Leopardwood vase

[Robert McGowen]

I always liked the shape of Baxter Smith's "pizza parlor" vase. After he was so kind as to go back and get a photo and the measurement ratios, I had a place to start. I greyed out the colors and started with this picture:

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2744&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2744&mode=view/orig.jpg)


I needed a vase 20-24" tall for an alcove, so I started with that height and designed the vase. The next step was to start cutting. I use my table saw every day in a business I have, so I needed to cut and glue the rings in one day so I could free up the saw. I have started to turn the first 5 rings. The rest of the rings are just stacked on top with a couple of more rings to go.

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2741&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2741&mode=view/leo 7.jpeg)


I turned the inside as I went, but left the outside fairly rough, though I knocked off most of the edges so as to keep everything centered. As this was the first time to use the blueprints I made, I wanted to leave as much wiggle room as possible. Almost finished with the initial turning.

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2743&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2743&mode=view/leo8.jpeg)


http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2742&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2742&mode=view/leo 9.jpeg)


I took the vase off of the lathe to view the shape. I had to pretend that the base was curved in because I did not want to start shaping the base until the very last step in turning. This was because I was using a floating base in the bottom, so only the bottom ring was glued to the glue block. You only have to part off about an inch of wood before you hit the middle of the ring and set the thing free, so I was leaving as much glued area as possible until the last second. I could see an obvious bulge about a quarter of the way up and also see that the "shoulders" were too bulky and heavy looking. I could also feel, but not really see several dips and uneven spots. I put it back on the lathe, and slid a straight edge up and down the piece. As long as it only rested on one spot, I knew that the curve was continuous. If it rested on two spots, I knew that there was a flat spot. I shined a light behind the straight edge and would mark the center with a pencil and then mark the two spots that the straight edge was sitting on. I then used a scraper held at an angle and very gently turned off both outside pencil marks, leaving the middle mark alone. After doing this a few times to each spot I found and working my way down the vase, I was able to run the straight edge down the vase and never have it touch two spots at once, always balancing in the middle. I then knew that the curve was continuous along the entire body.

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2747&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2747&mode=view/leo 10.jpeg) And the finished product! 21" tall, it is composed of 289 pieces of Leopardwood. I put one coat of wipe-on poly on it so far. I took the photos prior to applying any more finish, as it is so hard to photograph with the gloss of the finish.

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2748&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2748&mode=view/leo 4.jpg)


And for size comparison:

http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2749&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2749&mode=view/leo 5.jpg)


http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2750&t=1 (http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2750&mode=view/leo 6.jpg)


C & C are welcome.

I have to make another one, since my wife told me that the color was too light and I needed to use a darker wood! http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/images/smilies/bonk.gif
She liked the vase though! Thank you for looking! http://www.woodturnersunlimited.com/forum/images/smilies/wave.gif

[Dave Mueller]

Robert,
Nice vase and shape. I have some true mahogany and have been thinking about making a tall segmented vase. I appreciate the details you provided. Like you, I am really picky about flat spots. Cool way to find them - got to try it.
Dave

[Doug Herzberg]

That's beautiful. Thanks for the step by step description.

[Mike Tilley]

Robert nice looking vase and shape glad to see more segmented pieces here!

[bob svoboda]

Very nice! Someday I hope to muster the patience..

[Tom Winship]

Robert, beautiful piece as usual. Now I would like to see one almost identical to this with your normal treatment of the neck and mouth. Doesn't look like you without that.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Beautiful piece and love the form.

[Tom Hamilton D'ville, GA]

Robert, beautiful seems to be the word of the day for your piece and who am I to disagree! It is beautiful. Thanks for sharing the method and the photos. All the best, Tom