Small rhododendron NE hollow form. PICs

[Dave Smith]

Rhododendron burl from wood I was given in August. The tree had been down and cut into firewood lengths for about a week before it was given to me. The waxed blank sat outside my shop until early November when I roughed it out. I wrote the date on the bottom with a new gel pen and it disappeared while soaking in alcohol. Not all gel pens are created equal. The roughed out hollow form soaked about a week before I had a chance to take it out. It was roughed out to about 1/4". Top through the neck is 1/16" thick. Thickness increases midway through the body to 1/8" at the base.

<p><img src="http://www.woodnheart.com/WC/turning/rhody/fhf1.jpg"><p/>
Nice eyes on the low side. Base 1 1/4". Body 2 1/4 maximum and neck 1 3/4".

<p><img src="http://www.woodnheart.com/WC/turning/rhody/fhf2.jpg"><p/>
Some flame figure on the high side. Height is 3 7/8".

<p><img src="http://www.woodnheart.com/WC/turning/rhody/data.jpg"><p/>
The data card for the hollow form. I took the piece out of the alcohol on the 12th and wrapped it but didn’t take the first weight until 24 hours later. All weights are in grams. The piece was effectively dry on the 17th when I took a long weekend. It only lost 3 grams over the next week before finial turning it on the 24th. Finished piece weighs 33 grams.

The number (224) is the sample weight of the soaking solution when I took the piece out and corresponds to 92% alcohol.

Sanded to 600 initially and between coats. Finished with 2 coats of Rockler’s Gel Polyurethane. No buffing.

I asked about turning rhododendron a couple months ago and the advise was it will crack and split no matter what I do. I beg to differ with the advise. I also have two crotch bowls that also dried without cracking or excessive warping.

Comments welcome.

Dave Smith

I can turn most anything no matter how long it takes in Longview, WA.

[Ernie Nyvall]

Nice work Dave. That's quite the delicate piece.

Ernie

[Jim Ketron]

OH Thats Beautiful Dave! would have never thought about turning that wood. Nice form and finish!
Chalk another hard to tame wood up for the DNA method! :D

[John Hart]

Very cool Dave....Hey...I need an alcohol tshirt!! I forgot...sorry.:o I tried something that you might be interested in. I took a marbled eucalyptus rough-out and sanded the outside smooth....then soaked in DNA....then coated the outside with shellac and allowed it to dry for a week. I got no movement and no cracks. When I put it back on the lathe, it was perfectly round....and this stuff is known for moving wildly and cracking. I'm just speculating that the shellac caused the drying to occur on the inside and all movement was in that direction...with the natural arch of the piece holding things together. But I'm just guessing of course.

[Dave Smith]

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments.

Rhody turns easily and sands to a smooth surface quickly. It is fine grained but not as creamy as holly or pear.

John just go to my web site and order a shirt. I still have all sizes from M to XXL.

I did some trials similar to what you did with the marbled eucalyptus. My experience was that the brown paper wrap was more consistent with good results. I read your post when you did it and probably didn't post a response.

One thing I have done with green to finish pieces is wet sand with alcohol. Very thin pieces appear to dry quickly and the alcohol is an excellent lubricant for sanding. I fold a piece of paper towel or small thin sponge and hold it behind the sand paper which provides a reservoir for the alcohol and keeps the surface wet. It helps to wet sand at a slow speed also. Soaking a green to finish bowl in alcohol greatly reduces the chance of cracking and limits the warping.

Dave Smith

Next test wood is butterfly bush in Longview, WA.

[Robert Watsek]

That is a beautiful piece indeed Dave.

I dont know anything about that species but I'll take your word for it and when it comes to alcohol you are the man.:D

_________________

Bob

[Mark Cothren]

Very nice work, Dave! Thanks for sharing all the information, too!

Thanks for the pictures!