Thread: A beginners challenge

Wow! That's wonderful! What a beautiful piece of timber too.

I can't speak to the cracks.

Now you will have made Jeff cranky.

Nicely done! No shots with the lid removed?

Originally Posted by kdm

The wood is bone dry but has cracked a bit especially the sap wood - is this to be expected?

To be expected? But by the same token, it's neither unusual or surprising. I reckon the #1 cause of surface checks on "bone dry" timber is over-heating. This can happen at any stage...

• During turning. Gidgee, being a hard wood, bluntens tools quickly. Blunt tools get hot fast. As does too heavy a hand with bevel rubbing. (ie. people pushing the bevel "into" the wood.) If the tool tip becomes overly warm, let it cool down a bit. Better still go sharpen it.
  
  
• During sanding... this is where most people cause cracking, when they become over-enthusiastic with sanding. There's no need to apply any force to the paper at all. If you need "backing" behind the paper to stop burning your fingers, you're both cooking the wood and wearing out the paper.
  
  Worse, any trapped particles are more likely to score the wood, making you need to go back up a grit to remove them. Many people persist in trying to use the same piece of paper instead, tripling or quadrupling the required amount of sanding time. And cooking hell out of the wood while they're at it.
  
  Slow the lathe down, and let the paper do the cutting at the rate it wants. If it doesn't sand as fast as it's should, it's time for a new bit of paper!
  
  
• Friction Finishes. OK, these need to go on hot to apply properly. Shellawax in particular. But the idea is to get a spot hot and then move the rag. Not sit in one spot for 30 seconds.
  
  A finish shouldn't take anywhere near as long to apply as you took to sand, so although you get the finish hot you're not applying the heat long enough in one spot for it to penetrate into the wood and cause cracking. In theory, anyway. There'll always be odd jobs where applying the finish takes waaay longer than expected. DAMHIKT.

Sorry for the long-winded response, but sometimes I can't help myself...

The pink gidgee box is loverly. Some of the curves on the finial could have been a bit more finessed, but very nice all the same!

I think I'll pull some bits of gidgee out next week. first got to find as bandsaw to blunt.

Our much loved pooch, Sam, died overnight, quite unexpectedly though he was off his food yesterday.

He didn't have any toys, he couldn't see the point of them. He did however love little liver treats - once we'd trained him to like them that is, he didn't like them at first but got to realise they were a sign that we approved of him and what he was doing so being keen to please he was soon addicted!

So, I crammed as many treats as I could in the little pink gidgee box and buried it with Sam.

He's been watching me throughout all this - he was never happy with me out of sight. He was an ex shelter dog and I don't think he could ever quite believe his luck finding someone who would put up with his shortcomings and not kick him out. Truth is, we were the lucky ones.

Sorry to babble on and be off topic.

I'll move on from this thread and start a new one for whatever I do next.

Sorry to hear the news Keith. I've had some great dogs out of shelters over the years. Nice to bury the box with him.

Regards and thoughts to your family.

Cheers,
Dave

Keith sorry to hear of your loss of Sam

Keith, sorry from here too. Dogs are part of the family and it really hurts when they go. Maybe a new pup????

good job on the pink gidgee Keith

Keith, just now read the post about your dog passing...so sorry, they certainly are like family and the loss can be every bit as devastating.
Very thoughtful to place the gidgee box with Sam.
Ann and I extend our sympathies.

I'm so sorry, you know how I feel about dogs, and I understand your loss

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

Wow! That's wonderful! What a beautiful piece of timber too.

I can't speak to the cracks.

Now you will have made Jeff cranky.

Me, cranky? Never, except with myself. No turning at all this week, but there will be some product soon. If not, blame WWW and the Axe Man.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Nicely done! No shots with the lid removed?


To be expected? But by the same token, it's neither unusual or surprising. I reckon the #1 cause of surface checks on "bone dry" timber is over-heating. This can happen at any stage...

• During turning. Gidgee, being a hard wood, bluntens tools quickly. Blunt tools get hot fast. As does too heavy a hand with bevel rubbing. (ie. people pushing the bevel "into" the wood.) If the tool tip becomes overly warm, let it cool down a bit. Better still go sharpen it.
  
  
• During sanding... this is where most people cause cracking, when they become over-enthusiastic with sanding. There's no need to apply any force to the paper at all. If you need "backing" behind the paper to stop burning your fingers, you're both cooking the wood and wearing out the paper.
  
  Worse, any trapped particles are more likely to score the wood, making you need to go back up a grit to remove them. Many people persist in trying to use the same piece of paper instead, tripling or quadrupling the required amount of sanding time. And cooking hell out of the wood while they're at it.
  
  Slow the lathe down, and let the paper do the cutting at the rate it wants. If it doesn't sand as fast as it's should, it's time for a new bit of paper!
  
  
• Friction Finishes. OK, these need to go on hot to apply properly. Shellawax in particular. But the idea is to get a spot hot and then move the rag. Not sit in one spot for 30 seconds.
  
  A finish shouldn't take anywhere near as long to apply as you took to sand, so although you get the finish hot you're not applying the heat long enough in one spot for it to penetrate into the wood and cause cracking. In theory, anyway. There'll always be odd jobs where applying the finish takes waaay longer than expected. DAMHIKT.

Sorry for the long-winded response, but sometimes I can't help myself...

Andy, you are always helpful. Give yourself a pat and have a coldie or cuppa or whatever you want.

So sorry to hear about your dog. I've got one that doesn't like me out of her sight. It will sure be a wrench when she goes.

Thanks for all your kind comments. Jeff, we're going to think about whether to get another dog for a while though getting a pup straight away is tempting

Skew, thanks for the advice. I'll make another box with the same wood some time and keep your comments in mind. I'll try and work out at what stage the checking occurs if it does next time.