A few late October projects

[Eric Holmquist]

Took the day off, and finished up a few projects. The Apple HF was started and finished today.

Big Leaf Maple Mini Salt / Pepper Grinder. Wooden portion 4" (10cm) tall. Finished with Bush Oil and polyurethane.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8126332039_51a5e0422f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332039/)
Big Leaf Maple Mini Grinder 01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332039/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

Apple Hollow Form. Around 6" (15cm) tall. Finished with waterborne lacquer. First piece of Apple I've turned. Got the fresh cut log from Peter Wilcox.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8126332079_b38deb2f2f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332079/)
Apple HF 01a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332079/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8126332115_4517cb20a7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332115/)
Apple HF 01b (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126332115/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

Cherry Bowl with a bit of burl. Around 7" (18cm) across. Finished with Bush Oil and polyurethane.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8126331917_fafaf651d9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126331917/)
Cherry Bowl 01a (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126331917/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8126358166_5e909a064c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358166/)
Cherry Bowl 01b (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358166/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

Spalted Norway Maple Bowl. Around 8" (20cm) across. Finished with Bush Oil and polyurethane.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8126358244_8f2c49e532_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358244/)
Norway Maple Bowl 04 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358244/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

Spalted Sycamore (Plane) Bowl. Around 8" (20cm) across. Finished with Bush Oil and polyurethane.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8126358286_a88e821f70_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358286/)
Sycamore Bowl 02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/79751797@N04/8126358286/) by Eric Holmquist (http://www.flickr.com/people/79751797@N04/), on Flickr

[David Warkentin]

Beautiful!

[Jenny Trice]

Beautiful work Eric. Thank you for sharing. Can you tell me more about Bush oil finish? I do not know much about that one.

[Roger Chandler]

Beautiful work Eric.........all of them. I like that grinder form and the beautiful finish is just super!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Beautiful Eric. All are well done.

[Jim Burr]

Oddly enough, the rest pale in comparison to the grinder! Is that the PSI grinder? Please!!!...let me know who you like it, been looking for an offset crank for awhile!

[Baxter Smith]

All are very nice Eric but I think that little pear shaped grinder is extra cool!

[Doug W Swanson]

I like them all but tell your secret to the superb finish!

[Scott Lux]

Glad I don't have to pick a favorite. All are spectacular. I'm interested in more info on the finish too.

[Eric Holmquist]

Thanks everyone


Glad I don't have to pick a favorite. All are spectacular. I'm interested in more info on the finish too.


I like them all but tell your secret to the superb finish!


Beautiful work Eric. Thank you for sharing. Can you tell me more about Bush oil finish? I do not know much about that one.

For pieces which I don't dye / paint my typical finish is Bush Oil followed by Minwax Clear Gloss Wipe-on-Poly. Bush Oil is a Boiled Linseed Oil based concoction developed by William Bush that can build a film if used alone over several coats, but that film is not as durable as polyurethane. Advantages of Bush Oil over BLO for me is that it does not amber as strongly, and penetrates better, and for some reason, I've found that film finishes like polyurethane seem to produce better results than with just BLO. Looking at the MSDS for Bush Oil, it does have a small quantity of Urethane in it which may be why the subsequent polyurethane application works so well. I use the Bush Oil first to accent the wood grain, the subsequent polyurethane is for durability and depth.

I wait 3 days after the Bush Oil before applying the polyurethane. I start off with a thorough cleaning of the surface with mineral spirits, then apply the polyurethane before the mineral spirits flash off. After a few coats of polyurethane, I give the piece a good scrub with Abralon pads (500 and 1000) and apply a few more coats of polyurethane. Back to Abralon (1000 and 2000) then the final few coats of polyurethane. Each coat of polyurethane is always applied with a paper towel over mineral spirits before the spirits flash off. If possible I apply on the lathe at very low speed. None of these pieces are buffed, this is how they look after the final coat with paper towel.


Oddly enough, the rest pale in comparison to the grinder! Is that the PSI grinder? Please!!!...let me know who you like it, been looking for an offset crank for awhile!

Yes, this is the PSI kit, I just ordered a few kits after seeing a demo at one of the turning clubs I belong to. They are quite easy to make and use the ceramic crush grind mechanism. I tried the expanding rubber chuck they sell, but it did not give me the concentricity I wanted, so now use the pin jaws on my Talon chuck to hold them from the 1 1/2 hole on the base. I made two of these from a chunk of Big Leaf Maple Burl I got off the scrap pile at Bad Dog Burls. I spent more time stabilizing the bark inclusions than the rest of the project steps combined. I like them so far and plan to make a few more to give out as Christmas presents this year.

[Michelle Rich]

great finishes even on tricky wood.

[Rick Markham]

Those are all fantastic! Love the grinder, it's very organic and would look good on a table full of food.

[David Gilbert]

Don't you love apple and cherry! I really like your calabash style bowls with overhanging sides. I've tried Bush oil but actually think that Minwax Antique Oil builds better than the Bush Oil.

Cheers,
David

[Bob Rotche]

They are all excellent but I agree that the grinder is really something special. Have never seen one this shape before.

[Tim Rinehart]

Like the others, all of these are really well done and my favorite is also the grinder. Just caught my eye with the shape and burl eyes.