After many months of waiting and drying, they are finally finished and just in time.  I, too, am finished for a few days.  But, here is where this journey began.

 

 

This is the trunk of one Bradford pear tree that grew near the flagpole of our church and school.  At this point of the I have coated with 2 coats of Anchor Seal that I purchased from Walmart online.  $30 per gallon April 2020.  

 

 

 

In August of 2020, I cut those stumps into 2" X 2".  They were then left to dry until November when the turning started.  

 

 

 

These are the straight ones. As you can see the ends need sanding and I need to put some epoxy dough into the stress cracks.  I am very surprised that I didn't get chunks flying into my face.  

 

 

 

These are the tapered rolling pins with the ends sanded and the epoxy paste applied.  I rubbed it in as well as I could.  This is my first experience with it and you knead this and then rub it hard to go into any openings of the wood.  

 

 

 

My inexperience show with the white color on the epoxy after 3 coats of mineral oil.  The letters of the school, the year and USA is burned into the ends.  I used a soldering/woodburning tool from Harbor Freight which I think cost about $20.  

 

 

 

These are the tapered ones plus the 2 for making pie crusts or pasta.  The depth of the pie crusts are 3/16" thick.  Again, you can see the epoxy in the cracks.  They are out of here.  Easy project for beginners.  The straight ones are the hardest for me.  The tapered, I mark the center, each end, then 3 inches from each end.  Then with a set of calipers, I measure about the same diameter for each end at the same distance from the end.  Hope this gives motivation to those who wish to start spindle turning.  Happy holidays.  

Edited November 29, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

Steve!

I would be afraid that if I made something like those, they could be used against me. Ow! Ouch! They look awesome,Steve!

What an awesome project! They turned out great!

 

Beautiful work.   

55 minutes ago, Artie said:

I would be afraid that if I made something like those, they could be used against me. Ow! Ouch! 

 You bring up a good point Artie! 

How do you find that wood?   I know it is very brittle.  I took down 2 of the 3 in my yard this spring before they split apart and fell on the house or vehicles.   The other one had a major split last year. I really don't like the trees, besides being fragile they are messy and smell bad.  The honeybees don't even like the blossoms.   My other disliked tree is pin oak.   There are a bunch of them around here and the leaves clog up all the ditches.    I don't have any in my yard, yet 99% of the leaves  that sit around all winter are pin oak. [/rant]

Saw a little curl in those but not as much as I thought would be. Good job. BP turns great and looks almost like a twin to cherry. I am working on some plates and most have curl on at least a third of the rim.

That's a lot of turning.  Very nice turning too.  You're going to make some bakers very happy.

You're the man Steve!  Beautiful work.

Those look good Steve. Hopefully you get to sample some of the items they are used to make.

Those are very cool Steve. Did you make your own epoxy paste or just buy it ?

Paul

It's been busy here, but got the monthly bills paid, Christmas cards are all done, citrus trees are covered and most of the fruit harvested.  So, getting back to this.  Thank all you gentlemen for your kind comments.  Making the straight ones are a real challenge and to keep the surface all smooth and straight takes a lot of time. To turn these, I used a traditional roughing gouge to round, then used the EWT Ci0 for getting the final rounding.  It eats the wood very well.  Then I switch to the EWT roughing CiI for smoothing.  It leaves a smooth surface as a skew if you don't get aggressive with it.  Otherwise, it will also eat the wood but removes big chunks.  After getting it almost round with a roughing gouge, I turn up the speed to about 1000 rpms.  As I start smoothing, I turn up the speed to about 2000 rpms.  The wispy shavings stream off.  

 

Artie, I gave one of my earlier pins to a cashier at the grocery store.  She tied a string around it and hung it by her front door for protection.  LOL

 

Keith, if you really want some of this, I could have sent you a couple of pieces just for fun.  While turning, some honey bees buzzed me, buzzed the dust and shavings then left.  No one else came so I assumed that it was not worth their time.  If anyone really wants some of this wood, just note where it is.  If you see damaged trees, stop and see if they will allow you to take it down for the wood.  Yes, you get exercise and some wood, and they get a tree removed.  

 

Paul, I found this epoxy at Lowe's in the glue section where I was purchasing super glue.  It is in a tube with a cellaphane wrapper.  For the sake of those who don't know, you pull off some, close up the package, knead the chunk you pinched off.  After it turns white, it is ready for application.  It is stiff and you have to rub it in as if it were putty or caulk.  It sets up in about 30 minutes.  So, pinch off only what you can process in that time.  I think it cost me about $4 for the tube.  Normally, I used sanding dust mixed with Titebond glue.  It rarely shows.  

 

Yes, Dan, this project was like work or a job.  Every spare minute, I would turn these things.  Some days I turned 4 per day.  My back is so sore from bending over the Shopsmith and turning and sanding.  

 

Thank you, everyone for your support and your time.  Now, I have a few pens to make from the smaller pieces.  They will be finished with CA glue.  

Edited December 1, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

On 11/30/2020 at 10:08 AM, Masonsailor said:

Those are very cool Steve. Did you make your own epoxy paste or just buy it ?

Paul

Thank you, Paul.  Here is a picture of what was available at Lowe's the week I purchased it.  Who knows if it is there anymore?  LOL

Edited December 2, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

On 11/30/2020 at 10:50 PM, FlGatorwood said:

Keith, if you really want some of this, I could have sent you a couple of pieces just for fun.  While turning, some honey bees buzzed me, buzzed the dust and shavings then left.  No one else came so I assumed that it was not worth their time.  If anyone really wants some of this wood, just note where it is.  If you see damaged trees, stop and see if they will allow you to take it down for the wood.  Yes, you get exercise and some wood, and they get a tree removed.  

 

Well, I had two and a half trees worth of the wood.   I gave it all to a neighbor who has an outdoor wood burner.   So thanks for the offer, but I'll pass.

 

I have used QuikWood and the only problem I have with it is its slow cure time.   When I was using epoxy putty for repairs, I didn't want to want 30 minutes for it to set up.   Not a problem if you are just doing project in your shop, though.   If you are anywhere near a Mohawk dealer or buy from Klingspor, they sell larger sticks in various colors and even give you a blending guide.  I'd put in on, let it set up a couple minutes and shave with a chisel or knife, then let it cure and sand to level.  Heating with a hair dryer also accelerates the cure time, usual rule is increase in 18 F / 10C cuts the reaction time in half.

 

https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/m7431560/?inMed=GSTORE&dfw_tracker=18711-M7431560&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpuD7fXZS8466vKdBbPlBUrf5FQ4luTmoFnUoBligCwGoKTu2glj8YcaAg7MEALw_wcB

Wow, I never realized what it took to do it right. The skill and patience required are outstanding. 

Great job!