Greetings,

Well, for all those who endured the previous 5 projects,
here is my 6th turning project - A flower vase in spalted oak.
This could also quite possibly be the oddest looking thing I
have made yet. I can't quite decide if it is butt-ugly or artistic.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

I actually had some idea of what I wanted when I began this
particular project. Spring is upon us, and SWMBO needed
a vase for freshly cut flowers. This thing is the end result of
our efforts of hauling a half-rotten, slimy, bug infested, 4 foot
long oak log from the local park yesterday. I immediately
chain-sawed it up into smaller lengths, and proceeded to
turn this... uhh... thing.

It was lightly sanded and coated with tung oil, which made it
considerably darker than it was originally. I may coat it with a
coat of lacquer at some point in the future - if it's compatible...

Since you folks have been a veritable cornucopia of ideas when it
comes to turning techniques, how do you hollow the interiors of deep
vessels with narrow openings like this? The first few inches weren't
a real problem, I used a termite. But the deeper portions were quite
difficult as the tool rest won't go into the small opening to provide
for proper support of the tool. I used a curved bowl rest for a
portion of the interior, but even that wasn't enough when I got to the
very bottom.

Thanks,

Greg


Greg G.

Greg G. wrote:
Greetings,

Well, for all those who endured the previous 5 projects,
here is my 6th turning project - A flower vase in spalted oak.
This could also quite possibly be the oddest looking thing I
have made yet. I can't quite decide if it is butt-ugly or artistic.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

I actually had some idea of what I wanted when I began this
particular project. Spring is upon us, and SWMBO needed
a vase for freshly cut flowers. This thing is the end result of
our efforts of hauling a half-rotten, slimy, bug infested, 4 foot
long oak log from the local park yesterday. I immediately
chain-sawed it up into smaller lengths, and proceeded to
turn this... uhh... thing.

It was lightly sanded and coated with tung oil, which made it
considerably darker than it was originally. I may coat it with a
coat of lacquer at some point in the future - if it's compatible...

Since you folks have been a veritable cornucopia of ideas when it
comes to turning techniques, how do you hollow the interiors of deep
vessels with narrow openings like this? The first few inches weren't
a real problem, I used a termite. But the deeper portions were quite
difficult as the tool rest won't go into the small opening to provide
for proper support of the tool. I used a curved bowl rest for a
portion of the interior, but even that wasn't enough when I got to the
very bottom.

Thanks,

Greg


Greg G.
Hey Greg, that looks good. What else are you doing with the log?

Paul.

--
Stop wasting wood. Timber doesn't grow on trees you know!

I must be aesthetically challenged. I think it looks great. Good work.

RonB

Looks great to me. I've not done it myself, but the rigs I've seen used
in deep hollowing sometimes had very long handles, sometimes an
additional rest farther back along the ways with provision to prevent
rotation of the tool, and sometimes a special arm brace/handle which
provides more grip against tool torque.
If you're anywhere around Southern California, I come by a pick up the
"leftovers" from that log, and haul it away for free!

wrote in message
oups.com...
Looks great to me. I've not done it myself, but the rigs I've seen used
in deep hollowing sometimes had very long handles, sometimes an
additional rest farther back along the ways with provision to prevent
rotation of the tool, and sometimes a special arm brace/handle which
provides more grip against tool torque.
If you're anywhere around Southern California, I come by a pick up the
"leftovers" from that log, and haul it away for free!


Odd-looking oak, that's for sure. Looks like walnut.

George wrote:
Odd-looking oak, that's for sure. Looks like walnut.

I wondered about that too. Regardless, it's a long way from
butt-ugly.

Dave in Fairfax
--
Dave Leader
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/
PATINA
http://www.Patinatools.org/

Greg...

Greg G. wrote:
Greetings,

Well, for all those who endured the previous 5 projects,
here is my 6th turning project - A flower vase in spalted oak.
This could also quite possibly be the oddest looking thing I
have made yet. I can't quite decide if it is butt-ugly or artistic.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

Thanks,

Greg


Greg G.

Two votes for artistic. We had to think about whether or not we liked
it. That makes it "art". Not necessarily likable -- but art.

:-)

Nice wood.


--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 18:47:01 -0500, Greg wrote:


Greetings,

Well, for all those who endured the previous 5 projects,
here is my 6th turning project - A flower vase in spalted oak.
This could also quite possibly be the oddest looking thing I
have made yet. I can't quite decide if it is butt-ugly or artistic.

It ain't Oak, and it ain't ugly...it's kinda nice....It sure does look
a bit like Walnut, and if it had been tapered a bit more at the bottom
and maybe had a bit of shaping at the top to give it a hint of a
'neck', it could have been even nicer.

George said:

Odd-looking oak, that's for sure. Looks like walnut.

That's what I said when I wet it down with alcohol to look at the
grain. But believe it or not, it's pin oak. It was a lot more oak
colored before I applied the tung oil. Then it became very dark, and
the reds sort of popped out. There is even a violet streak or two to
further confuse. This piece was laying in a swamp for a year or two.

G


Greg G.

Dave in Fairfax said:

I wondered about that too. Regardless, it's a long way from
butt-ugly.

Thanks, Dave


Greg G.

WillR said:

Two votes for artistic. We had to think about whether or not we liked
it. That makes it "art". Not necessarily likable -- but art.

Hey!....
Kinda like people in newsgroups,
not necesaarily likable, but artsy. ;-)


Nice wood.

It must be the viagra leaking into the swamp from the local chemical
plant. :-o

Thanks,


Greg G.

Bill Day said:

It ain't Oak, and it ain't ugly...it's kinda nice....It sure does look
a bit like Walnut, and if it had been tapered a bit more at the bottom
and maybe had a bit of shaping at the top to give it a hint of a
'neck', it could have been even nicer.

I'm afraid it's pin oak - we have two standing in our back yard. It
looked a lot more like oak until I applied the tung oil. Then it
turned almost black, then lightened up somewhat, 'cause I left it in
the sun for a day. The colors are almost entirely due to the spalting
and whatever chemicals have leached into it from the ground water and
surface run-off. It was recovered from a swampy area near our home.

As for the shape, I was going to give it a necked flair at the top,
but SWMBO said she wanted this plain shape - go figure...
And a heavy, broad base so that cats wouldn't knock it over.

I have a plastic liner to be inserted inside for holding water, my
experiences with poly coatings have been WAY less than positive.

Thanks,


Greg G.

Folks,

You'll have to excuse the break in threading - Charter has
progressively deteriorated to the point where I don't even receive my
own posts, I got these from Google. Another ISP bites the dust...

RonB said:

I must be aesthetically challenged. I think it looks great. Good work.

Thanks,
I'm getting used to it... I think I like it...
The colors continue to be dynamic - it's like a mood ring.

Thanks,
Greg



gpdew said:

Looks great to me. I've not done it myself, but the rigs I've seen used in
deep hollowing sometimes had very long handles, sometimes an
additional rest farther back along the ways with provision to prevent
rotation of the tool, and sometimes a special arm brace/handle which
provides more grip against tool torque.

I've seen the RS2000/3000 - looks like a bit of overkill for a Jet
Mini. I just need to fashion up an extended platform rest or some
kind of deep tool rest for doing these sorts of things. I know I
won't do another until then, however, as this one about killed my
wrists. The lack of leverage and control was not pleasant.

If you're anywhere around Southern California, I come by a pick up the
"leftovers" from that log, and haul it away for free!

I'm sure you wood. Unfortunately, I live in the vast unwashed red
states of the Southeast - and although we do travel to Santa Barbara
and Groveland on occasion, the shipping would be prohibitive. ;-)

One advantage (?) of living near a large city, is that the trees are
systematically eradicated in lieu of tacky McMansions, more pavement,
and new strip malls filled to the brim with crappy Chinese Imports.

I'm always tripping over logs and felled trees. The sidewalks are
littered with these damned spalted birch logs. We've burned 5000
pounds of this stuff and it just keeps coming. Huge holly's, neatly
sliced walnut burls, maple crotches, you name it - we've burned it...
:-o

Thanks,


Greg G.

Greg G. wrote:
WillR said:


Two votes for artistic. We had to think about whether or not we liked
it. That makes it "art". Not necessarily likable -- but art.


Hey!....
Kinda like people in newsgroups,
not necesaarily likable, but artsy. ;-)



Nice wood.


It must be the viagra leaking into the swamp from the local chemical
plant. :-o

Let us know how it works out. ;-)


Thanks,


Greg G.


And actually we did like it too. LOL

Good stuff!


--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

Are you sure it is oak?
It looks like Walnut to me -
It is not ugly, I have seen much worse in my own shop!

Ray

"Greg G." wrote in message
...

Greetings,

Well, for all those who endured the previous 5 projects,
here is my 6th turning project - A flower vase in spalted oak.
This could also quite possibly be the oddest looking thing I
have made yet. I can't quite decide if it is butt-ugly or artistic.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

I actually had some idea of what I wanted when I began this
particular project. Spring is upon us, and SWMBO needed
a vase for freshly cut flowers. This thing is the end result of
our efforts of hauling a half-rotten, slimy, bug infested, 4 foot
long oak log from the local park yesterday. I immediately
chain-sawed it up into smaller lengths, and proceeded to
turn this... uhh... thing.

It was lightly sanded and coated with tung oil, which made it
considerably darker than it was originally. I may coat it with a
coat of lacquer at some point in the future - if it's compatible...

Since you folks have been a veritable cornucopia of ideas when it
comes to turning techniques, how do you hollow the interiors of deep
vessels with narrow openings like this? The first few inches weren't
a real problem, I used a termite. But the deeper portions were quite
difficult as the tool rest won't go into the small opening to provide
for proper support of the tool. I used a curved bowl rest for a
portion of the interior, but even that wasn't enough when I got to the
very bottom.

Thanks,

Greg


Greg G.

Ray Sandusky said:

Are you sure it is oak?
It looks like Walnut to me -
It is not ugly, I have seen much worse in my own shop!

Ray

Thanks, Ray. And believe me - I have many, many ugly things
in my shop - not the least of which is me.

As for the Oak vs. Walnut mini-debate, look at this close up of a
portion of non-spalted wood and make your decision accordingly.
Freshly cut with a 1/2" gouge, and not sanded. There is a streak of
visible spalting running up the right side.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Tu...akorWalnut.jpg

This is the same piece of wood - mostly spalted...

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

Whadda ya think?



Greg G.

"Greg G." wrote in message
news

As for the Oak vs. Walnut mini-debate, look at this close up of a
portion of non-spalted wood and make your decision accordingly.
Freshly cut with a 1/2" gouge, and not sanded. There is a streak of
visible spalting running up the right side.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Tu...akorWalnut.jpg

This is the same piece of wood - mostly spalted...

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

Whadda ya think?

I think the definitive view is not available. One of the characteristics of
Quercus spp is the presence of strong medullary rays. While there appears
there might be ray figure in the first, without some idea of scale we might
just be looking at pores.

Take a small piece, split it radially and see if it has prominent rays. If
it does - bog oak. If not? How far north are you? Lots of walnut orchards
around Sacramento and north.

Greg

At close range, the stuff still looks like walnut - maybe I need stronger
glasses!

Ray


"Greg G." wrote in message
news
Ray Sandusky said:

Are you sure it is oak?
It looks like Walnut to me -
It is not ugly, I have seen much worse in my own shop!

Ray

Thanks, Ray. And believe me - I have many, many ugly things
in my shop - not the least of which is me.

As for the Oak vs. Walnut mini-debate, look at this close up of a
portion of non-spalted wood and make your decision accordingly.
Freshly cut with a 1/2" gouge, and not sanded. There is a streak of
visible spalting running up the right side.

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Tu...akorWalnut.jpg

This is the same piece of wood - mostly spalted...

http://www.thevideodoc.com/images/Turned_Vase_1xl.jpg

Whadda ya think?



Greg G.