Euc burl bowl

[tony_A]

Scored some old dry and deeply cracked eucalypt burls a little while back. They were beyond turning without some form of stabilisation so had a play with casting resin and some black pigment. Don't have any of the "nice to own" casting accessories like pressure chambers so a fair bit of time was spent filling voids that the resin didn't penetrate then sanding, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Bowl is about 170mm diam and 90 high. Finished with poly, rubbed with 0000 and waxed.

Photo of the euc burl gives an idea of the starting point.

421538421537421536421535421534

Comments and critique welcome
Tony

[Kidbee]

In all the circumstances, I think you did real well with them.

[cava]

Wow, looks great. :2tsup:

I have some suitably cracked non-descripte Eucalyptus that would lend itself to the treatment that you did.

Where did you get the casting resin from, or would the Wests System be better?

[Nubsnstubs]

Pretty nice looking piece, Tony. Like I always say, there is no such thing as trash wood. There are ways to make it better, and you did just that.......... Jerry (in Tucson)

[tony_A]

Thanks for the comments Jerry and Kidbee.
Cava, I used Solid Systems casting epoxy and they also sell various coloured pigments. If you are adding a dark colour I feel sure that West Systems would do. West Systems also sell a colourless hardener. I cut the blank and roughed out the base on a face plate. Then wrapped the blank /bowl in a couple of layers of glad wrap, ran masking tape around the sides and base, cut the top open then pored the resin into the top. Brendon Stemp has a couple of video's on casting and I sort of generally followed what he did.

Tony

[cava]

Thanks Tony.

Having never used Solid Systems before, which product do you recommend, 606, 607, 609 etc?

George

[dai sensei]

Beautiful job, looks great :2tsup:

[orraloon]

Really top job. I don't think I would be game to go that thin with burl but you pulled it off and it looks great.
Regards
John

[Cliff Rogers]

Cool, has anybody tried using laser toner in epoxy to colour it?

[tony_A]

Cava
I used 606 based on Brendan's video. Happy to tell you what I did bit if you want advice there are way more experienced folk on the forum than me.

Tony

[dai sensei]

Cool, has anybody tried using laser toner in epoxy to colour it?

No but can't see why it wouldn't work, it is just a powder colourant, unless there is a reaction to it

[Fumbler]

No critique needed on that, that's brilliant. Lovely shape too.

tell me, did u spray poly? And '0000 and wax' on the lathe or by hand?

[tony_A]

Thanks Fumbler, although there is always room for improvement and constructive critique from experienced turners is an excellent means of identifying areas for improvement.
Applied several coats by brush, sanding between each then finished off with the spray gun for the final coat. 0000 and wax by hand.

Tony

[brainstrust]

brilliant :2tsup: great shape, great resin job, great finish, great everything!