Thread: Spalted Sycamore HF, with Holly Lid/Finial

Jeff, just look at the 50mm (2") diameter cylinder of Holly in the pic, the other end is clamped firmly in a SN2 chuck. Now just turn the lower form of the lid, cut the tenon, carefully zero in on the diameter to fit the opening in the hollow form by test fitting as you go (cause there is nothing in your way to do the test fits). Once it fits properly, hollow out the inside of the lid, sand it and the outer part (not the tenon), and then finish it as you wish (I used carnauba wax). Now just continue on turning the upper outside of the lid, and finish that. Then turn the finial to about 2/3s of the way to the tip, and finish that. Now very carefully narrow the finial taper, sanding and finishing as you go, and it either breaks off or it does not, and you touch it with a sharp skew (or as I did with a razor blade). It is pretty simple when done in steps because there is plenty of wood remaining until you reach the upper 1/3 of the finial top.
No more confusion…yes?
Thanks for your nice comment.

Gil,

thanks for spending the time to explain it to me. Like so many others on the forum, help and advice always arrives (and quickly).

The difference (I think) between your box and Ken W's is that Ken wanted the grain to align, so he turned the top and finial from the tail-stock end, then parted.

For yours, as it was different wood, you worked the other way around. Which, I think, allowed you to check the lid fit easily.

I hope I've got that right!

Hi Jeff, you got it right.
It was fairly easy to turn the lid/finial, and was the first time I used carnauba wax too. As hard as that wax is, I was wondering if it would ding up the surface of the Holly, but it did fine melting in from the friction and smoothed out with a paper towel. Happy to be of any help to you.

Extremely nice box and lid

Thank you, Nick.