My first attempt at posting a picture

Wow!

Ed Bartchy

>

Woo Hoo!

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>Well its obviously not your first attempt at turning. That is GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing.

Woo Hoo Too!

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Bert, beautiful......this shows why root pieces are worth the extra effort!!!!!!

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi Bert,

Wow!!! Now that you know how to post pics, how about some more eye candy like that? That piece is awesome. I really like the way you used the base wood and accent wood in the top. That's really super. Great proportions and shape as well.

Thanks for the pics.

Mike

Revving the chainsaw today in Apex, NC

Beautiful!

Brad

>

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bob Persing

>That is a great picture and one fantastic turning. I am most impressed that it is turned from the ROOT of the Maple tree. Who would have ever imagined such interesting grain patterns and coloring were hiding under the ground!!

I had to go back and look at that picture a few times, most intriguing.

Thanks for sharing.

BobP

Re: Woodsman!

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Put away your stump grinder and get thee a backhoe!

[Gonna go get me some roots, too]

Very nice job bringing out the terrific figure.

Mark

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

MP Wall

>That piece of wood is just incredible. As is what you inside of it. Great piece.

MP Wall

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

MP Wall

>Should read found inside it. MPW

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Roger F.

>Hey Bert,

I know what you say your "real job" is, but it's obvious what your real talent is!! A really beautiful piece of work and photography. Your work is an inspiration to those like myself who are just getting started turning. For those of you interested, Bert is the president of the new Central Virginia Woodturners that meets in Waynesboro Va. Bert is also a first class instructor and all around nice guy. Keep it up Bert, then it wont be long until your real talent turns into your real job.

Roger F.

Holy COW!! GREAT. Thanks for posting.

Chuck Ludwigsen

>

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Glenn Hodges

>I do not post much on this forum, but I am an avid reader. I am impressed with this piece of your work, so much that I contacted the wife of a bulldozier operrator and ask her to tell her husband to save me some of the big hardwood roots he has been digging up and burning. I don't know if I can find any with figure like yours, but I can only hope. Thanks for the inspiring picure.

Glenn Hodges

Nashville, Ga.

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Arch

>Hi Bert,

I mentally removed the contrasting collar and finial and used the interspersed piece of root wood to finish off the orifice. 'Mental turning' is easy for me to say, but I think simplicity displays the beautiful wood and your clearly accomplished design and turning skills even better. This is meant as just my reaction, not as the arrogance of a lesser artist.

Hey Glenn, Remember. Excepting Sea Island, in South Georgia you root hog or starve!

All best to you both, Arch

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Glenn Hodges

>Yep Arch, root hog or die poor, lot of rooting going still going on down here, but I am afraid a lot of 'um are still gonna die pore. Did you leave some money over near Norman Park?

Nashville, GA.

Re: Woo Hoo Too!

Bert Smith

>Thanks Keith,

This came from our local cemetery. The tree was at the top of a bank beside a road. I suppose years of mowing the bank exposed the roots causing the tree to lean. When the tree was taken down, the tree company was able to saw most of these roots out along with the stump. I salvaged all of the wood, but this one particular root really has the curl.

I guess the most amazing thing is that there were no voids or debris you would normally find in a root. It was solid and tight throughout.

Bert

Re: Woo Hoo!

Bert Smith

>Thanks Mike; I think it was harder to post the picture than turning the vase!

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bert Smith

>Thanks for the kind words, Mike! The lid is actually a separate piece from the same root section. I have three or four smaller pieces left, but none as big as the one in the pic.

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bert Smith

>Bob,

The roots were actually exposed on one side of a bank. The tree was leaning over the road and I assume the pressure from the weight caused this large root to compress and curl through time.

Thanks so much for the compliments!

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bert Smith

>Roger...

Thank you for the vote of confidence, I'll bring this piece to show and tell next Tuesday night.

(Your next class is FREE:)...

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bert Smith

>Glenn,

A friend of mine just had four huge stumps dumped in his yard, roots and all. Cherry, walnut and two others we think are maple. Hard to tell as all of the bark on the stump is missing and the roots are full of red clay! We are going to rent a power washer and clean them up. There may be more pictures to follow...

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Bert Smith

>Arch,

I wanted to use the entire blank, but I also wanted to give it height. The matching lid is actually a smaller piece from the same root.

Plus, I am going to demo these "stacked" forms at our next club meeting! :)

Bert

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Keith Tompkins

>A company near me makes gunstocks.....yep, walnut roots! the grain is unbelievable. they pay dearly for the material, I'm told. would love to see more posts. Keith

Re: My first attempt at posting a picture

Dave Peebles Lyons, Ohio!

>Hello Bert,

I can't add anything to what everyone else has said, but I did want to say how much I like this one.

It is a fantastic piece of wood with a wonderful shape. When you get both of those things going for you, Life is good!!

Thanks for posting the photo... which, but the way, is really great too.

Dave