I've been playing around with a HF, certainly with less than stellar success, and could use some critiques and opinions while it's not too late to make some changes.
The HF is 2 1/8" tall x 7" diam. The finial is 2" in diam. @ the lowest point & 2 1/2" tall. Figured maple & cherry.
I turned the tenon and shaped the bottom and reversed it, mounted it in the chuck. I wanted a cherry collar so I shaped the top, cut a 2 3/4" hole with a parting tool & hollowed out the form. Made a cherry plug & glued it on. Started to clean up the collar & found out how weak the bottom was, it took off flying, cussed a bit, scrathed my head, cussed a bit more, sat down with some coffee.
I got the courage up to search for the flying saucer and found that other than the big-ass hole in the bottom it had survived fairly well. Decided to put a cherry collar in the bottom and it was a HF again. Made the finial and decided there was too much cherry in the bottom, so I tried a foot turned from maple, but I really hate it.
I'd appreciate some thoughts on what you would do, i.e., toss the foot, is the finial proportional to the HF?, try to reshape the bottom?, etc.
Thanks