Start to finish… "Parfait" step by step.

[David DeCristoforo]

I have seen this form done so well by so many incredibly good turners that all I can hope for is to manage a decent interpretation of it. But the rosewood burl is calling so off I go.

I'm doing this one "John Keeton" style in that I am designing it first, working out the basic lines, dimensions and form beforehand. I'm still playing with the pedestal design but the drawn version is "pretty close" to what I want. I'm still ambivalent about the finial. I know there will be a finial and I know it be a "multi piece" construction. But there are still some decisions to be made there. Also, I'm still not sure about whether or not to leave a natural edge on the cup. On my last one I took the NE off and I really like the way it works with a crisp edge. This one is still in question. I'll make that call as the work progresses.

Here is my drawing and a pic of the roughed out blank on the lathe.

parfait_1.gif

parfait_1.jpg

I'll post in process pics as this turning takes shape. Feel free to offer any critiques, criticisms, or hails of derisive laughter as your fancy strikes….

[Dan Forman]

Ooooo, this is going to be good! That burl looks very promising.

Dan

[Tim Thiebaut]

Cool looking piece of wood David, looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.

[David DeCristoforo]

JK just gave me a heads up that the drawing did not upload. Sorry.....

[David E Keller]

Looks like a promising design. I tend to favor the natural edge when it's attractive and adds something, but I did like the sharp edge of the last form you posted. I'm not one for planning my pieces, but I'll have to admit that my finials are better when I at least rough sketch something prior to beginning them. Looking forward to seeing the progess.

[John Keeton]

David, this is going to be a highly refined piece!! I love the drawing, though I would consider perhaps just a bit less flare where the pedestal stem sits on the base. It would create a continous curve were it pulled in just a hair.

I think the NE on this piece of burl would easily work with this piece and the cream sapwood might make for some interesting color accent depending on what you intend to do. What about turning your finial insert with the burl, leaving a little of the sapwood, and "fake" the dark NE on it? Now, that would be sharp!!

[Roger Chandler]

David,

If you pull off the drawing on the actual wood, you will have created a beautiful form for sure. For my $.02, I like the finial on the form in the drawing because it replicates the form itself in the finial, and I think enhances the technical difficulties of pulling this together.

Your drawing is certainly inspirational, and if accomplished on the actual wood, then you will have made a very fine and well conceived work. Very elegant indeed, and worthy of some considerable display.

I am pullin' for you on the execution of this concept.........good luck!

[David DeCristoforo]

I agree about the pedestal. I've been looking at it and thinking, as you mentioned, that there might be too much mass at the flair. Also, the transition curve into the stem needs refinement. This is the nice thing about planning. It's way easier to change the drawing than the actual piece! I'm loving Adobe Illustrator!

My thinking is that for the lid, I want to use a small piece of the burl that has sapwood at the "bottom" and then a transition back to heartwood at the top. If I use a small "insert" on the finial to replicate the main form, I want to have the same effect there as well. The finial is still undecided. I have some time yet to "click" on something.

[David DeCristoforo]

Had a bit of time to get some turning done today.

parfait_2_.jpg

I can tell you this much... these things sure look different in 3D than they do on paper! Anyway, I came pretty close to my target shape:

parfait_matchup.jpg

Still undecided about the edge but tomorrow I'll start working on the inside and then I'll decide. I have to make up my mind before I get too deep into the inside or else I'll be faced with the dreaded "go back and work on the rim" scenario.

[Tim Thiebaut]

David what did you do the drawing with? Looks good so far, I really like the drawing you did.

[John Keeton]

David, you got darn close on the form/sketch comparison!! The concave at the rim is always the toughest part for me. It seems to be deep enough - until you put the template to it. That wood is just beautiful - makes me want to cut into one of the burls I ended up with.

I think the inverted burl would work for the lid. It appears that your ledge for the lid will be well within the sapwood, and your idea would give you a nice transition area.

I have not used Illustrator, but it sure did a great job for you here! Is that what you used for furniture design?

[David DeCristoforo]

"...what did you do the drawing with?..."

"I have not used Illustrator...Is that what you used for furniture design?"

I have used Illustrator for many years. Mostly for these types of line drawings that are going to be posted on the web. "Power users" can get some pretty amazing results with it but I'm no power user! And, really, for this kind of stuff, CAD is much better. But I'm too cheap and lazy to get into CAD.

"The concave at the rim is always the toughest part for me..."

Yup... me too! In looking at the overlay, I still have some touching up to do at the rim to sweeten up the curve. I have to do that before I start on the inside.

[Steve Schlumpf]

David - really like the design but the more I looked at it.... the more I started to play with the elements.

I modified your original to point out ideas. Please use or disregard as you see fit.
parfait.jpg

Sure is some pretty wood and I am confident that whatever final form you create will be stunning! Looking forward to seeing it!

[David DeCristoforo]

Steve, thanx for the suggestions. The only part I'm totally committed to at this point is the shape of the main form. I'm still playing with the pedestal and finial details. I currently have about six variations of each! The part I am most unsure of is the embellishment in the finial. It might be just one too many details and I'm afraid it will look too contrived. I guess I can just make it and then see how it works before gluing the pieces together. If it's not a "fit" I can always put it next to my colossal rosewood hollow form!

[Steve Schlumpf]

David - I am not an expert on anything - let alone design - but in my opinion, a finial is either designed as the main focus of the turning (ornate) or as an simple element used to add height to the piece. Decide what it is you want as the main focus and simply everything else. Just my take on things...