That's a question we are often asked, especially when we are given a chunk of tree. It would seem, to others, this would be an easy inquiry to answer. Yet, we often have no idea what form is hidden withing the interior.

 

Here's your chance to share your thought process when making a turning. Do you know what the outcome is supposed to be prior to starting, do you let the wood decide the outcome, some of both or something else? How do you get inspirations for your turnings? 

 

Please share your pictures. If you have images of the wood before starting, please share them as well. 

 

I'll start-

 

Up until a few years ago, my turnings were all utilitarian. The end result of each was predetermined before the piece went on the lathe. A bowl, a platter, a rolling pin or a pepper grinder. Then, something happened along the way that I didn't expect. The piece of wood told me what it wanted to be. It was a piece of Manzanita given to me by a friend in return for a rolling pin. What an ugly piece of wood! What in the world could come from this?!

 

I set that oddly shaped piece on the work bench. Walked by each day and studied it. Of course, it looked back at me and laughed! It got moved to different places in the shop but still it mocked me. OK, I'm gonna mount this on the lathe. Turned a waste block. Flattened what seemed to be the appropriate spot for mounting. That's when I saw the beautiful red interior. Something clicked.

 

Mocking me-

 

 

What was hidden inside-

 

 

 

 

I called this one "Emerging From The Chrysalis"

 

 

Hope you all will follow along and share your inspirations!

 

 

Was that in the box rescued from your neighbor's front porch?

Sadly, those roots are out of reach now that we've re-located 6 hours to the south. HOWEVER....how about some pistachio, pecan or, mesquite burls or, root balls? 

That turned out beautiful Lew.  I would reckon that it was at that point that you took the next step, from craftsman to artist!

With my hearing loss, I hear very little mocking behind my back in the shop now... I will likely never make it craftsman, much less artist.

4 minutes ago, Cal said:

That turned out beautiful Lew.  I would reckon that it was at that point that you took the next step, from craftsman to artist!

With my hearing loss, I hear very little mocking behind my back in the shop now... I will likely never make it craftsman, much less artist.

Cal, you're too modest, by far. Your work exemplifies a high level of craftsmanship and, ingenuity that is certainly deserved of the term "art.

And, in deference to your hearing difficulties.... YOU DO GREAT WORK!

Nicely done Lew.  It artistic by nature.  Love it.

What I once would have tossed into the burn pile, you transformed into the art gallery 

Edited April 1, 20224 yr by Grandpadave52

I've never run across much odd chunks of wood but I was removing a dead Weeping Cherry tree that had died and found this odd root ball and decided to save it.  It sat in the garage for a few years and was dry when I decided to try it.

 

 

 

 

 

While turning it, pieces were flying off and I had it to a usable shape when it rocketed off the lathe after a catch.  I was left with a broken spigot and a big chunk missing to the right of it.

 

 

 

 

I was ready to give up but then I remounted it and went with another design change.  A few holes show up from inclusions?

 

 

A short while later a big chunk flew off.  I was pretty invested in this thing time wise and it was close to done.  Thought about it for awhile and decided to pin the piece back on with a brass rod.  It was a struggle but Here is the end result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great patience, perseverance and resourcefulness Dan. Turned (no pun intended) out great!

Wow @HandyDan! I love the brass pin idea! The grain patterns in that piece are incredible. Thank you for showing this. Fantastic turning!!!

4 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Was that in the box rescued from your neighbor's front porch?

Sadly, those roots are out of reach now that we've re-located 6 hours to the south. HOWEVER....how about some pistachio, pecan or, mesquite burls or, root balls? 

Yes it was from that box! All the other Manzanita pieces I've turned I ordered Jim Grey. Nice folks and prompt service. I'll buy some mesquite burls from you, if you have some.

Beautiful pieces Lew and Dan, out of what was no more than trash. I've known PEOPLE like that!

10 minutes ago, HARO50 said:

Beautiful pieces Lew and Dan, out of what was no more than trash. I've known PEOPLE like that!

Absolutely!

7 hours ago, lew said:

Yes it was from that box! All the other Manzanita pieces I've turned I ordered Jim Grey. Nice folks and prompt service. I'll buy some mesquite burls from you, if you have some.

 

7 hours ago, lew said:

Yes it was from that box! All the other Manzanita pieces I've turned I ordered Jim Grey. Nice folks and prompt service. I'll buy some mesquite burls from you, if you have some.

Don't have any, presently. But, I get up there about once a month. I'll check next time. No interest in the pistachio root balls? Depending on it's gender...yep there are boy an girl pistachios...Pistachio can be spectacular Almost as dramatic as flame Elder.

Just now, Gene Howe said:

 

Don't have any, presently. But, I get up there about once a month. I'll check next time. No interest in the pistachio root balls? Depending on it's gender...yep there are boy an girl pistachios...Pistachio can be spectacular Almost as dramatic as flame Elder.

Wow! I didn’t know that. I am interested!

2 minutes ago, lew said:

Wow! I didn’t know that. I am interested!

Root balls or turning blanks?

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

Root balls or turning blanks?

Root ball. Might be a challenge to create a turned piece 

I will start with a piece that is not turned but has a story related. A friend in La. had a friend in NOLA who had cut a burl off a live oak and she knew what i do so asked me to turn something from it.

 

Note the curls under the bark. I was so taken by this and most live oak has it not only burl.I called her and asked did it have to be a turned bowl. She agreed to allow me "artistic" expression so I hollowed it with Arbortech cutters and actually ordered a 2 inch cutter which I wanted anyway.

 

This is one in progress pic I kept. I actually ended up with some thru pinholes but not a large mistake.

another in progress. Note the wing.

 

This is the bottom I had to remove all bark which was fun....not.

 

 

 

 

 

Now the last three shots show there are three ways to display the finished piece not counting upside down as above. Hey it did start out as turning.

Another peculiar story tomorrow.

 

 

Amazing artistic eye @Gerald...just to be able to recognize the potential as you progressed. Great decision not to turn this piece. Thanks for the story.

Nice Gerald.  Lots to look at in that piece.

@Gerald incredible piece. It’s wonderful how the wood can speak to us.