Bill Grumbine
10-20-2005, 6:06 PM
Greetings all
I have been trying to get this piece photographed for over a week now, and finally today I did it. I think having to get it delivered to its new owner had something to do with it. This is an elm burl which has been sitting around for a few years now, and judging by its condition, almost sat too long. It was one of my instant gallery pieces in Albany.
<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/spaltedelmburlvase01.jpg">
This wood came from a tree about two miles from my house. There is lots more on that tree, but this particular piece came off during a violent thunderstorm. When I stopped to ask the owner for some of the wood, I discovered that it was almost all burl! As you can see, it has some significant spalting going on in it. There were some places where it was downright punky, but I have dealt with punks before. Sharp tools were the order of the day, followed by a judicious application of the 80 grit gouge.
<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/spaltedelmburlvase02.jpg">
This is a shot of the other side, which shows the eyes better. This is a pretty good sized bowl, 10" high, and 10" across at the top as well. Wall thickness is approximately 3/8". It is finished with Watco Danish Oil and buffed with the Beall system.
If I may brag just a little bit, it was critiqued in the instant gallery by Stuart Batty and Andi Wolfe, and got very high marks. Stuart did suggest that the base could be just a bit smaller, and also suggested that I write my name smaller. That part will be a chore for me, since I have a rather large hand. But overall, they liked the finish, the consistent wall thickness, and no one seemed to see any of the mistakes I was sure they would find.
Thanks for taking a look.
Bill
I have been trying to get this piece photographed for over a week now, and finally today I did it. I think having to get it delivered to its new owner had something to do with it. This is an elm burl which has been sitting around for a few years now, and judging by its condition, almost sat too long. It was one of my instant gallery pieces in Albany.
<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/spaltedelmburlvase01.jpg">
This wood came from a tree about two miles from my house. There is lots more on that tree, but this particular piece came off during a violent thunderstorm. When I stopped to ask the owner for some of the wood, I discovered that it was almost all burl! As you can see, it has some significant spalting going on in it. There were some places where it was downright punky, but I have dealt with punks before. Sharp tools were the order of the day, followed by a judicious application of the 80 grit gouge.
<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/spaltedelmburlvase02.jpg">
This is a shot of the other side, which shows the eyes better. This is a pretty good sized bowl, 10" high, and 10" across at the top as well. Wall thickness is approximately 3/8". It is finished with Watco Danish Oil and buffed with the Beall system.
If I may brag just a little bit, it was critiqued in the instant gallery by Stuart Batty and Andi Wolfe, and got very high marks. Stuart did suggest that the base could be just a bit smaller, and also suggested that I write my name smaller. That part will be a chore for me, since I have a rather large hand. But overall, they liked the finish, the consistent wall thickness, and no one seemed to see any of the mistakes I was sure they would find.
Thanks for taking a look.
Bill