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California Juniper Bowl

California Juniper Bowl (post #170728)

Willie on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 08:36

Turning and Carving

Bowl (post #170728, reply #1 of 11)

by Westchester in reply to Willie [original] on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 10:05

Looking good - just in time to put by the front door filled with Halloween candy - What's the size ?

Thx, 8" dia x 5" high. (post #170728, reply #2 of 11)

by Willie in reply to Westchester [original] on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 11:17

Thx, 8" dia x 5" high.

Bowl (post #170728, reply #3 of 11)

by Westchester in reply to Willie [original] on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 14:57

Hey Willie -

The photo makes it look much larger - but I see your lathe probably handles about 11 inches inside ? Mine is that way except for the well which will handle about 14 in. - I like the way the sap wood seems to have been placed in quadrants - nice when it works out that way. Did you turn it green ?

Turned the blank green about (post #170728, reply #5 of 11)

by Willie in reply to Westchester [original] on Thu, 11/01/2012 - 06:00

Turned the blank green about 5/8" thick and let it sit for a few months until dry, then did the final turning.

My Grizzly G1495 is about 10 years old and 10 - 11" for bowl turning is about what it can handle. I have done an 18" bowl outboard though, it's a bit shakey but taking small cuts it's doable. If I reinforce the cabinet it will handle that better. The lathe has never missed a beat, but by today's standards it is probably a bit outdated.

Oooooh La La ! (post #170728, reply #4 of 11)

by roc in reply to Willie [original] on Wed, 10/31/2012 - 20:02

That is one beautiful bowl !

Really nice shape to. I wouldn't know where to begin to pick a shape for a given piece of wood like this so that it brings out the best in the characteristics of the particular wood.

Obviously you got what it takes.

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

Thx for the complements. I (post #170728, reply #6 of 11)

by Willie in reply to roc [original] on Thu, 11/01/2012 - 06:01

Thx for the complements. I never know what a bowl is going to look like and once the turning starts I just wing it until the shape gets towards something I like.

re: winging it (post #170728, reply #7 of 11)

by RalphBarker in reply to Willie [original] on Thu, 11/01/2012 - 09:59

Winging it turned out well for you, Willie. The bowl looks great.

I've done a couple of lamps like that, back when I had a source for large cross-section (4-6") highly-figured walnut pieces in the 18" to 24" length range. Alas, I can't find a new source for similar stock now.

I used to TRY to cook like that (post #170728, reply #8 of 11)

by roc in reply to Willie [original] on Thu, 11/01/2012 - 23:00

Then I finally learned what a bad Idea that is, me trying to cook that way I mean.

I suspect bowl turning might turn out the same way for ME.

It is really cool to see YOUR bowls though.

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

Beautiful work! (post #170728, reply #9 of 11)

by surfside123 in reply to Willie [original] on Tue, 11/13/2012 - 14:11

Beautiful work!

juniper (and yellow cedar) (post #170728, reply #10 of 11)

by johnhenry922 in reply to Willie [original] on Thu, 11/29/2012 - 07:07

I located some juniper logs (2, pieces, 7" X 30", plus the short one next to the finished piece) dead fall and turned onerudimentary vase. I had trouble with voids, knots and bark inclusions tearing so I used a scraper to refine the outer protions

I tried a finish I liked (nitrocellulose) but sanded it off and refined the shape. What finish did you use?

I also wanted some advise about turning the cypress (yellow cedar) knot blanks a friend gave me. The square one has a number of fine cracks so may need work using that turners glue to hold it together