Thread: Recent Chunks for Critiques

Pic 1&2 This is a Black Walnut Pot Pourri Bowl from a crotch piece. Finished with Lacquer. 200mm x 70mm x 6mm thick.

Pic 3,4 & 5 Hackberry Hollow Form shows some nice grain... are those called eyes? or Spalting? (Thanks, Gil, this is what I got from you). 130mm x 115mm x 6mm thick. Finished with lacquer wash and buffed.

Hi OGYT,

Some good work there. I wondered what is lacquer wash? I use Melamine lacquer (usually thinned to 50:50 with cellulose thinners) Is it the same stuff with a different name from a different country? or is it a totally different product/way of using the product?

I like the ring box . I've made a few things with a straight/plain section and like the design. If I was to be critical then maybe make the finial and stem a little thinner?

Like the Hackberry with the spalting. We don't get Hackberry here in the UK.

I wonder if the Pot pourri bowl could do with a foot to make it look/feel a little lighter?

Keep up the good work, hope my thought are helpful for future designs

All the best,

Richard

Richard, the lacquer wash I mentioned is my own concoction of 25% nitrocellulose lacquer, and 75% lacquer thinner. It penetrates and seals, but it doesn't seal it so tight that it won't take an oil finish after sanding. It does seal it enough that CA glue won't stain the surrounding area when sealing cracks with it. It's gettin' hard to find nitrocellulose lacquer here in the states... most of it here is acetone-based now.
I also thought about making the stem of the ring box a little thinner, but being Madrone, I figured it'd break too easily. The lid pops when you take it off, so I thought the same about the knob on it.
And your comment on the PP Bowl is what I thought about it ... after I finished it... it looks like it sets heavy, don't it?

All good stuff I reckon Al 1st form - maybe char the natural edge? Ring box - consider it stolen, with slightly smaller finial/stem - I can see a series of these forming already. Pot pourri bowl - a bit big for pot-pourri maybe but looks fine. Hackberry - hmmm - she'll do!

Vern, I value your comments... what a great idea for the natural edge!
Mate, I visited your Website last night. Awesome doesn't do it justice. I like the design of it, and the info that's available. It oughta go into the AAW list of must-visits for woodturners. Good on ya!

Originally Posted by OGYT

Vern, I value your comments... what a great idea for the natural edge!
Mate, I visited your Website last night. Awesome doesn't do it justice. I like the design of it, and the info that's available. It oughta go into the AAW list of must-visits for woodturners. Good on ya!

Thanks for the comments re: the website Al. Just signed up for a new connection today so I can move it to a bigger home soon and get the rest of the trees in there and some more detail on the gadgets etc. Will let you know when it's moved.

Great work on all of them, Al.

The ring box has a nice classical form, and perfect proportions on the lid. Only thing I'd do different would be to make the foot more of a reflection of the underside of the box, i.e symmetrical about the bead. Personal taste only.

Spectacular finish on the PP bowl. I agree with Richard; a wee foot, maybe only 1-2mm high, would give it more of a "levitated" appearance.

Joe

I found myself nodding in agreement while reading Vern's post, although I rather like the natural edged bowl just the way it is. At first sight it gave me itchy fingers, wanting to pick it up...

Nice work all the way around Al.
I'm especially partial to the madrone ring box and a little envious of the
pop you get with a snug fit.
I hope the knee is healing fast and glad it didn't cramp your turning style
too much.
tm

Nice work on them all, Al.
Of course it helps to have cool wood from Georgia.

Hey Al - all round - real nice. I particularly like the walnut HF.

G'Day Al

All very nice but really like the ring box. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Bernie

All realy nice work, Al. Is hackberry soft? Looks a bit like our red cedar in grain. I really like it

Originally Posted by ticklingmedusa

I hope the knee is healing fast and glad it didn't cramp your turning style too much. tm

Healing was going fine, 'til I got the staples out. Put on Jeans, Put on the new chaps, Sawed some blanks, Knelt down, and felt a sting. It tore open on the lower end (where the chain had made it's entrance). Now I keep it clean, and tape it shut and wear short pants 'til it's healed. (Ya oughta see me in my fire boots, and bunker coat, operatin' th' pumper... look like a gray-bearded flasher)

Originally Posted by SkewChiDamn

At first sight it gave me itchy fingers, wanting to pick it up...

Thanks, Skew, C'mon upover, 'n you can turn one like it on th' OW. Open invite.

Originally Posted by Joe

Only thing I'd do different would be to make the foot more of a reflection of the underside of the box, i.e symmetrical about the bead.

I agree with that Joe, that's one I hadn't thought of.

Originally Posted by Gil

Of course it helps to have cool wood from Georgia.

True, true. Wish I had a bunch of that got burned.

Originally Posted by Cedar

Is hackberry soft? Looks a bit like our red cedar in grain.

It's fairly soft, but not as soft as Aromatic Cedar... (don't know if that's the timber your talkin' about). The darker grain is harder than the light, so it's easy to get tearout, and you need to be careful sanding, so you don't get wavy wood. This is probably the 4th piece of Hackberry I've ever had, and it's all got a welcome surprise inside... the grain does something different every time.
Thanks, all, for your kind comments and critiques. They are all appreciated. Maybe I've learned something from you. Time will tell.