Chasing the feather.

4/19/05, 2:21 PM #1

Barry Irby
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13,125 posts

Registered: 1/27/05

Chasing the feather.

Barry Irby

>I have a number of walnut crotches and am trying to figure out how to turn a bowl or platter with the crotch or feather grain in them. I have split one right down the Y. I cut a disk out 14" in diameter and about two inches thick. Here are the problems and questions.

The feather is not centered. I would have to cut it down to about eleven inches to get it centered. That would be better wouldn't it?

The feather is on the pith side of the blank. I need to make that the bottom of the bowl or platter so that I don't simply turn it away, Right?

Walnut has dark heart wood and white sap wood. I'm going to have some of each and the feather runs across both. In order to avoid having both I would need a huge blank, Right?

Does the feather tend to go away in larger branch unions?

I have to say that this is much harder than I first thought and I have more respect for the pieces I have seen with a perfect feather in them. Thanks for letting me think out loud and any help would be appreciated.

Re: Chasing the feather.

4/19/05, 3:03 PM #2

John Trant (Baltimore/DC area)
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Re: Chasing the feather.

John Trant (Baltimore/DC area)

>It may be a bit wasteful but it is easiest to get a single feathered bowl from a crotch. However, if you want shallow platters, then a crotch can yield two.

The sapwood on cherry and walnut is not considered a defect in cabinetmaking. Simply stain/dye the sap to get an even tone and to highlight the crotch feather.

Personally, I like the feather and the sapwood/heart wood balanced. However, it also looks good with the feather or sap pushed to one side (use the rule of thirds to guide you).

John

Re: Chasing the feather.

4/19/05, 7:11 PM #3

Bob Hackett
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2,804 posts

Registered: 12/28/03

Re: Chasing the feather.

Bob Hackett

>I generally cut one blank just as you did for a platter blank and put the pith at the bottom.The feather can be centered or offset if you have sapwood to add a visual balance to it.

Don`t discount the rest of your blank just because the feather isn`t prominent.I `ve turned alot of bowls from these blanks with the bottom toward the bark and been surprised by the swirling grain and curly figure that appeared once the finish was put on.

Be aware that there is a big difference in density in between heart and sapwood in walnut.Even though your blank may be round it can still be offbalance by quite a bit.The sapwood may take afew more coats of finish to even up in gloss to the heartwood also.Most folks find the contrast of heart and sapwood atttactive and I have never had trouble selling these bowls in either walnut or cherry to name just two types of wood.

Mainely,Bob

Chasing the feather.

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