Hi guys and ladies, I just wanted to share a bit more of the project that I will be working on for the next several days.

 

This is Black Gum burl, its a bowl or will be, that is about 5 inches tall and about 7 1/2" to 7 3/4" wide. I don't get many bowl blanks, so I don't usually get to turn many of them at all.

This is a piece for a client though, so I hope it turns out perfect.

 

The first thing this greenhorn had to do is figure out how best to mount the thing so that it could be turned more precisely. Since making a tenon didn't work out originally, I went ahead and just mounted it between centers and trued it up, then mounted it to a waste block. After which I mounted it and drilled a hole part way into it so that I could mount it on a screw chuck, the problem with that was that apparently the hole is too large for the screw chuck, even though I did drill a 1/2" hole as it suggested!

 

Oh well no biggie, I just turned a tenon on it after taking a short break to cool off.

 

Anyway, there are some holes in this here burl, that could pose problems if I get careless, so I will be careful.

 

I'll update this thread as I get it more completed.

 

Turn safe everyone, and enjoy your weekend wherever you are.

That's going to be a most excellent bowl, Charles.

 

Using the waste block really maximizes the amount of material available for the bowl. 

Just now, lew said:

That's going to be a most excellent bowl, Charles.

 

Using the waste block really maximizes the amount of material available for the bowl. 

Thanks Lew, yep I thought the waste block and tenon which would get turned away later anyhow would be best . This should be fun!

Wow, I can't wait to see how it turns out.  No pun intended.

5 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Wow, I can't wait to see how it turns out.  No pun intended.

Haha, See you shall Ron

That's going to be a keeper,Charles. Anxiously awaiting the finished piece.

Thanks Gene. After this is done, it gets a few finished pictures taken, then it takes a trip across the pond to Finland. It's kind of neat knowing that something I made is over in another country

Since the client is not really sure what he wants, bowl or candle holder, I am leaving part of the center in this until I know for sure what he wants. Personally I think he just wants something made out of this and isn't really concerned about what exactly it is. That's ok, leaving the center inside like that, allwed me to grab it with the 4 jaw and get the bottom levelled as much as possible without removing the waste block.

 

Hey Lew, What would you do here? Grab the inside with the tenon on the 4 jaw, take the waste block off and redo the bottom, then reattach the waste block? I'm thinking that is what I should do here, to make sure it's completely level. Anyone else can chime in here too, I was just asking Lew since I know he turns a lot.

 

 

That's a mighty big hole in the side there though, and as you can see inside the bowl at 9 o'clock, that dark area that this hole comes from continues to nearly the center of the bowl.

There are a few other holes that I have to contend with as well, but they are not as large (at the moment) as this one.

 

 

What really concerns me is in image 3 below, where all that bark is in the side, I am really hoping that holds together, but it may try to come apart as I get there on the inside. Since I know this bowl isn't going to be used for food in any way, I may try putting some CA on that bark and let it soak in before I get to that part.

 

I'll add more images later as this thing evolves, stay tuned!

 

Edited May 2, 201610 yr by Charles Nicholls

7 hours ago, Charles Nicholls said:

Since the client is not really sure what he wants, bowl or candle holder, I am leaving part of the center in this until I know for sure what he wants. Personally I think he just wants something made out of this and isn't really concerned about what exactly it is. That's ok, leaving the center inside like that, allwed me to grab it with the 4 jaw and get the bottom levelled as much as possible without removing the waste block.

 

Hey Lew, What would you do here? Grab the inside with the tenon on the 4 jaw, take the waste block off and redo the bottom, then reattach the waste block? I'm thinking that is what I should do here, to make sure it's completely level. Anyone else can chime in here too, I was just asking Lew since I know he turns a lot.

 

 

That's a mighty big hole in the side there though, and as you can see inside the bowl at 9 o'clock, that dark area that this hole comes from continues to nearly the center of the bowl.

There are a few other holes that I have to contend with as well, but they are not as large (at the moment) as this one.

 

 

What really concerns me is in image 3 below, where all that bark is in the side, I am really hoping that holds together, but it may try to come apart as I get there on the inside. Since I know this bowl isn't going to be used for food in any way, I may try putting some CA on that bark and let it soak in before I get to that part.

 

I'll add more images later as this thing evolves, stay tuned!

 

Looking good, Charles!

 

As for your question, if the bottom is going to be a little on the thicker side, I think I would shape and sand the outside then take off the waste block, turn the bowl and chuck it to the inside "tenon". Then finish the bottom. Here's where I'd make a recess in the bottom to accept your chuck in the expanding mode- that's why I asked about the bottom thickness. Once the bottom has the recess, you can turn the bowl around, chuck in the recess and then finish then finish the inside. My thinking is that if you remove the waste block and then reattach it, it might be difficult to get it perfectly centered again. If it's not centered, you'll need to "re-turn" the shape to get everything symmetrical. Hope that all makes sense. I don't know if you have a set of Cole jaws for your chuck. If you do, you could use them too, for finishing the bottom.

 

I'd definitely go with the CA where the bark is present and around/in the holes. You want to keep everything as "tight" as possible as the material gets thinner. Once the CA dries, I'm pretty sure it is food safe. I get my CA from Star Bond, Captain Eddie turned be on to that product. Good stuff.

11 hours ago, lew said:

Looking good, Charles!

 

As for your question, if the bottom is going to be a little on the thicker side, I think I would shape and sand the outside then take off the waste block, turn the bowl and chuck it to the inside "tenon". Then finish the bottom. Here's where I'd make a recess in the bottom to accept your chuck in the expanding mode- that's why I asked about the bottom thickness. Once the bottom has the recess, you can turn the bowl around, chuck in the recess and then finish then finish the inside. My thinking is that if you remove the waste block and then reattach it, it might be difficult to get it perfectly centered again. If it's not centered, you'll need to "re-turn" the shape to get everything symmetrical. Hope that all makes sense. I don't know if you have a set of Cole jaws for your chuck. If you do, you could use them too, for finishing the bottom.

 

I'd definitely go with the CA where the bark is present and around/in the holes. You want to keep everything as "tight" as possible as the material gets thinner. Once the CA dries, I'm pretty sure it is food safe. I get my CA from Star Bond, Captain Eddie turned be on to that product. Good stuff.

Thanks Lew, great info as usual. I will do that then, make the recess and go from there, because yes re-attaching the waste block does sound risky at best while using the tail stock, the recess wouldn't have to be any deeper than the teeth depth on the outside of the jaws, so maybe a little over 1/8". That is, as long as the wood integrity holds.

48 minutes ago, Charles Nicholls said:

 That is, as long as the wood integrity holds.

Yes, that's the big thing. The depth of the recess will need to be deep enough to get into some solid wood.

Revisit to this topic. there was a bit of a change of plans as far as the "candle stick" portion of this piece. The guy doesn't want the stick portion totally made of wood, for fear of it catching fire if the candle burns short. I tend to agree with him, so instead of using the hole in the center for the candle, I will plug that, and mount a brass piece to it instead.

 

 

That and one screw will be the only non native part to the whole thing. Well, looks like I am going to have to either polish this piece or dull it out a but more, for that OLD look. As soon as the piece gets turned to plug the hole, I'll put that in and let her dry , Stay tuned.

 

Edited May 14, 201610 yr by Charles Nicholls

Good idea on the brass insert, Charles.

12 hours ago, lew said:

Good idea on the brass insert, Charles.

Thanks Lew, yea with having an oil based finish etc., it would seem rather dangerous to NOT use a brass cup