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  1. #1
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    Default Dirty Grey Camphor Laurel

    I made a little bowl today using, among other things, some Camphor Laurel, making use of scraps/offcuts. I couldn't see the dirty grey colour until I started turning it. Not proud of this one, but want to save it if I can.

    I was wondering - if I leave it laying about for long enough without a finish on it, perhaps applying moisture from time to time, is the grey likely to spread/even out, or am I stuck with it looking blotchy forever?
    And if you think it looks bad now, wait until I apply a finish.....

    Paint it?

    What actually causes that grey colour? Mould/fungus?

    Timbers from edge to centre are Canarywood, figured Camphor Laurel, plain (grey) Camphor Laurel, NGR, grey Camphor Laurel again.
    Dimensions are 175mm diameter, 85mm tall.

    Dirty Grey CL.JPG

    Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

    Edit: A couple more views, including the obligatory bottom.
    It doesn't look too bad from some angles.
    (I'd love to get my hands on some more of that Canarywood. Comes up really nice. Hard as nails though.)

    Side.JPG Bottom.JPG
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Not a bad effort on lamination nice deep bowl.

    The spalting in the Camphor can't be removed now, you may have tried a bit of bleaching prior it would get rid of it tho. Camphor has this often sometimes even looks quite green.

  4. #3
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    Thumbs up

    You have done a great job there Steve.

    The grey doesn't detract too much so forget about it.

  5. #4
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    Default camphor laurel.

    Hermit,
    Your problem with CL is not uncommon. You can bleach it before using it,
    but even then you can still get the spalting effect in a lighter greyish colour
    which I think is worse because it affects the other colour textures in the wood.
    What I did with one piece that had those markings was to dye it lightly. I used
    a weak red solution and gave it (2) coats. Came up pretty good. Otherwise
    grin and bear it,eh. Drillit.

  6. #5
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    Default

    Thanks for the replies, guys. Looks like I'll have to live with it. I'll put some finish on it today and see how it comes out. I'll probably keep it in the shed for storing small bits and pieces in.

    I've bleached grey from CL in the past, but it can't be done from the outside prior to turning - the bleach effect doesn't go very deep and, of course, I can't do it in this case without affecting the other timber due to the laminations. Same goes for dying it.

    Unfortunately, most of my Camphor Laurel has this problem, rendering it useless for anything but practice. I've got a pile of potential firewood. The downside of buying online.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  7. #6
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    Default

    Apart from your own concerns about the colour, you have done an excellent job on turning and finishing the bowl. Maybe when complete, you should keep it inside the house, as most visitors who see it there will probably know little about what the timber is supposed to look like, and won't even notice what you are worried about. We all make things at times that we have reservations about, and yet others like them. We are all different.
    Looking forward to seeing it with a finish on it.
    Dallas

  8. #7
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Treecycle View Post
    Apart from your own concerns about the colour, you have done an excellent job on turning and finishing the bowl. Maybe when complete, you should keep it inside the house, as most visitors who see it there will probably know little about what the timber is supposed to look like, and won't even notice what you are worried about. We all make things at times that we have reservations about, and yet others like them. We are all different.
    Looking forward to seeing it with a finish on it.
    Thank you, Dallas, for the very kind comments. Ignoring the colour, for my second turned bowl, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

    I'll post a couple of finished pics in a day or two. I'll use WOP for convenience, but I think that whatever I use will accent the grey and look even worse. We'll see.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  9. #8
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    Default

    Nice shape Steve,

    Getting to be a real little designer.

    I don't think it looks bad at all, I don't see it as a grey, its a different timber and gives it contrast.

    If you want people to not look at it, make a nice one piece lid and let them look at that instead, they won't look underneath.

    Turning skills are up there as well.

    Pete

  10. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by _fly_ View Post
    Nice shape Steve,

    Getting to be a real little designer.

    I don't think it looks bad at all, I don't see it as a grey, its a different timber and gives it contrast.

    If you want people to not look at it, make a nice one piece lid and let them look at that instead, they won't look underneath.

    Turning skills are up there as well.

    Pete
    Thanks Pete. You've all managed to allay my concerns a bit. Still looks terrible to me, though, so I'll keep it and won't pass it off onto anyone.

    I like the idea of a lid. I'll give it some thought. Not sure if one-piece would match the bowl though. It might look out of place.

    Designer? If you mean the lamination, that's out of necessity. I'm running out of big enough pieces of timber to turn. A bit short on $ right now, but on Monday I'm going to ring the local firewood suppliers and see if I can go out and look around for some bits and pieces for turning. Should be cheaper than buying timber online, (I hope).

    Still waiting on Carbatec for my grinder, too. Their 10-15 days has stretched to a month and still nothing in sight. Meantime I'm spending a fair bit of each night hand-sharpening.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  11. #10
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    Default

    I meant designer in respect to the shape, the lip, the bowl shape in general.
    Some shapes just make things look ugly, but yours have all been pleasing shapes/ratio's.

    Bit like when you fixed the roof of the VW, some things look right and some look wrong.

  12. #11
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by _fly_ View Post
    I meant designer in respect to the shape, the lip, the bowl shape in general.
    Some shapes just make things look ugly, but yours have all been pleasing shapes/ratio's.

    Bit like when you fixed the roof of the VW, some things look right and some look wrong.
    Thanks for that Pete. I thought the shape was a bit boring, especially compared to some of the stuff I see here, but I was just happy to get it smooth, without ridges etc. Not as easy as it looks, is it?
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  13. #12
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    Default

    Hi steve
    I think the bowl looks pretty good,
    My only suggestion would be danish oil
    Cl loves danish oil and the more coats
    The darker it goes so if you have, nt finish it yet
    Try a fewcoats and it will pop
    Cheers smiife

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by smiife View Post
    Hi steve
    I think the bowl looks pretty good,
    My only suggestion would be danish oil
    Cl loves danish oil and the more coats
    The darker it goes so if you have, nt finish it yet
    Try a fewcoats and it will pop
    Cheers smiife
    Great suggestion smiife.

    I saw this just in time - was just preparing for a coat of WOP.
    I have plenty of Danish oil and have used it on CL in the past, but only on small stuff, (pendants & brooches).

    Consider it done. I'll give it a coat a day for the next few days and see how it goes.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  15. #14
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    Default Dirty grey C L

    Nice work for a deep bowl
    I cut down a CL tree in my Yard (roots everywhere)and found when
    dried out parts of it were naturally grey ,not in the heart wood but
    close to the bark and i suspect it could have been on the north side
    of the tree when it was growing.If the grain is even(plain)its what
    you've have, but with prominent black irregular lines its likely to
    be spalted, carry on the good work , Cheers

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by toolieturn View Post
    Nice work for a deep bowl
    I cut down a CL tree in my Yard (roots everywhere)and found when
    dried out parts of it were naturally grey ,not in the heart wood but
    close to the bark and i suspect it could have been on the north side
    of the tree when it was growing.If the grain is even(plain)its what
    you've have, but with prominent black irregular lines its likely to
    be spalted, carry on the good work , Cheers
    Right. I wasn't sure if it was spalting, or something else. I've got a fair bit more with grey through it. Not sure what I'll use it for.

    I've noticed that the grey is most visible in the end-grain, so I might try some for a small segmented project, where only side grain is showing. Otherwise, I'll use it for glue blocks etc.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

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