Thread: Stem vase - first one

Nice chunk of RRG!

To me the piece looks like a short club (for getting a short wife ), or a pestel.

I think it need some refinement in terms of removing bulk from athe whole item, particularly
towards the bottom.

I would also remove more from the hole.

I like it! Maybe you could finesse the form a little. Perhaps a sharper angle or line where the direction of the form changes on the foot. But I like the chunkiness.

Yes to me it was a bit too baseball bat shaped once it was done. I was limited due to the size of my chuck and jaws. This was as large as I could make the base and still fit in the chuck.

Regarding the size of the hole, it was done intentionally that size to fit the test-tube insert for fresh flowers.

I'll be looking forward to making more because I have a large amount of the same timber. The slab I have is approximately 70mm thick.

Drill your hole first then use the hole to centre.

Nothing looks worse than a hole that is off centre. Drilling it first gets it in the centre every time.

Thanks but then how do I hold it after drilling?

Bring a cone centre up into the hole.

thanks.

will try this project again soon.

Originally Posted by bassmansimon

I was limited due to the size of my chuck and jaws. This was as large as I could make the base and still fit in the chuck.

I don't understand this. You need a 50mm tenon on the end of the piece, but the foot size can be much larger or smaller, just part it off close to the jaws, and then you have a spare pre-sized tenon as a glue-on faceplate for later on.

Making of the Long Neck Vase - Woodturning - YouTube At about the 3.25 mark is what I mean.

Originally Posted by sjm

I don't understand this. You need a 50mm tenon on the end of the piece, but the foot size can be much larger or smaller, just part it off close to the jaws, and then you have a spare pre-sized tenon as a glue-on faceplate for later on.

DERRR of course that makes so much more sense! can't believe i didn't think of that when turning it!! I turned the whole base down to 50mm to hold it in the chuck. Thanks for the advice - I must have had a bit of a mental blank when doing it.

Originally Posted by

Making of the Long Neck Vase - Woodturning - YouTube At about the 3.25 mark is what I mean.

Thanks , that makes a lot of sense. The way I turned it was to hold it in the chuck at the base, with the start of the hole drilled, and holding in place with a spade bit in a jacob's chuck. I did that because I only have one live centre, and it didn't fit because the rest of the natural edge was getting in the way. But yes, I get your point and it would work well on a vase with a flat top, or if I had a skinnier live centre. I'll probably be making another version of this without a natural edge, so it will lend itself to this trick much better.

I've attacked similar problems with 1/2" holes (capacity of Jacobs chuck) by using a smooth round bar in a second chuck. The second chuck was only because I had multiple holes to drill and center. For large holes, to mate with the tube, you could use a larger round bar with a reduced end to fit the chuck. Chamfer the end to assist entry, and use some lube to reduce squealing, like a dead center.

If the bar is aluminum or brass, you could even turn the reduced end on a wood lathe.

Cheers,
Joe