Maple Vessel (pics)

[Bill Grumbine]

Greetings everyone

It has been a while since I posted any pictures of anything I have turned, mainly because it has been a while since I turned anything that was not a) student related or b) production related. ButI am finally getting some creative time on the lathe. Below is a piece of maple that Dominic of all people should recognize, since he has been working on a chunk of it himself.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleburlpot01.jpg">

This is a chunk of red maple burl from a tree I harvested a year ago. I got three truckloads of this stuff, and my truck, with its 1900 lb payload, was down on the axles almost each time. Now that I am looking closer at the picture, I think I am going to have to retake it since the depth of field seems to be a bit shallow. But anyway...

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleburlpot02.jpg">

Here is a shot of it from the other "side". This piece of wood has just about everything maple can have - burl, curl, bug holes and streaks, and just a little bit of spalting. It is approximately 8" in diameter and 5 3/4" high, and hollowed out to a thickness of about 3/16". I thought about doing a Wally wall of 1/8", but those inclusions were starting to make me nervous. I hollowed it with my blasphemous torque arrested laser guided hollowing rig that Randy Privett made for me. You can see pics of it on his site, www.monster-wood-tool.com.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleburlpot03.jpg">

Here's the bottom. I like them rounded (no cracks now!), which I understand is authentic to southwestern shapes. I had to get my big fat hand in the picture to keep it from rolling off the table. It rocks back and forth for a long time when given a shove.

If you are going to Totally Turning, and all goes well, you will be able to see it in person at the instant gallery. Thanks for taking a look.

Bill

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice piece Bill. I was wondering if you ever get any turning time any more. :rolleyes: ;)

[Don Baer]

Bill,
Once again you have done an amazing piece of work.
I Like it.

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Bill, I'm glad you don't get creative too often. I'd just pack my lathe, tools, and wood up and fade quietly away.

That is one beautiful piece of wood and you have brought out that beauty for us to enjoy. Thank You.

Bruce

[Keith Burns]

I must say you have "done yourself proud" on this one. I like it very much.

[Brad Schmid]

Really nice work Bill! That's one awesome piece of wood too.

[Travis Stinson]

I love it Bill. That's a wonderful piece of wood that does have a bit of everything. And the form begs to be held. Hope you can find the time to get creative more often!

[Randy Moore]

Bill that is beautiful and your work always amazes me. You are an inspiration to all of us.:)

[QUOTE=Bruce Shiverdecker]Bill, I'm glad you don't get creative too often. I'd just pack my lathe, tools, and wood up and fade quietly away.


Bruce, when you start to pack up your tools let me know 'cause you are about 6 hours from me. He He.:eek:

Randy

[Jim Becker]

Yum...that wood is gorgeous and what you did with it is great!

[Ernie Nyvall]

Bill, that's beautiful. Did it come from that big tree you show cutting up on your web site?
It is one thing to be able to turn such a nice form, but to find that form with the natural edge and inclusions in the tree is a whole new ball game. I can't help but wonder the orientation of that piece in the tree.

Ernie

[Jim Ketron]

Nice one Bill! Its jam packed with character!

[Shelley Bolster]

Bill, with work like that, it is no surprise that you inspire so many! Even those from the other side (aka - flat woodworkers) can't help but appreciate what beauty you bring forth.

[Bill Grumbine]

Thanks everyone, for your kind words and comments.

Dennis, I was beginning to wonder myself.

Bruce, don't put your tools away yet. I had one before this out of some spectacular cherry from a huge buttress along the side of a stump, but it went crashing into the wall when the buffing wheel grabbed it out of my hands. Bad words were said.

Travis, I am hoping to get some serious lathe time in the next month, as I have a big show coming up. By the way, I checked your post the other day, and while I did not have time to respond then, I will tell you that you are doing some beautiful work yourself.

Ernie, this piece came from a different tree, one that I harvested last summer. The whole tree was burl! The power company had come along to this man's house and stripped it of its limbs. I got the trunk. It looked like a series of balls stacked on top of one another up to about 14' high, all burl from the ground up. It took me three Saturdays to harvest it all.

Thank you all again for taking the time to comment, and for your encouragement.

Bill

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Well Randy, Since Bill seems to think my stuff is worth doin', I'm not going to go POOF. However, when I went to work a Woodcraft this morning, I saw something that I might want to have as a replacement for my well used Jet mini.

It will do a 12" bowl and even though it doesn't have VS, the pullies are soooooooooo much easier to get to. It also has indexing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm consider the possibilities. With my "new" discount (This was my second day to work there) It is definitely do-able.

LOML told me, when I decided to work part time there, "it's ok to bring home things instead of a paycheck, BUT NO IOU's"............ I think she really meant it!

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Can't have any fun (Spent about 2-C's gettin' some things I needed.) HeHe

Bruce

[Bill Grumbine]

LOML told me, when I decided to work part time there, "it's ok to bring home things instead of a paycheck, BUT NO IOU's"............ I think she really meant it!

Bruce

Bruce, you are in trouble! What did you do, hang a sign on your neck that said, "Will work for tools"? I am an employee of our local Woodcraft as an instructor, and I get the evil eye and a warning every time I say I am even going on the same road as the store! ;)

Bill

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Bill great job on this vessel, it sure does look great.

It is one of those pieces that you keep on seeing more and more in as you look at it.

[Mark Cothren]

Very nice! Thanks for the picture!

[Mike Ramsey]

Bill & Bruce,
With you working at WC I can see some problems with your LOML's :)
The last time I was in WC the manager mentioned that in total sales the employees are the best customers, bar none!

[John Hart]

Beautiful piece Bill. The wood is awesome and the design fits it well

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bill your talent and eye for turning astounds me! Beautiful piece!

Bruce....you working in a WW store....that's like the fox guarding the hen house isn't it?...or .......a drug addict working in a pharmacy? :eek: :D

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

No sign, Bill. Just walked in at the right time. As a past president to the Peoria Area Woodworkers Club. I had spent a lot of time with the owners of the local Woodcraft. They were lookin' for some part time help. I will be doing demonstrations, too.

I wear a BIB when I walk into work, to catch the drool.

Sneaked a Beal system home this week along with some Kaleidescope kits.

HeHe.

Bruce