Platform Basket

[Bruce Jones]

Hello once again everyone I now have photos of the third project out of five I am currently working on. This one is similar to one of my raised platform bowls with the carved rims. The big difference on this one is I'll be carving the bowl section as well, so it will be more like an open air basket. The photos show the angled segmented rim (Pommele Sapele) that is glued to the bowl section (Red Elm) and the platform base (Sapele). The whole project will now go back on the lathe for the 4th tine but this time as one piece. I'll be undercutting the rim and bring the bowl section to about 1/4" thick. Then the layout & drawing can start.

[Robert Hayward]

Another nice one in the making!

[Bruce Jones]

Thank you Robert;
Okay hello once again everyone, I had some time in the shop today and was able to work on the platform basket project. I'm going to be calling this one "FLOWER OF LIFE" it will have a carving of a Mandala flower of life that will be the basket. The rim I have not made up my mind the pattern as of yet. You will see in the photos me turning the rim to thickness, under cutting the bowl rim and taking it to 1/4" thickness. The photos appear in reverse and I show the tools I'm using at each phase. Now sanded to 320 grit the project is ready for layout.

[Bruce Jones]

Some more photos for your viewing pleasure.

[Bruce Jones]

And some more photos for your viewing pleasure.

[Tim Elett]

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing the updates.

[Robert Hayward]

Bruce, the overall shape and wood you have used on this project is very pleasing to my eye. I like it even before you have started carving it.

[Eugene Dixon]

Thank you for posting. Looks like another great piece.

[Bruce Jones]

Thank you everyone.
Well I was able to complete my layout for the Mandala flower of life project. Once I pierce through the bowl I'll do the layout on the outside of the bowl section. The Bowl section will be open air, I will be removing the triangles and shaping the other parts with a curved surface. The center circle will get carved but not go through because of the base.

[Bruce Jones]

Hello once again everyone I have started the carving process on the "Mandala flower of life" Project. Here are some of the starting photos before I forget to post them and get into my carving mode.

[Bruce Jones]

"Mandala flower of life"
Well I was able to cut completely through the second set of triangles today this allows me to transfer the pattern to the outside of the piece with much greater accuracy, I do have fudge it a bit to allow for the bowls curve. You will see some lines still need cleaning up in the photos.

[Bruce Jones]

CARVING FLOWER OF LIFEHello once again everyone I've just about carved the third circle 36 triangles so far. They have only been carved straight through at 90 degrees to the base as of yet. I will do this to all of them before starting to add the curves. This gives you control over the shape so they look uniform to each other. This wood (Red Elm) is very hard and very close to White Oak, so the carving has to go slow and the cuts have to be sliced thin each time.