Bowl and Pens

[Scott Greaves]

Hi Everybody!

I've slowly been getting back to turning after a long Summer with the tools stored away. I need to turn a bunch of pens in the next couple of weeks, so I thought a good way to start would be to do some nice simple ones. I made two Father Sing pens. One is from green Steelwood, and the other is from some nice Tiger Stripe Praduak I had stabilized.

But I also wanted to make a bowl for my Sister. She picked out this nice little chunk of spalted Eucalyptus Burl, and we spun it up. I got her to try the bowl gouges, but I still did most of the turning. She thinks I'm going to sell it, but I really have plans for her Birthday for it!

Sorry about the quality of the pictures

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Thanks for looking!

Scott.

[Jim Becker]

Nice work, Scott! The vessel is very similar to one that I did awhile back and is one of my favorites in the "keeper" collection. That shape is very useful and combined with the great figure you found in that blank, is beautiful! Do more, please! :p

[Scott Greaves]

That shape is very useful and combined with the great figure you found in that blank, is beautiful!

Thanks Jim! I like the shape as well. That's about the only thing that really turned out right with this little bowl. I broke the foot off twice! Wally taught me that shape when he visited me a bit over a year ago. And as far as the figure? Sometimes you get lucky!

Scott.

[Ron Smith ... Richmond, VA]

Thanks Jim! I like the shape as well. That's about the only thing that really turned out right with this little bowl. I broke the foot off twice! Wally taught me that shape when he visited me a bit over a year ago. And as far as the figure? Sometimes you get lucky!

Scott.

Great job, Scott! I'd like to find some of that myself! I hope I could do it justice like you do. I still have problems getting the finish to look that good. I guess I'm just not that patient. Keep up the good work. Your pens keep me inspired to do better and better.

[Jim Becker]

I broke the foot off twice!

What "foot"? That vessel don't need no stinkin' foot! As a matter of fact, the absence of one is appropriate for the shape. Many folks tend to do what I'll term, "over foot" their turnings and it can take away from what my friend Phil Brennion calls the "sexiness" of the curves. There are a lot of subtlies in good shapes and sometimes even just a small adjustment makes a huge difference between a turning that is really nice and one that is outstanding...like you produced here.

Please don't get me wrong, how the bottom of a turning is treated depends on the style you are trying to accomplish. A visible foot is appropriate for some and not appropriate for others. Both Phil and David Ellsworth taught me that.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

What "foot"? That vessel don't need no stinkin' foot! As a matter of fact, the absence of one is appropriate for the shape. Many folks tend to do what I'll term, "over foot" their turnings and it can take away from what my friend Phil Brennion calls the "sexiness" of the curves. There are a lot of subtlies in good shapes and sometimes even just a small adjustment makes a huge difference between a turning that is really nice and one that is outstanding...like you produced here.

Please don't get me wrong, how the bottom of a turning is treated depends on the style you are trying to accomplish. A visible foot is appropriate for some and not appropriate for others. Both Phil and David Ellsworth taught me that.

I agree that some folks 'over do' the foot...but I think that little bowl needs a little bit of one so the bottom of the sexy shape is more visible. As it sits, it kinda doesn't show up. You know it's there, but you can't see it. Even an 1/8" foot helps...

Beautiful little piece.

KC

[Jim Becker]

I agree that some folks 'over do' the foot...but I think that little bowl needs a little bit of one so the bottom of the sexy shape is more visible...Even an 1/8" foot helps...

You're correct...one man's description of a foot is different than another's! I do subscribe that a slight rim to hold the piece up is most appropriate and hope I didn't give the impression that it should be avoided, only that it should be subtle and effective for it's purpose. Also, by keeping the diameter of said "lower rim" small (yet large enough to support the object), it will further enhance the visibility of the object without weighing it down...speaking of that term, it's what I should have refered to in the first place. Too much foot can make an object feel either heavy or unbalanced. IMHO, Scott's shape is really great in that respect--the turning feels "comfortable" sitting there and the curve still disappears just right as it moves out of one's vision.

[Glenn Hodges]

Great Work Scott!!! I like the looks of the eucalyptus burl wood. I have never had any of that wood. Buddy of mine tried some of it (not burl) and said it split bad. Have you had any trouble with eucalyptus being bat to split?

[Scott Greaves]

Thanks for the nice comments everybody!

I agree that you can "over-foot" a bowl. What I had planned was a slight ogee at the bottom, no ridge or anything, that would lift it about an eighth of an inch. I really don't care for expansion chucking, and breaking my little foot is why. I'll have to dig up a picture of what I did with the foot when I get home.

I can't help but laugh about the finish on this bowl! I was in a hurry with my Sister needing to get home and all, so I used the first thing that came to hand - the HUT Crystal Coat I use to finish my pens! Yep, just a simple old friction polish.

The Eucalyptus seems to work up real nice. I didn't have any problems with it (that I didn't cause!). I get this stuff at a place called MacBeath Hardwoods in Salt Lake City. They bought out the inventory of One Good Turn. Last time I was there I found a nice chunk of gum-vein Eucalyptus Burl that should be awesome! Maybe I'll try to spin it up this weekend!

Thanks again!

Scott.

[Scott Greaves]

I found this picture of how the bottom of the bowl was finished off. Sorry about the quality of the photo, but at least it shows what I did.
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Thanks again for all the nice comments!

Scott.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Great looking bowl Scott. It has a Very nice shape that begs you to touch it.

[Jim Becker]

I found this picture of how the bottom of the bowl was finished off. Sorry about the quality of the photo, but at least it shows what I did.

Beautiful job, Scott. That's exactly how I like these to be done. Make more!!! :p