Cherry Crotch bowls with texturing

[Dominic Greco]

Here are two cherry platters (or shallow bowls) that I completed last week. Both were roughed out and alcohol dried some time in 2005.

In keeping with my latest efforts to incorporate some texturing into my work, I decided that each one of these bowls would have a different motif. One would be burned, while the other would get texturing from my Sorby Texturing tool. The burning was accomplished using a 1/16" ball tip pen. Each bowl features a burned ring to border the textured area.


Textured Bowl Specs:
Outer dia.: 8 3/4"
Height: 1 1/2"
Wall thickness: 3/16"
Base dia.: 1 1/2"
Sanding Method: Dry sanded to 600 Grit and then sanded with Mircomesh to 15000.
Finish: 3 coats of Watco's Danish Oil
Final: Buffed with White diamond followed by Renn Wax

Burned Bowl Specs:
Outer dia.: 8 1/2"
Height: 2"
Wall thickness: 3/16"
Base dia.: 2"
Sanding Method: Dry sanded to 600 Grit and then sanded with Mircomesh to 15000.
Finish: 3 coats of Watco's Danish Oil
Final: Buffed with White diamond followed by Renn Wax

Personally, I favor the burned bowl. IMHO the burning/scorching frames the bowl nicely and gives a nice contract to the color of the cherry. The textured bowl is nice, but you have to pick it up to get a real "feel" for it. This bowl is one you have to hold to appreciate.

What are your thoughts about these bowls?

Thanks for viewing.

[Nancy Laird]

They are both beautiful, but I REALLY like the one with the burning. Some pretty wild grain in those bowls!!

Nancy

[Keith Burns]

Dominic, I think they are both great !!! I would be proud to display either.

[Mike Vickery]

Beautiful job on both of them.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Dominic those are beautiful I really like what you did with them. Nice job.

[Pete Jordan]

Great bowls Dominic!

How do you control the burn area?

[Curt Fuller]

Man Dominic, those are both absolute beauties! Very nice work!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Absolutely beautiful work Dominic! Love cherry! Would be proud to show either bowl but have to admit I like the bowl with the burned area the best. Burned area really brings out the color of the cherry! Great job!!

[Ken LaSota]

Dominic great looking bowls they both are my favorites. Ken

[Jim Becker]

Very nice, Dominic!

[Jim Ketron]

Nice Pieces Dominic!

[Robert McGowen]

Great... I get to be the first one say that I like the textured rim the best! IMHO, the burning detracts from the wood, while the texture compliments it. I would be proud of either one of them though.

[Dominic Greco]

Great bowls Dominic!

How do you control the burn area?

Thanks Pete.
Actually, confining the burn area is pretty easy. You start when the platter/bowl is still on the lathe. Right after sanding to 200, I use a pencil, rotate the piece, and draw in where I think the lines would look good. Then I use the point of a skew to make those lines a bit deeper.

Next I get a 1/2" to 3/4" wide strip of thin black veneer (use could also use thin paper/card stock) and ramp the RPMs up a bit. Hold the piece of veneer in the groove and keep it there until the line is burned in to the depth you want. Sand and finish the piece off.

The next step is to take the platter/bowl and use a 1/16" ball tip wood burning pen to burn those "dots". Stay between the lines (but close to the inside edge of each line) and keep the dots close. When you're done, wipe off with a cotton rag soaked in denatured alcohol (to get rid of the burned resin).

That's about it!

[Dominic Greco]

Thanks for all the compliments!!:D

[Jonathon Spafford]

Man, Dominic! Both of those pieces are just spectacular! The shape is great both rim details are great and the wood is just gorgeous! You did an awesome job turning these!

[Alex Cam]

Good effort, but I think you have a long way to go -- KIDDING!

The design detail that you put into your turnings is inspiring to me as a white-knuckled, rank-amateur -- you're operating on a whole different plane of existance. The form and detail are very pleasing to the eye, and the finish looks impeccable. Very impressive work!

[Frank Kobilsek]

Dom,
Both very nice.

The burned plate got the better piece of wood, the grain pattern is more centered offering blance to the piece.

I am becoming more and more excited about branding which is another reason I am drawn to the burnt version. That is alot of dots you burnt!

Ken Fitz will tell you I am a master of the Sorby Texture tool but the truth is I only have one move with that thing. The guys that can make those things create different patterns are the masters.

I've seen your other posts about pyro-work ... stay at it, you are developing your own look.

Frank

[steven carter]

Absolutely beautiful... How long does it take you to do the burning process, and what kind of burner to you use?

[Dominic Greco]

Absolutely beautiful... How long does it take you to do the burning process, and what kind of burner to you use?

Steve,
Thanks for the compliments!

I use a Burnmaster Hawk and the burning took about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

While I like the Burnmaster Hawk, if I were going to get another wood burner I think I would check out Optima's (same place I got the pens) burners. They are of a much more robust design.