Using up scraps? (Pics)

[Bill Grumbine]

Good afternoon all

Like many woodworkers, I hate throwing small bits of wood away. This is especially true of burls that I collect, and which find their way onto the lathe. Even after roughing and coring a burl to get as many round pieces as possible, there are often small bits left lying around. I have been hanging on to some of these pieces for years wondering what to do with them. A while ago a friend of mine suggest sticking a clock into each of them, and I finally got around to doing it. Below are some examples of pieces I "made". Make is sort of a loose term. I kept at least one part of the burl natural edged, and planed, sanded and polished the rest. The process is fairly fast and easy. While drilling the hole for the clock got to be interesting on some of them, the results are - well, you be the judge.

<img src= "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/cherryclock01.jpg">

This is a piece of cherry burl that has been sitting around for close to 10 years. Its size and shape never suggested any form of turning to me, and while in my clock frenzy, I got two pieces from it.

<img src= "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleclock01.jpg">

This is a slab I sawed off an irregular bowl blank. I couldn't see this being turned into chips, and the blank is now ready and regular in its shape, soon to be a natural edged bowl. All I need is time to do it (ha ha). I was able to get two of this size from the chunk and still leave enough for a nice sized bowl.

<img src= "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/elmclock01.jpg">

This piece is the leftover of a slippery elm burl given to me about three years ago. It comes from the part of the branch where it broke, and was badly splintered. Still, I couldn't see throwing it on the burn pile until I thought about it for a while. It took three years, but I finally figured out how to saw it up to get this one and two others like it.

This has turned out to be a great use for burls, but it's not for everyone. I would highly recommend that you consider this path of action carefully, and if you have any burl scaps you need to use up, and are uncomfortable in the least with this idea, send them to me, and I will see that they are well cared for. :D

Thanks for taking a peek.

Bill

[Brad Hammond]

Now that is one cool idea! how'd you finish those pieces Mr. G?
Did you buff any or just coat them?

Once again, GREAT IDEA!!! especially with xmas coming up. Clean out the shop and make some folks happy!

brad

[Lynn Sonier]

I know what you mean about the small pieces of wood. When a piece of wood gets too small to use, I regretfully throw it away. Often, however, I go to the garbage looking for a scrap which I still need.
Your clocks look great. Donating one for the "Free Stuff" drawing????
Just joking!
Lynn

[Jim Becker]

'Nothing like turning "trash" into gold! These are great examples of thoughtful use of off-cuts. I really like that Slipper Elm piece...the contrast is wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Bill.

[John Miliunas]

Definitely a neat idea! That's some gorgeous looking wood. Unfortunately, most of my nicest "wood scraps" are at about 90% of the way through a bowl, when they blow up! Hmmm...Maybe I should just skip the turning part and cut them up for clocks, right off the get-go! :cool:

[Tom Sweeney]

Those all look great Bill. I especially like that slippery Elm Burl one - just beautiful.

Unfortunately I have lots of turning wood but haven't ever had any burls to play with (hint hint) - when I do I'll be sure to remember this neat idea for the "scraps" cause I hate to throw wood out.

[Von Bickley]

Bill,

Just like always, your work is great. My favorite clock is the one with the big numbers that I can see.
Thanks for posting the pictures.

[Howard Barlow]

Neat idea, Bill. Those are really nice.

[Bill Grumbine]

Good morning all

Thanks for your kind words on my "scrap book" here. ;)

Brad, I did not finish these pieces at all! :eek: Actually it was SWMBO who did a lot of the finish work for me at the last minute, and she used Bartley's Gel Varnish, which is a big favorite of mine. I found out along time ago that in most cases, buffing a burl is a real bad idea ! The amount of tiny strings of lint left behind from the buffing wheel has to be seen to be appreciated, and it is always depressing.

Lynn, you might not see a clock, but I have been thinking for some time about what and how to donate somethng that would be, shall we say, mutually beneficial.

Jim, that elm is some of the prettiest stuff I have every seen for contrast, and I still have some of it left - I've got one real big piece that is going to need numerous hours of attention to become a very large natural edged bowl. It is very scary though, because that stuff is so hard it is like a sawblade on the outer edge!

John, it's when those pieces come off the lathe in pieces that make for creative thinking (or at least creative language!). I know a guy who saved all his blown up pieces, carved them into interesting shapes, and then sold them for a bunch of money.

Tom, the burls are in a laser protected barn with remote sensors and all, but next time you are up this way we might be able to find a loose piece or two. :D

Von, all the numbers are easy to see - you just need to get closer, and have the right lenses! I have a whole array of things to help me see now, but one thing I have learned. The older I get, the less sanding I need to do!

Howard, thanks. I wish I could claim originality for the idea, but while I can't, I agree with you that it is a good one.

Thanks to all for taking a look and time to write.

Bill

[Michael Shier]

Good looking stuff! Attached is one that I did a while ago. Don't know what kind of burl it is.