Toot your Horn!

[Mark Cothren]

Okay, I'm curious to know and see what everybody's favorite turning(s) is - of your own work.

Lookin' for some pictures posted... if you'd care to elaborate on the turning (background, process, etc) and maybe why it's your favorite, that'll be gravy on the biscuit.

I'll start it off... here is a one of mine that is probably one of my top favorites. It's recent and a piece of Hickory from a tree off my in-law's farm. It's neat to me b/c I don't think it's a typical example of Hickory since the tree had been pushed over back several years ago and the main trunk was growing parallel to the ground. The bark is very tight and dark, and was very thick. The wood was very soft - both green and dry. It cut and sanded about as easy as any wood I've turned so far.

My FIL really loves it, and wife is easing her way into telling me that we're gonna give it to him for his birthday...:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/hickory001.jpg

And this is another piece of the same wood that I just finished up a day or two ago. Another one of my favorites...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/HickoryHF01.jpg

Okay folks... can't wait to see your favorites!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mark......later this evening....I'm going to toot my own horn....for the very first time! Right now.....I'm having too much fun to take pictures.......Neener....Neener!

[Jim Dunn]

Real talent here Mark. Very nice!

[Mark Cothren]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Bring it on, Ken!

[Jim Becker]

I have several favorites, all for different reasons. But the turning/carving below was my greatest challenge and greatest satisfaction do-date...

[John Hart]

Only been turning for less than a year really...but so far...this one is my favorite. Redwood burl. I like it because the wood was a delight to work with and I got really brave and went thin on it. I pick it up and hold it at least once a week.
I should sign it one of these days :o

[Travis Stinson]

Probably my favorite is this Blue Buckeye hollow form. It was full of voids and was like turning styrofoam. I expected it to fly apart at any moment while hollowing, but I eeked it out without any mishaps. It ended up weighing 5 oz.
Another is this quilted Maple platter. Just a plain platter of some gorgeous wood. I still like to just pick it up and admire the shimmering figure.:cool:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c213/tstin27/DSC01964a.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c213/tstin27/TS102Small.jpg

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Mark,

That is an awesome question. I would have to say it was shown in my first thread when I joined Saw Mill Creek.

Many have seen it, however many have not. I will post a link to that first thread as the photos are noted in another link in my introduction and two numerous to upload. Take a look if you wish.

That is one nice NE you have turned, no wonder your FIL wishes to possess it. Would be a hard one to part with. One thing it will stay in the family.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=21503&highlight=treadle+lathe

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Mark Cothren]

Yeah Bill, I remember that one... AWESOME!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

This is it.....very special to me........I'd never seen a wood lathe operated live in person.......today I turned my first turning..........I won't be invited to display at the turning art show on Moscow, Idaho later this month.......but that's okay........it's my first! Thanks folks for bombing me!

[Andy Hoyt]

Wow - Each one of those posted so far is an exceptional piece. Some I recall, some I don't. Not sure if I'm eligible to play in the big leagues, but here goes.

I couldn't decide on my most favorite, so I'm calling it a three-way tie. They are favorites because of the challenge they represented to create them. All of these are reposts.

First up is the cherry burl I turned last month. My first coring experience, my first natural edge attempt, and my first go at a burl. The wood was punky, my vac chuck sucked enough of the bottom right out of it to making mounting it a challenge unto itself. Real success though was with tool control. Have a look.

31676

Secondly, is my cherry friend the Three Legged Monster. Challenge here was the technical side of things. I had the form in my head; recognized that the turning was actually two bowls in one; and had to build a special chuck just to hold it. Here 'tis.

31677

And lastly, there's this one. Since I began writing this, I've decided that this is indeed the turning I am most proud of.

31678

[Keith Burns]

Hot dang Ken, ya did it !:) You have learned well that which you have been taught...Great start:) :) :)

[Bill Stevener]

Hay now let me be the first, That is just great Ken. That wasn't so hard, was it.

If I were you I would put a finish coat on it and place it in a place of honor in the shop for all time.

Something you will always remember.

Now I hope to see your first bowl next week,

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Jim Ketron]

I have a problem cant decide on which of these are my favorites.
Sorry so many :o
In no particular order
The large Ambrosia maple Bowl (AKA The baby Bowl)
Its one of my favorites because I made this one just to take the twins Picture in it! It goes to shows but is Not For Sale!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/BabyBowl3fix.jpg
Another shot of The Baby Bowl
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/BigAmbrosiaMapleBabyBowlsm.jpg

This Piece is Masur Birch that Big Mike sent me to make a gift for my wife. Beautiful wood! http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/MasurBirch.jpg

My first Hollow Form.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/1sthfresize.jpg

I call this piece Eruption I think it looks like a Volcano
This piece also got the WOW cover.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/Eruption1.jpg

This one has lots of curl and is nice to pick up and look at.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/Jim_k/HMNEWB2.jpg

[Corey Hallagan]

Excellent Ken, very nice work! Looks like you got the hang of it!

Corey

[Bob Noles]

Great pictures y'all.

Jim.... those twins in the bowl are priceless.

Ken, you are moving thru the ranks pretty quick.

[Glenn Clabo]

Jim...Your Twins shot made our day. Just plain priceless.

[Ernie Nyvall]

Gosh, I'm just happy to complete something and don't really have a long list, but here are a couple that were the hardest to date.

This was my 2nd NE and was glad the bark stayed on and the other a flat eucalyptus HF that I was surprised I could hollow out.

Ernie

[Karl Laustrup]

WOW! What a great idea for a post Mark.

Gentlemen, having had the pleasure to see most everything you have posted on this forum, I would find it hard to select one or even a couple of dozen "favorites".

Now where's all the ladies with their favorite turnings? :)

While looking at this thread I thought it would be really great to have a "turners picture forum" on SMC so everyone could see the stunning work you produce. Maybe your top 3 or so favorites, although I'd like to see everything someone has turned in one place.

Karl

[Ken Salisbury]

I thought this one was kinda kewl:


http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/segmented%20bowl%20article/z30.jpg


You can see the details of construction here:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/articles/4/

[Curt Fuller]

I like to combine 2 or more kinds wood on most things I turn so here are a few of the ones I think turned out.
First is an 'inside out' Christmas ornament from redheart, african mahogany, and pine.
Second is a small box from box elder burl and cocobolo.
Third is a bowl from russian olive, bocote, and coffee grounds.

[Bill Grumbine]

Greetings everyone

I have a couple of mine that I consider my favorites. It is awful hard to pick just one!

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherrybaloneyslice01.jpg">

This is a piece I turned back in 2004. It is a slice of a cherry trunk with burls all around. The only way to turn it and keep the burls was to keep the pith and all in it. I was fortunate that it did not crack. It was a real bear to turn being an open form that is all end grain. It is about 14" across if I recall correctly, and 4" high. I am typing from memory here, so I might be off a bit on the measurements.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/spaltedelmburlvase01.jpg">

This is a more recent piece, turned in October of 2005. It is one of the largest burl vases I have turned so far at 10" in diameter and 10" high. It was also a fairly difficult piece for me, being that it is heavily spalted.

Both pieces are in the same collection.

Thanks for taking a look, and Mark, great idea for a thread!

Bill

[Pat Jeddy]

OK, I feel silly, but my best stuff so far is still:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=29261

Although I did do some candle holders for my MIL - but they're in London now and I didn't take photos.

Anyway, where's CAROLE!!!!! She's a much better representative of the Ladies contingent.

[Mark Cothren]

Back to the top....

[Karl Laustrup]

Yes indeed, where is Carole. :confused: And all the rest of you.

I know there's more of you out there. Stop spinning and take a break to post some pix.

Karl

[Keith Burns]

OK, I'll bite. The first one, walnut and maple, was my first commissioned piece so I don't own it anymore. The second is really two which I call Siblings. They are walnut and white oak. They were inspired by Ray Allen.

[Frank Chaffee]

Wow,
All of you turners are doing great work. Keep it up!
Thanks,
Frank

[Dave Fifield]

Some excellent work indeed! Keep it up!! You guys inspire me :) :cool:

My favorites are burl bowls like this one I made for a friend about a year back. It was from a hunk of local redwood burl and was about 10" in diameter. Finish is several coats of tung oil with paste wax over:

http://www.daveswoodenwonders.com/Woodwork/bowl1_m.jpg

High-res picture is here (http://www.daveswoodenwonders.com/Woodwork/bowl1.jpg).

Dave

[John Hart]

Ok...This is my new favorite.:rolleyes: Just finished it. This thread is a nice idea Mark. So much inspiring talent.;) :)
32170

[Jim Dunn]

See, see, that little brown spot is where Andy lives. That's his shavings pile right outside his shipping department.:) I looked at your project on the IT contest thread John and I don't blame you one bit for being proud of this.

Jim