T.Rob
I make stuff with code and with wood. Just, you know, not at the same time.
#actuallyautistic #cybersecurity #woodturner
Joined Oct 2022
The log is shaping up as a bowl. Flat part is screwed onto the chuck. A small tenon is carved into the bottom for the chuck to hold onto when it is reversed for hollowing.
Finally, the bowl has been rough sanded and sealer is applied. This will close the pores and harden the wood so that further sanding will leave a smoother finish.
Tomorrow I'll post the final sanding and finishing. I have no idea whether this is of interest so keeping it brief.
This is the first in a series showing how a log becomes a bowl.
This log section has several branches clustered. The grain in a 4-way crotch is going to be VERY interesting.
It is normal to cut out the pith (very center of the tree) because it tends to crack, so I need to section the log into halves. The bottom of the bowl will be the bark side.
Tomorrow I'll post pics of the bowl taking shape. I'll be using the section on the left that has the 4-branch crotch.
A neighbor cut down a cedar tree and let me take some. I made this hollow form to give him as thanks for the wood.
Pretty easy to see why I LOVE turning cedar. The colors and figure in this piece are spectacular! It is about 4.5" wide and 3.5" tall. The hole at top is 2" wide. I sanded it to 1500 grit and applied Danish oil. Except for the bark inclusions, it feels like fine silk. You just want to run your hands over it and when you do it warms to the touch.
Learn from my mistakes: Don't feed the oven squirrel! If you do, he invites all his friends.
The two on the right are maple and the two on the left are spalted hackberry, all of which are new. The two bottom center are cherry and the oddball top center is zebrawood.
My kids are usually encouraging when I send them photos of stuff I make but rarely do they respond "I want that!" Surprisingly, last weekend's oven squirrel was one such item and I'm now on the hook for 4 more - one for each kid and one each for a couple of their friends.
These two are made of cherry. Grain is more subtle than the leopardwood but still evokes fur.
I texted this to my wife, then ran into the bedroom and said "Quick, check your phone! I think I just posted a Dick pic to the family chat!"
Which would have been funnier if after opening it she hadn't clutched her chest, faked a heart attack, and croaked "don't joke like that" in a hoarse whisper before collapsing into apparent unconsciousness.
My first-ever fountain pen build came out pretty good. The MAS Pro Table Top Epoxy turned very well with either very sharp gouges or negative-rake carbide, which is good because there's a good bit left to make more blanks.
Finally completed my wife's standing writing desk. 4-ft wide with hidden wireless phone charging, fast USB charging, tablet stand, and dimmable, color-adjust lighting. Flush-mount cable runs keep the underside free of wires.
She liked the bunny inlays so much she appointed them as her Quality Control Inspection Team.
Wife saw an oven squirrel online and asked me to make her one. Husband points achievement unlocked!
Rocky is made of zebrawood and finished with food-safe mineral oil followed by cutting board dressing.
(Why 'oven' squirrel? Use his ears to pull the hot rack out or his paws to push it in.)
My grandson picked a Diamondcast "Oil Slick" ring blank and I had only the one on hand. After turning the previous two (mostly) successfully, I had the confidence to cut into this one. Black ceramic core feels great and is easy to turn. I think he will be pleased.
FINALLY got some turning therapy. #HotOffTheLathe today - Grandson asked for a ring and he NEVER asks me to make him anything, so I put on hold the commissions in the queue and the fountain pens to make this for him.
The pine cone ring was for me and for practice. Grandson gets the ceramic core opal inlay ring... which was also for practice. I wanted to make a couple of rings before cutting into the blank he actually picked.
I was going to get a head start on Christmas crafting but decided it would be a pain in the ass.
Used some MAS Tabletop Epoxy on my wife's new desktop and made some hybrid burl pen blanks with the excess. Up to now I've used Alumilite and Total Boat for turning blanks and I have no idea whether the MAS epoxy will turn well.
These are about 3/4 x 3/4 x 6 inches. Top is purple/black, then orange/green, yellow/blue, and the last one is the overpour from the first 3 blanks.
My wife has a perfume called Neon Moon but I had my glasses off and mistook the name as "Meow Moon." We had a chuckle then got to laughing about how Meow Moon might be branded, then this happened.
Gee, I wonder if I'm missing anything now that I'm not on birdsite anymore?
<checks birdsite>
Nope. Not missing a thing.
Also for my daughter is this badge reel with a bocote cabochon. Viewed from the side, the grain runs diagonally through the wood which is why the grooves cut into the piece cause the grain to shift. The result reminds me of a moiré hypno-disc pattern. Which is good because she works in a hospital and could dangle it in front of unruly patients chanting "you will calm the fuck down".
Took my daughter to see Steve Hofstetter Thursday night and discovered she doesn't have one of those purse hanger hook thingys. So I made her these today. On the left is bocote and on the right is a lamination of (R-to-L) paduk, walnut, black palm, cherry, and a smidge of maple.
Today's #woodworking project is either a serving board for 12-inch subs or a "Greek paddle," that name owing to it's traditional use for fraternity hazing. This is a commissioned work and I don't know anyone in college at the moment so you do the math.
I was given rough dimensions and told to "make it heavy duty". Purple heart is quite dense and at 1 lb 4 oz, I think this qualifies as both heavy and sturdy.
If my patron is happy there's a possible matching furniture build. Fingers crossed.
We had a visitor today. Pretty sure the one last week was a Cooper's Hawk and this one looks like a Red Shouldered Hawk. Our neighborhood has a lot of tree cover and seeing 2 or 3 hawks hunting is a daily occurrence. Having them sit long enough to pose for pix is a treasured rarity.
T.Rob
I make stuff with code and with wood. Just, you know, not at the same time.
#actuallyautistic #cybersecurity #woodturner
Joined Oct 2022