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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Ambrosia maple vase

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Ambrosia maple vase

#1

Ambrosia maple vase

Mike Schwing from Md.

>This is an ambrosia maple vase, turned end grain. It is about 11" tall and I would very much appreciate your input on the form. I don't make things in this shape very often, (maybe never) and it was a design on the fly. Since they rarely work out well, I offer this up as a critique. What I like about it is as follows: I like the profile of the main vase very much. I like the little reverse curve at the top and the flow down to the base. I tried to give the top of the pedestal a complementary profile to the bottom of the vase starting at the shoulder and then taking it into the cove near the narrowest part of the pedestal. It looks pretty nice in real life but it lacks a WOW factor normally found in ambrosia maple. It is finished with a high sheen lacquer. The bottom appears darker because it is composed of heartwood. The pith runs right down the center of this.

Thanks for your input in advance. Do what you wish, I won't take it personally.


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Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#2

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Duane C.Leach

>Mike Another great piece. I like it just the way it is.

The pedistal looks like it is of different wood which draws the eye to it. If any thing the pedistal diameter might be a litle large. But then I like small feet or vases .And that is a big maybe because pictures ofen distort the piece. It sure doesn't look like your first vase.

Duane

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#3

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi Mike,

I think this is a beautiful, unique piece and I like everything about it.....until my eye gets to the last three lines on the foot. The upper vase is such a lovely flowing form, and then the pedestal has a nice curve to it as well, and then I get to the bottom of the pedestal and there are two "drop offs" that seem kind of harsh to me in comparison to the rest of the piece. I love the transition between the upper vase and the pedestal, and I love the grain orientation.

Okay...there.....I never usually give "constructive criticism".....I'm not real good at it...take it for what it's worth. Probably not a whole heck of a lot : )

Jennifer

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#4

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

David Hammond, in Powder Springs GA

>Very nice Mike. You deviated somewhat with that other ambrosia bowl, the one that was almost half a sphere - and it worked. I think this one does too; the top is very elegant, and the base sets it off well. The photograph is great too.

Do you have any amobrosia that you've laquered some time ago? I'm curious as to how white that maple will stay - I've got a great stash of ambrosia I'm roughing through, and oil just doesn't leave that wonderful contrast between the white, and the streaks of color.

David

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#5

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Lou Bignami

>Like the upper section a lot. A smaller, simple foot -- Raffan has some specifics on this in his design book -- would improve the outer form. I'm not sure about the angled top from the edge down to a thicker wall. Think there must be a better way here.

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#6

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Jim King-Iquitos,Peru

>Mike:

There is only so much a person can do with a piece of wood buzzing around on a lathe and what we have learned down here is there is somebody for everything. To our dismay our most popular pieces are what I and many other people don�t care for. They are all beautiful when they are sold , it simply means someone liked it. By the way I like the shape and the wood is great also.

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#7

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Thanks David. It wasn't an intentional deviation. None of my stuff really is. I just turn wood and different things seem to come out.

As for yellowing - heck, I've not even been turning for 2 years yet, so long term doesn't really apply. I didn't want to use an oil because it immediately yellows, and it shows any defects in the surface as if they were neon lit. Some of the ambrosia tracks were pretty soft and hard to sand just right. The lacquer disguises that almost completely.

BTW, I have since tried twice to get that same profile as that half sphere bowl and failed. There is just something about that one that is really special. I'm afraid I might need a profile template to do it again.

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#8

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Mike,

On the whole I like this departure from your other work (and as you know, I love your other work).

To me this is one that on the whole and at first glance is good. The wood is nice, and the long ambrosia streaks help lengthen and slenderize the over all look. I admit that the shape with the pedestal says "Trophy" to me. That may be because of the base more than anything. But on the whole, in my book, this is one the plus side of the ledger.

That said, the critiques of it are nitpicking: In my opinion, the top to the middle of the base could have been a bit smaller, and the bottom of the base a bit larger. That would bring the bottom of the top bell smaller. A ham handed Photoshop edit to show what I mean is below. Hope you do not mind.

I really like the all of this above the base, and the base is not all that bad.

I am astounded at the volume of work you turn out. Just like you do not have a day job - OH, I forgot you work for the government. ;>)

Keep up the good work.

Mark

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#9

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Thanks Mark. I think you might have missed the photoshop image addition. No mind. This is going to sound weird, but I WAS going for the trophy shape. I just didn't think/realize at that time that trophies aren't usually all that awesome in the design arena. I've seen more of this type shape in turners from the UK than the US for some reason.

What I do on the lathe these days is experiment with different forms, methods, tools, and skills. Sooner or later something will come out of it that I will decide to make "mine". The turning bug might be my thing.

As for the volume of my work - I try to spend 2 hours per day at the lathe, any more and I lose focus, any less and I find the time less than productive.

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

#10

Re: Ambrosia maple vase

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Mike,

Ooops, Here is the photo.

Hey, I did not say I didn't like trophies. And if you were looking to get that shape, you nailed it. Like I said, on the whole, I liked it.

My turning is different, so my approach in the shop is different. I probably spend about 3-4 hours a day in the shop (lunchtime, and after work) and I like to have 6 plus hours on the weekdays. BUT, since I am working on batches of segmented bowls, I am generally cutting, glueing, sanding, turning, etc. So I am moving from task to task over and over, and can keep changing focus, not getting bored or tunnel vision.

Safe Turning, Mike.

Mark

Safe Turning

Mark


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