Big Bubinga Bowl (plate?) pics

[Bill Grumbine]

Greetings all

I had planned on posting this last night, but ended up going to a meeting I had forgotten all about, and it was (gasp!) a woodworking meeting to boot! This is probably one of the most stressful pieces I have turned lately, mainly because of the wood. Most of my wood, regardless of figure, species, or whatever, is found wood, firewood really. This piece wasn't. Last month I did a demo on the various lathes offered for sale at our local Woodcraft store. While I was in the store discussing what to turn with the store owner, she points over to a series of blanks sitting on the floor and says, "There, turn one of those." One of "those" was a chunk of bubinga board, 18" square and 3" thick. Since it was highly figured, it was also highly priced, at $175.00 for the chunk.

Enter the stress. Like I said, I turn firewood. I'm not used to wood that costs any more than the effort to get it home and get it processed. But anyway, off I went to the demo, and things went very well, except that I did not get to finish this particular piece. So, I brought it home, and here it languished over the holidays and through a killer cold, until last night when it was ready to see the light of day (so to speak).

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/bubingabowl01.jpg">

Here is a shot of the profile. It finished out at 17 1/2" in diameter and 2 3/4" high. It is pretty uniform in thickness at 1/4" thick. With it being as large as it is and as shallow as it is, I am wondering whether to call it a bowl or a plate. Of course, for the proper alliteration in the title, it had to be a bowl!

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/bubingabowl02.jpg">

Here is a shot of the inside. It is not the best of the figure, but I spun it and spun it and just couldn't get the camera to see what I was seeing. But, if you are in the Allentown PA Woodcraft store you just might get a chance to see it. Just don't look too close. After all, it is a demo bowl. ;-)

Thanks for taking a look.

Bill

[Bernie Weishapl]

Hey Bill. That bowl is beautiful. I just finished roughing my second bowl last night. I have been following your DVD very closely. Thanks. Again looks absolutely great.

[John Miliunas]

175$$ blank???? You've obviously got more guts than I and we already know you've got more skills than I, but still.... Whew! A knuckle biter, me thinks. But, as I would expect from you, it certainly turned out gorgeous! Great job, Bill!

[Mark Singer]

Bill that is a beauty...pricey wood ...great looking piece!

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

Simply stunning Bill. If anyone could be trusted to bring an expensive blank off of the lathe looking that nice, it would be you!

[Bob Noles]

Bill,

A sweet job for sure, but then again, what would anyone expect other than perfection from you

Thanks for showing it.

[Brad Schmid]

Another beautiful piece Bill
Really nice, I like it alot.

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Bill,
A very nice turning indeed. Generally when one is pondering over the thin line between a turning being a bowl or a plate, the answer is easily solved. If one ladles soup in to it, it's a bowl, if one places a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on it, it's a plate. However, with the cost of that piece of wood, I would just keep it dusted and call it a Piece Of Art.

I wonder how many minis I could get out of that piece, for $175.00

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Gary Max]

I gots it figured out---its a Centerpiece.
Heck I would have to make payments on that blank.
Bill it looks like you did a great job both turning and finishing it.

[Jim Becker]

Beautiful piece, Bill.

Bubinga holds a special place in my heart...the "avoid it" place as it's the one wood I have found myself to be very sensitive to when I turned a platter just a little smaller in diameter than this one last year. I LOVE the look, but any sensitivity concerns me. Perhaps I'll try again now that I have a better solution for nusance dust for my head...and tight wear nitrile gloves to keep it off my skin. Or better yet...just enjoy the bubinga turnings of others.

[Dick Parr]

That is a great turning on a beautiful piece of wood Bill. For a Demo piece you did a wonderful job.

[John Hart]

I think I'll just keep cutting the neighbors trees down after midnight...It's a lot cheaper! Nice looking PlateBowlArt Piece Bill.

[Karl Laustrup]

My Oh My!!!! That is one beautiful whatever you want to call it. I think, as Gary said, it's a centerpiece.

Is one to surmise that the bowl/platter/centerpiece was recieved well?

Karl

[Jim Dunn]

Not deep enough for Andy's ice-cream bowl. But a very nice job on a pricey piece of wood. Bill, you did it more than justice.
Bill one question please, was that blank dry? I'm guessing it was. In fact it was probably older than I am, at it's price.

Jim

[Mike Ramsey]

Beautiful Bowl Bill! I love the form.