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Bill Grumbine
03-15-2004, 7:56 PM
Good evening all

I have been busy of late, and even a little bit in the shop! I just finished up a piece tonight that gave me some fits earlier on when trying to turn it.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleburlvase01.jpg">

This is a piece of maple burl given to me by one of the men in our turning club. It has been sitting around for close to three years now waiting to be made into something. Last Saturday I finally got it on the lathe. It was bone dry, which did not help matters much, and things got very exciting.

This is a tall shape with a narrow bottom. It is 8 1/4" high, and the bottom is just about 2" in diameter. That wouldn't be bad for a regular piece of wood, but this one had the beginnings of spalting taking place, plus plenty of bark inclusions. Anyway, I had it shaped on the outside to my satisfaction, and was happily coring it out with my KM tool. I had my big honking steady rest in place so as not to snap the tenon from the stresses on the outer rim of the piece. It didn't matter. All at once, the core broke loose prematurely, the thing bound up, and the tenon sheared right off!

I was able to glue the tenon back on with CA glue, and got it close enough that I was able to retrue the piece with very little removal of extra wood. Once I got it retrued and started hollowing with the bowl gouge, things were pretty much straightforward.

This piece is 8 1/4" high, approximately 8" in diameter, and the walls are 1/2" thick, which gives it a very pleasing weight, as well as showing off the natural edge to advantage. It is finished with Watco Danish oil, and buffed with a Beall system.

Thanks for taking a look.

Bill

Terry Hatfield
03-15-2004, 8:07 PM
Bill,

Well there you go again!!!! :D LOML was looking over my shoulder when I opened the thread. I think her reaction says it all...Oh My!!!!!

Thanks for sharing. It is truly a stunning piece.

Terry

Chris Padilla
03-15-2004, 8:09 PM
I will resist this spinning stuff...I will! :D

How about a couple more shots, Bill?

Ken Garlock
03-15-2004, 8:56 PM
Excellent work as usual :cool:

Now we have a turning thaumaturge in addition to our carving thaumaturge :)

Steve Clardy
03-15-2004, 9:09 PM
Looking great Bill!!!. Maybe the Gremlins will leave you be for a while now. Breaking those beautiful bowls, tractor troubles, etc.
Again, great looking!!!!!! Steve

Dave Avery
03-15-2004, 9:20 PM
Too cool, Bill. Beautiful work. Dave.

Todd Burch
03-15-2004, 9:35 PM
Inspiring Bill!

Todd, I am not a turner, Burch.

Jim Becker
03-15-2004, 10:44 PM
Ah yes, nothing like a little burl to brighten up your day! Very nice turning, Bill. As usual...quite inspirational!

Dick Parr
03-16-2004, 6:34 AM
Very Nice Bill!

Julie Wright
03-16-2004, 7:15 AM
Very Beautiful Piece Bill. and your photography really makes a statement. Your vase looks like it is floating.

Mark Singer
03-16-2004, 8:39 AM
Excellent!

Bill Grumbine
03-16-2004, 11:20 AM
Thanks folks, for the comments. Ken, I have a decent vocabulary, but I had to go look up thaumaturge! I don't know about that, but I do have a bigger vocaublary that I did yesterday! ;)

Bill

Bill Grumbine
03-16-2004, 11:38 AM
I will resist this spinning stuff...I will! :D

How about a couple more shots, Bill?

Chris, resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Here is a second shot looking down from above a bit.

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/mapleburlvase02.jpg">

Bill

Fred Voorhees
03-16-2004, 2:50 PM
I will resist this spinning stuff...I will! :D

I know Chris, I know. I have been saying the same thing. Not that I don't want to learn, I really do. It's just the actual "getting around to it" syndrome. Turning is truly a whole 'nuther facet of woodworking and I would sincerely love to try my hand at it. I have the lathe, I just need to put out the big bucks for the turning "essentials". And I will - eventually. :confused:

Gene Collison
03-16-2004, 8:43 PM
I was able to glue the tenon back on with CA glue, and got it close enough that I was able to retrue the piece with very little removal of extra wood. Once I got it retrued and started hollowing with the bowl gouge, things were pretty much straightforward.

This piece is 8 1/4" high, approximately 8" in diameter, and the walls are 1/2" thick, which gives it a very pleasing weight, as well as showing off the natural edge to advantage. It is finished with Watco Danish oil, and buffed with a Beall system.

Thanks for taking a look.

__________________________________________________ ___
Bill,

A really beautiful piece of work.......

gene

Jason Tuinstra
03-17-2004, 11:36 AM
Bill, as always, great work. The figure on this wood is perfect for the vase. Thanks for showing it off.

D.McDonnel "Mac"
03-17-2004, 1:16 PM
Beautiful as usual Bill! Explain the finishing a little better for this flat woodworker. Do you let the Watco sit for long before usiing the Beall system?

Jim Becker
03-17-2004, 2:17 PM
Do you let the Watco sit for long before usiing the Beall system?

I don't know about Bill, but I usually let an varnish/oil mixture like Watco or Minwax Antique Oil Finish on a turning cure for about a week prior to buffing.

Bill Grumbine
03-17-2004, 3:04 PM
Beautiful as usual Bill! Explain the finishing a little better for this flat woodworker. Do you let the Watco sit for long before usiing the Beall system?

Hi Mac

I let the Watco dry completely - usually 12 hours is enough. Then I will buff the piece by hand with 0000 steel wool if it needs it to remove any of those tiny "bright spots" caused by puddling drops of excess oil. After that, it is for the Beall wheel. That is if I am in a hurry. Sometimes it may be a week or longer before I get to buffing a piece. Longer doesn't hurt, but if the oil is not dry, it will be a mess.

Bill