Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Bob Tabor

>I think it looks good. How did you mount it to turn it? I started one but broke a corner off but I will try again.

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Keith Tompkins

>Hi David, I do a lot of square turnings,,so your piece kinda piqued my interest.

Your piece is sitting on a foot, that to me, doesn't relate to the rest of the form. In fact, the piece could sit on all four corners, which would allow you to experiment with the form of the central mass.

I like this kind of turning for the freedom to experiment it offers. I don't offer this as a criticism, rather, it's good to see someone doing work along the same line as mine. very cool!

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Keith Tompkins

>PS I will be doing a demo in Orlado on my "suspended" pieces. I think it will be interesting!

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Thanks Bob,

I first mounted it using a screw, turned the underneath and a dovetail for an expansion chuck. Them I turned it round, mounted it in the dovetail and did the top. I was just careful to take light cuts, and was fortunate not to lose the corners. I think choice of wood is important you need something dense and fine grained to stand up to this type of turning, unless you glue waste blocks to support on the side.

Hope this helps

David

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Hi Keith,

Thanks for your comments I really appreciate them. It's interesting you mention being unfooted. I'm looking to have a go at that, as like you say it probably complements the piece more. I'm a great fan of the square stuff Stuart Batty makes. The inspiration for square turning came from seeing his work in the craft supplies catalogue and in Tony Boase's book (Bowl Turning Masterclass)

Do you use waste blocks to help support the edges at all when turning? I haven't tried that at all, and figure if I choose the wood right it should be okay. I didn't have any problems with the African Blackwood piece I posted a few weeks back. I've also turned this one below in Mgurure. I didn't get the symetry between top and bottom right on this. In trying to correct it I also got the corners too thin, so I decided to turn them off.

Like you I am fascinated with the possibilties square edged turning opens up. When I can get back turning I think a self supporting one will be on the agenda :o)

Shame about your demo, I'm in the UK and nowhere near Orlando :o)

Thanks again for your input

David

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Thomas Saunders

>Hi David,

I like the other bowl posted above, but this one really caught my eye! Very different shape. I think this is one of those times when a "mistake" turns out better than the original plan. I am a firm believer (after a lot of in progress changes) that a piece of wood will only be what it wants to be, not always what you want it to be!

As usual, you have done good work.

Tom in Red Deer

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

JamieDonaldson

>Turning square with waste wood to cut off is CHEATING! It really helps to have a big enough lathe to crank up the RPM's, and don't get in a hurry to hog off lots of wood!Tool control is critical, and I will also be doing demos in Orlando on turning long oval and rectangular bowls from log sections we call "firewood."

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Thanks Tom for your nice comments. I like how it turned out too. I know what you mean about the wood, I always start out with a general idea of what it will look like, but nothing too detailed. The wood usual decides for me the final design.

Thanks again

David

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Jamie, I have never glued the waste blocks on so have never cheated :o). I think it would be the only way to do some of the less fine grained hardwoods this way otherwise no matter how careful you were, there would be splintering at the edges. The African woods certainly hold up to it.

David

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Ron Sardo in PA

>Very nice form, I like it. I'm guessing part of the time when you are towards the "feet" you are cutting air?

Never tried that yet, but I guess I'm going to try now.

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Jamie, see you there!!Keith

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

Keith Tompkins

>dHI David, no, I don't use waste blocks when I turn one of these. I work gradually toward the center, rreaching my final thickness in stages, otherwise the corners begin to chatter from lack of support.I make my own chucks to form the base.Here's one of mine....I've posted this before but...

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Yep, cutting air is a good description, you have to be very gentle with the tools. The post Russ has added on the other topic describes it well.

David

Re: Small Bowl in Burr Oak

David Eaves

>Hi Keith, I really like that piece there. The photograph is very well taken too. I will have to try more with height like that. I have a square piece of Msaraka at home which will be ideal to try. I think I will stick to the square turning without the blocks as you get on okay with it. Also I would be concerned about the blocks flying off.

Thanks for your input again

David