In Search of The T'ao?

Re: In Search of The T'ao?

TomW in SouthJersey

>Very nice design I like the lip around the edge. I especially like the gloss finish. I think it makes the "face" stand out. How hard is that finish to work with?

Tom

Re: Finish

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>The Waterlox is easy to work with, but the piece made it difficult. The exterior of the bowl had to be completely done which, because of the porosity of what was beginning spalt, was very uneven. Think it took some 8 or 9 coats with wet sanding the cured film in between, to get it even. Than I started on the interior. Both operations had to be done with vacuum chucking since there is no foot or fixing point on the suspended form.

I like Waterlox a lot. It gives a nice depth, but isn't brittle like lacquer; you can feel the different surface quality when you hold the piece.

M

Re: In Search of The T'ao?

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>The bowl is very cool. Maybe just one little nit-pick is that I'm not sold on the bronze rods. For some reason the angles of them and general appearance distract me. They don't seem consistent with the design of the rest of the piece. But that's just 2 cents there.

Otherwise...cool!

Tommy

Re: Rods

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>I'm not "sold" on them either, Tommy. They may get changed or wrapped in fiber or both. Thing is to keep thing light and airy.

M

Re: Rods

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>The shape of them with angular bends seems out of context. Light and airy sounds right but somehow I think they need to be more graceful in shape. That's the last two cents I have. ;-)

Tommy

Re: Rods

John Lucas

>Mark

I'm in agreement on the rods. I absolutely love the shape of the bowl. Perhaps bamboo rods forced into a gentle arc? Maybe even dye them black.

NOW THAT IS NICE

CHANK

>

Re: Finish

Bud Gabaree

>Where does one find Waterlox? Is it avaolable in sheens other than gloss?

Thanks, Bud

Re: Waterlox *LINK*

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>Bud,

I get it in quarts from Jeff Jewitt at Homestead finishing [see link]. It comes in gloss and in sealer/finish. The sealer (red can) will build nicely to a soft sheen. The gloss, with aliphatic resins added, can get to look like lacquer if you like, and is a bit tougher film.

Remember too, you can work the finish film to a variety of finished surfaces depending on how smooth you sand the bare wood and how you treat the rub-out on the finish. I've done pieces with the gloss formula that are basically flat/matte because I lightly sand-blasted the wood before applying the oil.

Mark


Jeff Jewitt

Re: In Search of The T'ao?

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Mark, this is very cool.....as you know, I like the "suspended" effect. Good way to eliminate the foot. This has the makings of a whole series.....The Mark Mandell "signature" series? Nice work, Mark