As you will see, I'm starting to get into different shapes and starting to use exotic woods.
Dogwood
I bought some wood from a man and he gave me several pieces of dogwood that had been lying in his backyard for many years. They were partially decayed, full of worms, and spalted. Most of them fell apart when I tried to turn them, but this one held together.
Amboyna
I bought this piece of wood from a shop that clearly did not know the value of the wood - neither did I at the time - I sold this piece for about half the price I would have to pay for the wood alone today. This is one of my favorite pieces. I didn't do much with it. I left the natural edge on the top and just hollowed it out. With a piece of wood this beautiful, there is not much else that you need to do.
A "Sandwich" Bowl
My wife gave me a bowl somewhat similar to this many years ago. They are made by laminating several strips of different woods together and then joining them like a barrel. The pattern on the outside depends on how the bowl is shaped.
Apple Bowl - a bit more refined that my earlier ones.
Cocobolo
This was the first of my Asian bowls. I made it as a present for a friend who is Chinese. The sap wood near the bottom reminded me a the "defects" you sometimes see in the glazes on Asian pottery. This was also my first experience with the allergic reactions that cocobolo and other dalbergia species can produce. I now only work with cocobolo in the winter when I can cover up and the cold air of my unheated shop reduces the reactions.
Tasmanian myrtle hollow form
Maple box
One of my first boxes with a screw top. I made it with a jig using a machinist's thread cutter.
Claro walnut
One of my favorite pieces. It was turned from unseasoned wood. The "dents" appeared after it dried.
Cherry box
This was one of my first eccentric boxes - made with the Escolen chuck. I really liked this piece, but it had a serious design defect. The bend in the stem was too great. If someone put the top on with slightly too much pressure the stem would break. I was really upset the first time someone did this. Then I made another stem and broke it myself when I put the top on.
Ebony vessel
One of my Asian inspired vessels - with additonal inspiration from Greg Lossing for the top.
Dogwood
This was another piece of the decayed dogwood. The crack was so bad I had to tape the outside to hold it together as I turned it. When it was done, I used an old technique of sewing the crack with cooper wire to hold it together.
Asian vessel
Another of my earlier attempts at copying Asian pottery.
Pink ivory box with blackwood trim.
Japanese Tea Box
This is a copy of a Japanese tea box - the outer box is sandal wood, the inner box is cherry with a birdeye maple top.
As you will see, I'm starting to get into different shapes and starting to use exotic woods.
DogwoodI bought some wood from a man and he gave me several pieces of dogwood that had been lying in his backyard for many years. They were partially decayed, full of worms, and spalted. Most of them fell apart when I tried to turn them, but this one held together.
AmboynaI bought this piece of wood from a shop that clearly did not know the value of the wood - neither did I at the time - I sold this piece for about half the price I would have to pay for the wood alone today. This is one of my favorite pieces. I didn't do much with it. I left the natural edge on the top and just hollowed it out. With a piece of wood this beautiful, there is not much else that you need to do.
A "Sandwich" BowlMy wife gave me a bowl somewhat similar to this many years ago. They are made by laminating several strips of different woods together and then joining them like a barrel. The pattern on the outside depends on how the bowl is shaped.
Apple Bowl - a bit more refined that my earlier ones. CocoboloThis was the first of my Asian bowls. I made it as a present for a friend who is Chinese. The sap wood near the bottom reminded me a the "defects" you sometimes see in the glazes on Asian pottery. This was also my first experience with the allergic reactions that cocobolo and other dalbergia species can produce. I now only work with cocobolo in the winter when I can cover up and the cold air of my unheated shop reduces the reactions.
Tasmanian myrtle hollow form Maple box One of my first boxes with a screw top. I made it with a jig using a machinist's thread cutter.
Claro walnutOne of my favorite pieces. It was turned from unseasoned wood. The "dents" appeared after it dried.
Cherry boxThis was one of my first eccentric boxes - made with the Escolen chuck. I really liked this piece, but it had a serious design defect. The bend in the stem was too great. If someone put the top on with slightly too much pressure the stem would break. I was really upset the first time someone did this. Then I made another stem and broke it myself when I put the top on.
Ebony vesselOne of my Asian inspired vessels - with additonal inspiration from Greg Lossing for the top.
DogwoodThis was another piece of the decayed dogwood. The crack was so bad I had to tape the outside to hold it together as I turned it. When it was done, I used an old technique of sewing the crack with cooper wire to hold it together.
Asian vessel
Another of my earlier attempts at copying Asian pottery.
Pink ivory box with blackwood trim. Japanese Tea BoxThis is a copy of a Japanese tea box - the outer box is sandal wood, the inner box is cherry with a birdeye maple top.