Finial Challenge.

[RETIRED]

OK, boys and girls, show us your longest, thinnest, fatter or shorter finial.

No prizes, just a bit of fun and hopefully a chance to extend your skills.

[wheelinround]

So will you be doing one on your lathe :;

[Ozkaban]

So will you be doing one on your lathe :;

And those bollards you posted a while back don't count...

[RETIRED]

You just never know what I might do. :whistling2:

[ElizaLeahy]

At the moment I can't go outside - huge dust storm!

But I'm looking forward to this challenge - can we start now?

[Ozkaban]

At the moment I can't go outside - huge dust storm!

But I'm looking forward to this challenge - can we start now?

Yup, arrived in Sydney overnight and has only just cleared the CBD. Enjoy :D

Perfect weather for my first attempt at using Rustins tonight :C

Cheers,
Dave

[Frank&Earnest]

OK, this is the thinnest and fattest, the shortest and the longest finial I have done... because it is the only one I have ever done. Imitation is the best flattery, they say, and given that I am testing my skill and not my creativity, I have copied Ken's design by blowing up his photo and calculating the proportions. Saved me mucking around, about one hour from start to finish.

The second photo shows the hand made tools I have used. With the proper insert, the proper technique and a good Aussie hardwood, there is hardly anything they can not do (but, as you said before , IIRC, nothing beats a sharp spindle gouge for large spindle work). The timber is Western Myall.

Now I'll go back to carving. :D

[tea lady]

Here's mine. Its 100mm long, 10mmat the fattest, 2.5mm at the thinest. Dunno wood. (Any ideas? I thought it was some sort of desert wood, but is sap wood mostly. Is a bit yellower in real life than in the pic. Not really very hard. :shrug: ) No finish yet. Will prolly white shellac it. :cool: I have a little round silky oak box to put it on.:)
117518117519

[DJ’s Timber]

I thought it was some sort of desert wood, but is sap wood mostly. Is a bit yellower in real life than in the pic.


Going on that description and the colour of heartwood, I'd say Gidgee.

[tea lady]

Going on that description and the colour of heartwood, I'd say Gidgee.:shrug: That's what I thought, but it wasn't that hard! I got it out of the scrap bin. Amazing what some people throw away. :cool:

How are you anyway DJ? :U

[dai sensei]

Nice one TL.

It should be hard if Gidgee, what about blackwood? How fine is the grain?

[ElizaLeahy]

Looks like Gidgee to me (in my VAST experience!!! lol)

Sap wood isn't as hard as the heart, so that might be it.

Looks good whatever the timber is :)

Are we sticking them all in this thread or starting individual threads like we did last time.

The chicken cooking in the kitchen smells DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! (just thought I'd share that)

[RETIRED]

Put them all in here.

[ElizaLeahy]

It was a comedy of errors - unfortunately all the errors were mine.

Started off with a nice piece of jacaranda. Cut, shaped the ends for the chuck, cut for the lid, turned the lid...

When I was polishing the lid there was a line - I couldn't work out what was causing it, I thought maybe there was a bit of colour on the toweling I was using.

Turns out that I'd turned too deep and the "line" was actually the crack around the end bit that sat in the chuck.

Chucked that bit, cut another bit. That one went alright, but wasn't going to line up with the grain. Oh well.

Turned the bottom of the box, jammed the lid on - wow, went on really tight first time! Keen!

Turned and polished the outside. Then - couldn't get the top off!

Came to the forums for help - got the top off. Finished turning the inside of the bottom. Everything going nicely. Cut it off the chuck....

Cut through the bottom - nice round hole.

Now I have to turn a foot for it! ARGH!

Turned the foot. (In retrospect I would have made the stem MUCH thinner, but it was starting to get dark and I was rushing). Turned it off the lathe - too late realising I hadn't polished it. Pulled out the Danish oil, never used it before, now is the chance!

While it was soaking, turned the finial. It was totally dark now, working by the porch light - 40 watt. Oddly, the finial was the only thing that gave me no trouble.

Came in, glued up. Wished I'd made the stem of the foot about half the width it is. :(

I'd say maybe better tomorrow - but tonight the cats found a grasshopper on the (outside) screen door, and I quickly slammed the glass door. So as far as I know it's on my lathe right now. I'm not sure when I'll be able to force myself out doors again!

[tea lady]

The finial looks good. The box isn't bad. To bad about the hole in the bottom. The bass is a bit naff. Looks like it was turned by someone else who had never turned before. :C Can you have a go at doing another one? (Don't worry about grasshoppers on the lathe. I think has taught a few so maybe he's come to give you some pointers.:D ) :cool:

[wheelinround]

Elisa generally it looks good agree the foot and stem should reflect the finial in some way's.
A good save though:2tsup:

[ElizaLeahy]

I'm going to try to cut the stem off under the first bead. I'll cut the bulk of it off using the scroll saw, then see if I can reverse chuck it to end it off.

Wish me luck :)

[Ed Reiss]

good or bad, look at all the great experience your getting :2tsup:...and, oh, grasshoppers don't eat humans :q:D:D