Bigger is Better

At least with logs and salad bowls. A large log section allows for quarter-sawn blocks to be roughed out which means finished turnings are far less likely to crack. They remain green for a longer period so they cut a lot easier. For end grain there is no pith to contend with and cross grain pieces can distort and remain stable.

The salad bowl has nearly finished moving and the rim measures 12" at the widest and 10 1/4" at the narrowest. Finished with walnut oil

Salad bowl

End grain lemon bowl

How it all (re)started

In early April 2010 I built a Shaker lap desk from some leftover cherry from a mantle / surround for the living room gas stove. I needed a small knob for the pullout drawer and figured a lathe would be a versatile additon to the shop for turned furniture components as well as other faceplate and spindle work.

That one little knob re-kindled a passion that I had lost since I was twenty years old.

Spring Hollowforms

Dawn from shop

I think that everyone is anxious for spring considering the winter we've had this year. Looking forward to not have to fire up the shop stove to make things comfortable to work. Yesterday was warm and sunny but this morning it was 2 degrees at dawn.

Spalted beech pots

I've been working on semi-enclosed forms lately and have found the Woodcut flexi-hollower (thanks Phil Irons) the most  comfortable tool for small to medium size hollowing so far. For end grain at the bottom, Kelton scrapers are a little more effective.

End grain cherry pot

This is my favourite pot shape so far. Turned from a green off axis quarter sawn blank, microwaved for two minutes, and buffed with Beall system. The gentle warping adds a lot of life to the shape. More to follow.