Wood (what else?)

Re: Wood (what else?)

John Lucas

>Ruth

I love the goblets. I like those better than the clear glass versions.

Locust is pretty stabil so I think you would be successful. Turn the bottom so it's concave to mirror the upper part of the bottom and it will definitely help. I would worry about warp more than cracking on Locust.

I would use clear silicone calk to glue the goblet to the stem. It moves with the wood and is very strong. My friend who makes clear glass goblets with wood stems uses the calk and I use it for my mirrors.

Re: Wood (what else?)

Russ Fairfield

>Ruth,

There is no rule that says the stem and base have to be made from one solid piece. In fact, it would be more stable, stronger, and can be made to look better (my opinion) if they weren't.

Since you are already separating the cup from the stem by using different materials, why not make another separation. That way the vertical stem could be made from readily available 1" or 1-1/2" square stock and the base could be cut from a 4/4 board with no limits to its size. The grain directions would be in a more stable and stronger orientation than the 1-piece stem. With some selection of grain and color, the use of a darker colored wood, and with a small sharp decorative bead at the transition, the joint would be almost invisible.

I also think the flat grain would add more interest to the base than the end-grain that would be showing if it were made in 1-piece with the stem.

Anyway, that's what I would suggest; but maybe I don't understand the problem.

Re: Wood (what else?)

Russ Fairfield

>Now that I have found the photo again......

Do I see that you have made stems for the leaves from thin pieces of wood that wrap up around the sides of the goblet?? Since these are a decorative piece with the wood surrounding them being cut away if it were made from a solid piece, that upper part that surrounds and supports the goblet could also be an assembly of smaller pieces of wood.

It might take awhile to develop a glue-up that could be done easily and quickly, but it could save your having to locate large pieces of wood; and it would give you a wider selection of wood that can be used. I could do a lot of sawing and gluing for the cost of a 4x4x5 piece of Cocobolo or similar wood. There is also a time savings by making such things in batches of 5 or more.

Re: Wood (what else?)

Ron Sardo

>Ruth, I found when using glue blocks on bubinga the only glue that worked was 5 min. expoy.

Re: Wood (what else?)

Ruth

>Russ,

I like the suggestion of glueing and turning a bead to disguise the seam. Never thought of that and there's no reason why it won't work. I'll try it with scraps I have in the shop.

As to your second response about did I turn thin pieces as stems for the leaves, I don't follow what you're saying/asking. I turned the wood to hold the cup and, using a dremel, sanded only where the leaves came down too far and interfered with a snug fit.

Since each cup is made by hand, each stem has to be very custom fit; this is no way a production job! : )

Re: Wood (what else?)

Ruth

>Ron, I love those goblets with the rings. I don't do the glueing, that's the potter's job. That way I don't have to feel responsible if they don't stick! : O

Ruth

Re: Wood (what else?)

Russ Fairfield

>Ruth, you are making this easier. I was thinking that there was a slender piece of wood going up from under globe to connect into the leaves. Something that would look like a twig that the leaf is attached to.

If that isn't what you are doing, it sounds like a good idea. I won't charge you anything if you want to do that.