A little experiment.

[Kevin McPeek]

These were an experiment that I tried on some Ficus since it was, well, free thanks to my good friend Mike. I had this sitting around for awhile so thought, what the heck.
They are 5" on the long side and 2 3/4" tall. About as close to twins as I can get without measuring anything. I know the base is larger than you'd normally have but I figured they should be stable incase of a bump when they are lit. They only have some Danish oil on them but will get a finish when the oil dries good.
I am looking to make some new types of table center pieces that you can actually have a conversation over instead of around.
Anyway, please feel free to critique. I'd like some pointers before I do this in some "good" wood. Thanks for looking.

[David Walser]

Kevin,

Those are very nice. That ficus has some nice variation in color. You made very good use of that free wood.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Kevin - they look pretty good to me! Don't know if any other type of wood could ever improve on what you already have! Very nice!

[Bill Bolen]

If you don't think that is "good" wood, just send it on to me! I think it is awfully pretty. Nice job, I haven't seen this type of turning before and really like it! Fiine design and execution!..Bill..

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Nicely done! That design will be stolen!

[Johnathan Bussom]

Kevin,
While you may think the base is out of line I think they are beautifully designed, especially the way you blended the top with the grain, how u do dat???

Great job, I like em'

[Kevin McPeek]

Thanks guys.
Johnathan, These were natural edge but the bark fell off the log a while back. When I turned them I just sanded them smooth.
Dave, I admit this is pretty good Ficus, I really didn't expect it to be this nice. Luckily its easy to turn. One of them I was chasing to tool marks until I could see it flexing a bit and when I stopped it I noticed light coming through the wall.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Kevin they look great to me. The wood looks nice.

[Tom Sherman]

Not to shabby at all Kevin. Looks very nice.

[Jerry Allen]

Great idea Kevin and I like the wood too.

[Paul Douglass]

Darn, my wife saw those over my shoulder, she thinks I ought to be able to do that? Let's see "no dear, not until I get a better lathe!"

Very nice work.

[Jerry Allen]

I'm thinking the next experiment should be one with a saucer at the bottom (with a loop handle too?).
And then one with a NE or square wing at the middle.

[Skip Spaulding]

They look great to me, like you said, the base needs to be stable. Very nice!

[robert hainstock]

Good form and finish. The wood reminds me of Filipino mahogany. In any case, good, good work. :)
Bob

[Kevin McPeek]

Darn, my wife saw those over my shoulder, she thinks I ought to be able to do that? Let's see "no dear, not until I get a better lathe!"

Very nice work.

These are actually fairly easy to do. I just had to half logs, and drilled a hole where I figured center was. I just happen to have a forstner the right size for these tea lights that is one for the Crush Grind pepper mills. Anyway after I bored the hole I mounted them on pin jaws and turned the outsides and a tenon on the base. Then I mounted them in the standard jaws and hollowed out the center and made the bead. Finally, I remounted them in the pin jaws in the bored hole and turned the tenon off. Easy breezy... more or less.

Jerry, I might have to try the saucer idea, thats a good one. These are NE they just lost the bark and not much for sapwood.

[dennis kranz]

I like those. I also think that your design will be used often I hope.
Dennis

[Alex Elias]

I would not change anything. From here they look great. Even the free wood is pretty nice

[Gordon Seto]

Very nice and unique design. It is functional stability with the thick base.
One thing I have some concern is the drying rate of fairly thin rim and thick bottom. Would that creates a cracking problem?

[Scott Lux]

I showed the LOML. She wants me to make a set. I told her, "I can make two, but they won't be a matching set." She said she'll wait until I can make a set.

Beautiful form on those

Lux

[Mike Vickery]

Kevin those are beautiful. I am not crazy about how you did the bottom at the base. But it is hard to argue with the finished product. Just outstanding work.

[Kevin McPeek]

Thanks again for the nice words.

Gordon, I would worry if these weren't dry to begin with. If there were turned green you would most likely have some issues.

Mike, I agree with the bottom... I just didn't come up with anything else to do. I can always rechuck them and change the bottoms.