View Full Version : Thin enough? SweetGum Bowl
OGYT
27th January 2007, 09:41 AM
Cored this from a large piece of Sweet Gum, fresh wet green. Messed up the bottom of the core,:( so I trimmed it down and put a dovetail circle in the bottom to chuck mount it. Then I decided that instead of rough turning it, I'd turn it as thin as I could, and let it warp.
As I was turning it, I saw some light appear through it, so I used my lathe lamp to determine the thickness. :oo: Hope it doesn't crack... so I put it into the soap. I'll leave it there for about a week, then see how she does as she dries.:D
336mm diameter, 63mm high, 5mm thick. Still has the dovetail on the bottom, so I can sand it on the lathe, after it's dried.
First pic I just balanced it in front of the light. Second pic it was still on the lathe.
ss_11000
27th January 2007, 02:31 PM
coooool........:2tsup:
are you sure its 5mm thick?? looks thinner...
cheers
OGYT
27th January 2007, 02:44 PM
Stirlo, it's actually 3/16"... my conversion table doesn't do fractions, and I certainly don't do them well. So I figured .25 inch... that came to 6mm in my converter, and I just went one mm less than that. Might be just a skosh thinner than that.
Thanks for the kudos.
ss_11000
27th January 2007, 03:29 PM
cool. thanx for that.
ticklingmedusa
27th January 2007, 03:55 PM
Wow Allen,
very nice & very thin indeed!
Sweetgum is planted all over here in landscapes.
I wonder if my extension cord will reach across the street to the closest
one???:D :cool: :2tsup:
tm
Wayne Blanch
27th January 2007, 07:26 PM
Well done:2tsup: With the light behind it, it looks thiner than 5 mm. It is a really nice piece
BernieP
27th January 2007, 07:30 PM
G'Day Al
Man thats thin! Don't forget to show us the pics when you have it finished. At this stage very nice.
Cheers
Bernie
hughie
27th January 2007, 09:14 PM
Al, you must have a real powerful light as it sure look like 2-3mm not 5mm. :U
Nice effort amigo.
dai sensei
27th January 2007, 11:07 PM
Al, you must have a real powerful light as it sure look like 2-3mm not 5mm. :U
Nice effort amigo.
My thoughts exactly.
TTIT
28th January 2007, 12:03 AM
Looks like you got the wall nicely uniform Al. Interested to see what colour the wood is under light instead of over it. Good stuff :U
OGYT
29th January 2007, 02:19 PM
I really appreciate the comments, Mates.
The lights both have 100watt bulbs.
I think the reason the light shows through is because it's so wet. When I was turning it, it was slinging water all over the place. Water was running down the gouge flute, and dripping off my hand.:oo:
After it comes out of the soap, I think I'll soak it in some type of oil... I don't know what kind, but I've heard someone do that to make it keep it's translucence.
Anyone got any ideas on that?:?
ticklingmedusa
29th January 2007, 05:50 PM
Hawaiian turner Ron Kent turns Norfolk Island Pine thin and soaks in oil.
Try this for his technique.
www.ronkent.com
MajorPanic
29th January 2007, 08:10 PM
It's a bit thinner than you think..........
3/16" = 3÷16 = 0.1875 X 25.4 = 4.7625mm :wink: :D
OGYT
30th January 2007, 12:39 PM
Thanks for the Math lesson, MP ;O)
Studley 2436
30th January 2007, 01:25 PM
It's a bit thinner than you think..........
3/16" = 3÷16 = 0.1875 X 25.4 = 4.7625mm :wink: :D
Damn the Major has the same maths as me
Studley