Sunday, May 15, 2011

Egg, Anyone?

And sometimes I make boxes. This one's egg shaped, if you can't tell.

Not my best work, (nor my best photography...) but a fun little expedition nonetheless. And I've held onto it for about six years now, so something about it must speak to me.

It's Black Locust. Wormy. Quite a bear to work with. Hard, cracks easy. I love the name of the wood far better than the actual timber.

This was full of good lessons on creating vacuum seals, lining up the age rings and the patterns in the wood for a better look, and really just learning how to keep the damn thing on the lathe while you figure out how to finish it.

Fun stuff. A great way to while away a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Always Learning.

I love to make something out of wormwood. Just think the finished pieces feel older. Like maybe they've seen more. Have richer stories.

This particular Ash bowl taught me two very valuable things well after I thought we were done.

First, always put your wormwood in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute after you're finished (and before any metal adornments, of course). Why? Many times those darn worms are still hard at work inside. The last thing you want, is to set your creation down on something they'd find tastier. Like, say, an expensive table. Or your prized stash of other drying wood. Because they will gravitate towards it. They will tuck in.

Second, oil makes things yellow over time. First it brings out the color, later if turns yellow. I used standard Tung oil here. This Ash started out a lovely silver, with black mold running all through it. I hadn't paid any attention to it in several months, only to realize, well, now it's yellow.

Still a lovely bowl, but not anything like its former color. Now it has a different feel about it. More old than aged. Good to know.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

And, Again.

I learned a really valuable lesson watching the glass blowers at the Waterford Crystal plant in Ireland a few years ago. I asked one of the fellas how they could do the patterns so precisely. The answer? He said he'd been doing the same goblet, more or less, for almost 18 years now. Sheesh...

I'm gonna keep hammering this design until I'm fully satisfied. This is the thinnest I've ever gone, and I really like looking down into this particular bowl.

I also tried a different sanding technique, using a painters' sanding wheel on my drill to soften the carving bit. I think I like the end result better. I also added a little detail just below the rim and above the foot.

There's a bit of spalting in this cherry bowl, but I don't mind. It's kinda purdy.

Finished in walnut oil. 10" wide x 4" deep. Completely food safe and ready for the table.