hour. But it's not very big either. About 5" tall. The wood is local fruit cherry and it turns like butter. So, by using the amazing Nyvall hollowing system and a couple homemade cutters I was really surprised it stayed in one piece. Definitely wasn't hard to watch the cutter and see where it was working. The biggest problem was that it won't stand on the small foot, it's pretty heavy on one side. So I made a stand for it from a slice of BE burl and pinned it with a small brass pin.

237889237890237891237892237888

.... spectacular piece ... many many compliments .. :)

[Rick Markham]

That's spectacular Curt. Makes it easy to see inside when you're hollowing, but probably hard to see what you are hollowing... nothing is more fun than trying to turn something that becomes largely invisible while spinning :D It's definitely awesome from form to finish! The stand is very fitting and pretty too. :)

[Bob Bergstrom]

Talk about using negative space. There certainly not much of what I guess positive space. Great execution and courage.

[Len Mullin]

Now that's a turning, this is one gorgeous piece of artwork.
Len

[neil mackay]

An interesting piece this one Curt, a bit of a challenge. But it is a real winner in my book.

[Harry Robinette]

Beautiful piece of work Curt I do believe you out did yourself on this one. Did you have to sharpen allot with cuttng all that air.

[Kathy Marshall]

Very cool chunk of air with wood accents! Great job getting that turned in one piece, I imagine it would only have taken one little slip for it to shatter.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Now that is a lot of air and a beautiful piece.

[Michelle Rich]

yikes! you are adventuresome!

[Russell Eaton]

Very cool Curt. I bet it was easy to clear the chips. ;)

[Scott Lux]

Really nice. I wish I could see it as a non-turner would. I'm stuck in the "wow, you are brave" thoughts. But it's really very pretty too.

[Mike Cruz]

That gives new meaning to "hollow" form!

Curt, do you have any pics of the blank before turning?

[Curt Fuller]

Thanks all of you for all the nice comments. This one was pretty fun to turn but I have to admit that there was a lot more luck involved in getting it turned than skill. I could probably try this a hundred more times and break every one of them.




Curt, do you have any pics of the blank before turning?

I didn't take any pics before or during the process. But it was just a small section of dead cherry branch I found in the local wood dump. It actually is the result of not getting it centered very well when it was originally mounted between centers. As it took shape I could see that one whole side was going to be missing or else it was going to have to get a lot smaller. I decided to try it with the whole side missing and got lucky that it worked.

[charlie knighton]

pretty....

[Mike Cruz]

Shucks, Curt. Envisioning the form from the blank is what sometimes gives me inspiration. Seeing how stuff like this started out helps to not throw away pieces with potential. Oh well. Beatiful piece! Next time. Next time...