Design Critique Please

Re: Design Critique Please

adrien

>1. For starters, don't try to make the bowls so thin. That will give you a little slack if the thickness varies.

2. Sanding can go through a bowl just a readily as a gouge, DAMHIKT

3.Shapes of your bowls are pretty good.

Re: Design Critique Please

Keith Tompkins

>you are definitely on the right track, George! work at consistant wall thickness....then you are in business!

Re: Design Critique Please

David Chung

>I personally like a natural edge piece to have a rounded bottom and no foot per se. Just my preference, but you should try it on a piece and see what you think...

Re: Design Critique Please

Peter Teubel

>Just an opinion:

The bowl pictured has the beginnings of a good shape. However, there are 4 separate transitions as noted in the picture (see RED lines). All these need to flow (see YELLOW line)...not change abruptly.

You're on the right track, though!

Peter, Great Critique

Stuart Johnson

>A good way of explaining and then showing your critique.

Re: Design Critique Please

George Van

>Thanks to all! You help me learn.

Adrian, I will make things easier on myself and go thicker for starters. I imagine it could be painful to sand through a bowl, maybe better that I did it with the gouge.

Keith, I am adding a double end caliper to my gouge order today.

David, I am going to try a dovetail mount to get away from the tenon and foot tonight. I think I will like that appearance on a round, enclosed bowl also.

Peter, I really like your illustration using the draw tool. What an excellent visual effect. I will use your idea when I have specific design problems in the future. I may even use the tool to play with shapes before destroying the blank.

George

Yes, great explaination Peter

David Eaves

>

Re: Peter, Great Critique

Peter Teubel

>Thanks, but I must emphasize that I do NOT offer "critiques". I feel I am not qualified in any way to do that. I can only offer my opinion on what *I* think (which may or may not have any value). It just so happens that natural edge bowls like this are my speciality. I've turned many 100's of them and I now have a pretty good "feel" for what makes a pleasing shape.

George, one more thing I'd like to pass along. I used to try to turn these type of bowls super thin. But I found out that the bark texture is lost when thin (you're only left with a "profile" of the bark, so to speak). While it may work for Bert Marsh (whose shapes so thin that they appear to be made of porcelain), side by side, my "thicker" bowls sell better (i.e. 1/4" or more).

Re: Design Critique Please

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Hi George

I think you are off to a good start with your bowls. I would like to add a few suggestions, some of which have already bee voiced. I like simple forms that show off the the wood as well as the form of the piece. In your first picture, if you had continued the curve of the first and the third pieces without a foot or detail at the bottom, you would have a cleaner looking piece. The concave form of the first and the convex form of the third would then flow right up from the surface of the table. I think the foot on the middle piece looks pretty good.

Regarding the middle piece, Peter does a good job of describing what I call "hard spots" with my students. Most of that can be cured, giving you a smooth flowing curve, by learning to use your entire body in the execution of the cut, rather than just your arms. Anyone who has ever been to my shop for lessons will testify that I am a real tyrant when it comes to using one's entire body to make a cut, no matter how large or how small. The difference in results are amazing.

At any rate, keep up the good work, and we will look forward to seeimg your next efforts.

Bill

Re: Design Critique Please

George Van

>Thanks Bill,

I will make an extra effort to keep my elbows in and use my body until the movement is more natural. I do have a difficult time deciding when to use a foot and when not.

George

Re: Design Critique Please

Chuck Ludwigsen

>Bill,

Good comments. I want so much to save up for a long weekend in PA in one of your weekend classes. Maybe in 2005. I wonder what the airfare, hotel, and care rental charges would be. Maybe I can start budgeting for that and have my wife give it to me as a 40th birthday next year ;-)

Ya gotta have a goal!!!

Take care.

Chuck in Memphis, TN.

Re: Design Critique Please

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Hi Chuck

We (the family and I) would love to have you up. I can email you some of the rates, but skip the car rental. We can chauffeur you around from the airport to the hotel (one mile from the house) and so on.

Bill