Thread: Timber offer + challenge

Well, guys, I have a trained professional eye for crookedness so I picked no.9 because it looked slightly bent in the middle and I thought cutting it in the middle or making a long hourglass shape would work well.

When I earnestly opened the parcel my reaction was "Oh *beep* that is VERY crooked (pic 1). And it has a *beep* cracked knot in the middle (pic 2). Never mind, the bigger the challenge the bigger the fun.

So, step 1 cut after the knot and see if I can use it as a feature on a slim "flute" style. (pic 3)

No chance. Gash too deep, end too crooked. Remove knot. (pic 4).

Roughed cylinder too small for grip jaws. Mount standard jaws and reverse cylinder. Last surprise: thin cracks hidden by the black paint emerge. Can't just stabilise with CA because the black lines on the yellow timber would just look awful. need to cut another inch off. (pic 5)

Cunning plan : photograph the finished goblet near AAA battery disguised as AA battery.

Also, you were all wrong. The Gobble is not a kind of turkey, you can clearly see that it is a kind of penguin.

Originally Posted by robutacion

SS_11000,
Good to know SS, you got plenty of time, but I will remind you of what I said on my first post, if the weather is hot out there, I would turn at least one half and treat it with a good sealer. I would keep the other half in a cool and dry place as a spare for now. If something goes wrong with the first piece, at least you can make another one. Again, this is what I would do, everyone has the right to have a different opinion.

Cheers
RBTCO

well last night, i had one of my best ideas ever. it was developed from the AWR i got in the mail yesterday. the thing is, with my idea, i dont know where to start so i have to think about it a bit more over the W/E.

Hi everyone,

Hi Frank&Earneast,
Could you please let me know, if the goblet you had in mind to do for the challenge, was a short or long stem?
My decision will be made upon your response, you should remember what I said a few posts back, to what I will do if any log proves unworkable, including end up ( after removing the bad stuff) , with smaller then required size blank. This is slightest more critical for those intending to make a long stem goblet, the log length provided and after removing the damaged ends it should allow the turning of one long stem goblet, or 2 short stem goblets. If this becomes impossible, thats where I will make available a second log, with the same conditions (payment) as per the first one.
To take advantage of the best log qualities, can be a challenge by itself, which is acceptable and logical, the same can not be said or put in the same level, if the blank (log) becomes a total "lemon" to be worked on. In fact, this is the only timber species (Black Wattle), that I keep the branches as small as 1.5", for their excellent qualities, colours and texture. Nevertheless, some have a "bad heart", hidden until they are exposed open.
Let me know what you think!

Cheers
RBTCO

No worries RBTCO, in one of the links above the author says "you can not change the timber but you can change your techniques to suit the timber". I have only a few hours' experience as a turner but a few decades as a problem solver. I'll get something out of the "lemon", only it will be $%^&* small. The main technical problem is that not being able to get a strong grip on it every small dig-in gets the blank off centre.

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

I'll get something out of the "lemon", only it will be $%^&* small. The main technical problem is that not being able to get a strong grip on it every small dig-in gets the blank off centre.

Welcome to my world.

Looking at your pix, there are two ways to increase your holding power...

1. Ensure the shoulders of the tenon are properly squared and the full thickness of the jaws. (red circled area in pic) Also, make sure it's dovetailed to snugly fit the angle inside the jaws. (not shown in pic. ) This may not sound like a big thing, but I'll swear that it can increase the holding power by up to 50%!
Attachment 60859

2. Take the blank out of the jaws and, looking at the jaws, close them until they make a nearly perfect circle. Measure this distance and make your tenon this size - it's the spot where your jaws will give the maximum holding power because they're gripping all the way around and not just in the middle or on the ends. This alone can double the gripping power, compared to "incorrectly" sized tenons!

Attachment 60860

For each of my sets of jaws, I've made up a template from ply with both this "best tenon size" and the "best rebate size" (for gripping in expansion mode... ie, using the outside of the jaws) so that I don't need to measure or buggarise around with calipers. Just turn away the tenon/rebate until the template fits and I know I'm getting the best grip.

There are plenty of other "tricks" but they're more to do with how you turn... like hollowing the cup first and then using a "lid" or "plug" so you can bring up the tailstock, or using a centre steady, or... [sigh]

Originally Posted by robutacion

Harry72,
Have you tried to read the numbers on a ruler when used on a photo? yeah, very much a pain in the rear end. There are so many different sizes, types and colours of rulers, most would be useless for the task, believe me.
I got 2 new deposits appearing today, on my Internet banking statement, one from Frank&Earnest and the other reads "cash deposit 4712". The reference I supplied with my bank info was there to make it easier for me to quickly identify from who the money come from. It can be yours, or not unless you can identify what the 4712 is. Is not your post code, I've checked it, so I don't know!


Cheers
RBTCO

The numbers of a ruler shouldnt be to much trouble to get clear enough to read... just dont compress the crap out of the photo, a 50~100k 800x600 photo thats been cropped will show a fair amount of detail.

Nope not my post code... Im in SA so like yours it starts with a 5
I'll PM you with the details I have.

I've had some trouble with the blank it had a 5cent going to a 10cent sized void off centred running end to end so not much chance of a goblet in the tradition sense!
So I've had to get creative with it...

Thanks Skew, excellent advice as usual.

any sneak peeks of any goblets under construction? you show me yours and i,ll show you mine. beautiful wood to turn, a little cracky,but thats ok,can turn very thin ,to the point of light showing through
wood as in semi transparent,interesting project though.bob

So yeah Mr 2 has one perfectly good end but the other end...
Well, it's got a few small cracks and one that runs for about three inch along the edge. But never fear! My brilliantly twisted mind has already concocted a plan that will blow your current understanding of gobbles wided open!

*twitch*



And for our next comp I say we make egg cups and we have to show one pic of it in use!


Funky C

Hi peoples,

List up to date:
PARTICIPANTS LIST :
Name --------------------------- Blank #
1- ss_11000 ----------------------- 7
2- Frank&Earnest ---------------- 9
3- Pat ---------------------------- 1
4- Tankstand --------------------- 8
5- Robyn2839 ------------------- 12
6- Switt775 --------------------- 3
7- Harry72 ---------------------- 6
8- HappyHammer ---------------- 10
9- Funkychicken ----------------- 2
10- Benji79 ----------------------- 4
11- Weisyboy -------------------- 18
12- Slopech4 --------------------- 5
13- Soren ------------------------ 13
14- Mrs Woodpecker ------------ 11
15- David Michell ---------------- 15

There are still plenty of logs left. From the first lot of 12, is none left, from the second lot of 10, the following number are still available, # 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22.

David Mitchell,
Your payment appeared on my today's bank statement, thanks.
Parcel left also today.

Frank&Earnest,
I respect your "call", after all, problem solving is one of the most necessary skills, in the world of wood turning. I'm glad you found a solution, remember, size has nothing to do with it!

Skew ChiDAMN!!,
Thanks for helping out. Your comments and demonstration are of great value for everyone, challenge participants or not, and most of the information you provided about extra grip (chuck jaws opening, etc), are of valued importance for most of everyday turning jobs.
Unfortunately,(or maybe not!) timber is not transparent, making it near impossible to be sure about what is inside, good or bad. Was never my intention, to increase the degree of difficulty of the goblet challenge, by providing difficult logs to work with. Indeed, the idea originated, based on the fact that the logs were easy to turn, and mostly free of "nasties". There are exceptions to any rule, seems we got here a good example of that, sorry folks.
Once again Skew, thanks for helping.

Harry72,
Sorry about your log, I haven't seen one like you describe yet, and is up to you to make the call, you know what to do...!
On the other hand, I'm glad that you used the creativity option, makes things even more interesting, huh?

Robyn2839,
I'm pleased that you liked to work with the log. Black Wattle "can" be a pleasure to work with, and give some absolutely stunning results! I'm not sure that people will be prepared to show what they doing, concerned with design copy etc., but I agree with you, hope that the guys find a way of showing us something as they go.

Funkychicken,
I will be looking forward to see your definition/interpretation of the "gobbles" thing, cause we all very confused about it...!
*twitch*


Cheers
RBTCO

well thats me done,2 hours, sanded ,eee,shellawax,harder to make than i thought .i like the way the light shines through the wood inside goblet,must be hard not to break being that thin, noticed some hair line cracking appears as you turn ,must be tight grained.will need a new camera soon,time to upgrade the fuji. bob

Hi Robyn2839,
Has been a pleasure to deal with you. You most certainly understood the concept and what I'm trying to achieve. I believe the increase of pics allowed, was a positive step, as the cigarette lighter idea, works well. One of the advantages of getting it done and over with, soon rather than later, is that, regardless of what happen with the timber, the photos are taken, you are safe. So mate, seat back and relax, enjoy watching how others tackle their log. Obviously, the level of expectation is growing every day, for everyone, including myself, the dead line 17/12/07 and scoring day 18/12/07, are still some time away, allowing plenty of time for anyone that decides to have a go, to come forward and join.

It has not been any increase of the donations prizes, since a few days back, so I will remind everyone, is never late to donate, prize donations go directly from the donor to the prize winner. If the number of prizes are sufficient, I can introduce some sub-categories, .i.e "largest cup capacity", "thinnest wall cup, edge rim", etc., etc.. Nevertheless, I'm confident everyone will get some some reward in the end, prizes are just a bonus...!

Donation prizes so far, by time and date offer (post).

* Weisyboy
" i would be willing to donate a arge pack of turning blanks as part of the prise."

* SS_11000
" Edit - my donation will be of ten ( 10 ) pen blanks from this picture ( i will choose which ones )"

* Frank&Earnest
" turning consumables worth $20 "

* TTIT
" I can donate a couple of Central Qld blanks as a prize/s."

Cheers
RBTCO

i had enough wood left for a second gobblet,long stem this time,couldn,t find the lighter so used alternate object.bob

ps please excuse the photos , and the lighter supplement(pea)

good one robyn

if you hadent left those glases there for me i wouln't have been able to see it.

i am so jelous you have finished teh goblet and i aint even got me wood yet.