Big leaf maple vessel - disaster

[Wolf Kiessling]

Way back from S. Jenkins' bbq I came back with a big leaf maple blank which I turned. I posted it a couple of months back when it was all finished except for a final coat of clear danish oil. I am going to repost that picture here.

Anyhow, after the posting of the almost finished product, while I was applying the final coat of oil, the durned thing slipped out of my hand and hit the concrete deck of the shop. It had been turned to 1/8", closer to 1/16" at the rim, and it shattered like a piece of glass. I got disgusted, set it on a shelf and just looked at it for the past couple of months. I just couldn't bring myself to trash the blasted piece.

I finally got this "brilliant" idea of reshaping most of the upper part of the vessel (the part that shattered) and making it look like a sort of natural edge bowl without the bark. SWMBO said she really likes it, I'm not so sure. I have posted the result here, was it worth the effort?

Wolf

[Jim Becker]

Honestly, Wolf....I like the new version better. It's incredibly interesting to look at and the irregular shape of the rim kinda highlights the wonderful wood even more. The reason I say this is that the original version has a larger base than I feel is optimal. The shorter version with the wider opening removes that issue to my eyes and makes the whole shape more attractive. (Emphasis on "more" as the original turning was a very nice piece already)

Perhaps I need to start dropping some turnings in my own shop...hee hee :D

[Todd Burch]

Wolf, I like the "modified" one better too. With the wider mouth, it is certainly more functional (except for long stem flowers). If the two were sitting next to each, and I had $$ for one of them, I would pick the latter. Todd.

[EliotMason]

Wolf,

Back in my ceramics wheel-turning days a similar thing would happen with turned pots. The lip would get thin and then some flaw in the clay would grab your finger and BAM! you had suddenly peeled back part of rim. The edges were rough and the direction of the tear was random. People loved'em - thought they were Japanese or something.

Just goes to show that part of beauty is random.

Eliot

[John Miliunas]

I'm with the rest of the guys, Wolf! That second one is a "keeper". It really does give the wood a more natural "feel" to it, if you will. Beautiful save! :cool:

[Glenn Clabo]

Wolf,
I also like the "improved" version. It looks...for lack of a better word...softer.

[Ace Karner]

Just goes to show ya Wolf, there are no mistakes, only oportunities.

I like the freeform edge on the second ver best also.

[Bill Esposito]

Wolf,

Like the others said it looks better broken :) Kinda gives it the natural edge look. I had a similar disaster a few weeks ago when a loud "bang" caused me to flinch and pull my hooked tool straight out thru a 3/4" hole. Needless to say the hole wasnt the same size after that.

What are the dimensions of that piece?

[Jim Young]

I like it. Very unique.

[Wolf Kiessling]

Well now, ain't that interesting. I expected some people to like the "new" shape but I don't think I expected a 100 percent positive reaction.

As Ace said, apparently this truly was an opportunity instead of disaster.

For Bill:

The dimensions still are 5.5"h X 5"w. The high part of the bowl is still the original height because there was a short section of rim that did not shatter. I did, however, indent it.

BTW, thanks for looking and the responses.

Wolf

[Steve Inniss]

I read your text, as I scrolled through the 1st image I thought: OH...too bad. But then saw the 2nd and thought: OH! ...excellent. Unique.

As Eliot indicated, reminds me of a ceramic piece, and I agree with Glen - softens the design. -Steve

[Howard Barlow]

Wolf, I like the redesign better.

[Mike Cutler]

Wolf. I gotta agree with the others, The "Accidental" version gets my vote. The "before piece", while obviously a very well done piece doesn't have the one of a kind ,unique look that the "after" version has. Trust your wife on this one. It's a keeper. Nice work, both before and after.

[Robert Mickley]

I have to agree with the others here the Acident version is the keeper,

[Kelly C. Hanna]

The second one actually looks like a relic now...as if someone found it in a chamber somewhere and polished it. Great work!!

[Tom Hintz]

Wolf,
Nice recovery! I like the free-style edge better than the straight original.
Now, I just hope SHMBO is not in the shop when I take the next vessel off the lathe and toss it on the floor a couple times......

Nice job, good thinking, great execution.

[Kevin Swindle]

Wolf, great job and very creative. It's a great example of my motto. "If you can't fix it, feature it".

[James Carpenter]

Wolf,
I hate to go against the crowd but i preferred the original. I love symmetry myself, but i will have to say you did a beautiful save. I would have burned the original out of anger. Its good to see people that have the talent to make something wonderful out of an apparent disaster. I now know who to call in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded:)

[Wolf Kiessling]

Wolf,
I hate to go against the crowd but i preferred the original. I love symmetry myself, but i will have to say you did a beautiful save. I would have burned the original out of anger. Its good to see people that have the talent to make something wonderful out of an apparent disaster. I now know who to call in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded:)

Jim, I actually did throw it into the scrap wood box when it shattered but it only stayed there about 10 minutes. I only did that because I was so po'd. I have, of course, broken bowls and such before but this one got to me because it is the only piece of big leaf maple I have ever had my hands on. Normally I can figure out some way to use a blown up bowl, if nothing else, I'll glue it together and give it to SWMBO to use to start a plant. She's got all kinds of little pots (and a couple of big ones) that have plants in them. Matter of fact, she has a miniature rose in an 8" osage orange bowl that was turned to about 1/8" and hit the floor. It broke into almost two exact halves; actually it surprised me because osage orange is so hard. Oh well....

Wolf