Thread: Timber offer + challenge

This morning I got inspired . . . So here it is my first Gobble . . .

Sanded to 1000, sanding sealer, DO, Sh#t Hot wax. Started splitting because the rim is too thin, bugger! MBGitW reckons I am clever, so I'll take that

Splitting can also be caused by overheating in the sanding stage btw, esp with dense woods like some acacias.

G'day Pat,
Thank you for putting your piece in.
It wasn't necessary to put the "measurement comparison item", in this case a AA battery, in all pics, indeed only one pic is required to show it side by side with the finished goblet, in the most frontal and up right pic, like the one from Robyn2839.

This is not a problem, I'm just pointing it out, so that any other confused participants, know what is required.

I'm not in the position (challenge referee), to give at this time, any reference and or opinion of any of the goblets included in the challenge, nevertheless I would like to thank you for your generous participation and effort put into the challenge.

Cheers
RBTCO

Maybe it would help competitors if you listed your judging criteria RBTCO.

Ok, here we go. I made a long stem goblet. I tried to go thinner on the stem but it started wobbbling and I got scared. Finished with Shellawax. Glad it didnt snap as that was all the wood I had .

Benji.

Here's Goblet No 2. A different style, a bit thinner in the stem, a bit thicker in the rim.

Still had fun. Thanks to RBTCO for initiating the competition and for my fellow novices for having a go. Is there a last place prize

Originally Posted by benji79

Ok, here we go. I made a long stem goblet. I tried to go thinner on the stem but it started wobbbling and I got scared.

mine started wobbling as well, what i done was fill the cup part up with paper towell,took the spike out of the live centre and then screwed it in just to support it. seemed to work, pretty scary wood to turn anyway,what did you think ,hairline cracks appearing ,waiting for split--- all over red rover, good feeling to finish and photograph aye . bob

I reckon you're all doing damned well, just by having something to show for your first effort!

FWIW, wobbles while turning the stem is one of the bigger "hazards" of goblet turning. There are a few different ways of working around this but, as with anything else, what works well for one bloke may be a disaster in the making for someone else.

I've never heard of anyone using paper towels with tailstock support before - good thinking! I might even try that myself one day! - but one of the more common methods is to make a wooden plug like a lid and bringing the tailstock up on that.

I dislike that particular approach, as too much tailstock pressure can cause the stem to flex or, in a worst case scenario, to break. I have several small round-bottomed bowls lying around as proof of this.

Personally I simply support the top of the stem, just underneath the bowl, with my left thumb and forefinger whle using the tool in my right hand, much the same as one does for separating off. Trying to support the bowl itself can cause grief 'cos if you grab that little bit too hard... SNAP!

Hi Benji79,
Thank you for completing your challenge goblet, and putting it on the forum. Great effort, thanks.

Rsser,
"Maybe it would help competitors if you listed your judging criteria RBTCO."
From the very beginning, I made every aware what my criteria was, and how the judging process will be conducted, so I would recommend you to read the thread from the very start, and find the answers there.

I don't have to justify myself, but I believe the following should be said, just for the sake of friendly participation, and a fair go!

Everyone has different opinions, and ways of doing things, in this case, I started the idea, and had to find my own solution for the requirements of this "simple and fun"less experienced, wood turners challenge. Interestingly, none of the participants showed any concern about the judgement process and/or specific criteria, as I believe, they all accepted and trusted my judgement guidelines.
In the end of the day, scoring and/or judging your forum "friends" is no fun nor pleasant, is just something that is required to be done, to justify the normal human needs, when one is challenged. There is also the fact that, my opinion (score) is only one third of the final vote, so the other 2 judges (to be selected), have also their say, and/or put their own personal criteria, into scoring points for each piece presented.
I'm pretty certain that, for the vast majority of the participants, any possible prizes, were not their priority and/or concern when that log started to turn on the lathe. For most of them, just to have the "guts" to accept my challenge, shows a great deal of courage, something that they would not do, if they thought they would be discriminated, treated or judged unfairly.
I achieved that, and I will achieve this challenge goal, prizes or not!

Cheers
RBTCO

Here goes!

Lost half of the blank to get rid of the cracks. A quarter from each end.

131mm Tall
58mm Dia. top & bottom

After finish turning the the outer of the cup and watched as the cracks appeared I thought bleed'n'eck I'm not going for a thin stem. I'll leave that for someone else.

The black dots and lines!? Is this natural? or has RBTCO sealed these blanks with creosote?

geez, you guys have finished already and my lathe's not even in one piece! (busy making a bench for it)


Good luck to y'all with yer gobbles

Originally Posted by robutacion

Rsser,
"Maybe it would help competitors if you listed your judging criteria RBTCO."
From the very beginning, I made every aware what my criteria was, and how the judging process will be conducted, so I would recommend you to read the thread from the very start, and find the answers there.

I don't have to justify myself, but I believe the following should be said, just for the sake of friendly participation, and fair go!

Everyone has different opinions, and ways of doing things, in this case, I started the idea, and had to find my own solution for the requirements of this "simple and fun"less experienced, wood turners challenge........

Sorry I have to step in here and note that there has been NO mention of formal judging criteria except for "I will be looking for lots of "yellow" on those gobbles (goblets)...!!!"(I am happy to be proved wrong however, just show a link to the posts).

Maybe it would serve well if you did list some of the criteria that you planned to use for judging. And sorry if this is a formal competition with prizes being offered than justification IS neccesary.

Yours
Rowan - Wood Butcher
Administrator

If it helps I posted a judging sheet a while ago that came from the AAW. Might be a start for the three judges to work from.

Yep, "lots of yellow" it was, and I complied.

It went this way.
Having been left with just enough timber for a small "golden rule" goblet, (pic 1) I wondered how to make the most of the "golden ring" and the association struck me: could I make two golden rings to symbolise marriage? I am on record for liking objects which have a practical or decorative function and not appreciating those, like trembleurs and captive rings, which seem only to have the function of showing off the turner's ability. In this case I have a good justification for the rings as part of a commemorative piece, I can show off with a clear conscience!
And just in case RBTCO thinks I should be disqualified for having special expensive tools, here is my special tool (pic2): hooks I made with a grinder using an old file (shown with the first ring attempt, which obviously broke ). And because the underside was rough as guts, pic 3 shows the other special tool: 60 grit gouge wrapped around the stem cylinder. Did not risk much: if the rings had not come out, you wouldn't have known, would you? So this is what came out (pic 4). A reasonably good effort, if I can say so myself, but after looking at it for a few hours, I felt that I had been a bit too timid with the stem and it really needed thinning a bit. So, finished photographing (again, you would not have known if I ended up killing it...) and turned a scrap spigot and glued it to the foot for remounting (pic 5). Of course, given that you are seeing this, I pulled it off.... The finished goblet is in the next post.