Phase III

I had about 30 minutes to kill yesterday between work and the first board meeting of 2012 so I headed out to the shop to try and finish the canteen/flask. I started off doing a little more hollowing to reduce the thickness and the weight. Next I turned a small shoulder on the front face to accept the plug. Then I turned some decorative grooves to help hide the joint where the plug meets the front face.













Then the piece was reversed and mounted on my vacuum chuck, the tenon was removed, and matching decorative grooves turned. Last I turned the plug for the front face out of a matching piece of wood. You can see how the grain is similar, but does not match exactly on the photo above.















Last I drilled 2 holes in each of the upper lobes so the strap can be attached. Overall I'm pretty pleased with the result, it's still a prototype and a test of the technique and process so I didn't bother sanding at all. It's 99.9% turned, with only the 4 holes for the strap and the spout opening being drilled.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Phase II

Mounted between centers the outside profile was turned and the blank reversed do I could turn a tenon on the bottom. The blank was then gripped by the tenon and the spout opening was drilled and then refined. The blank was flipped again and a cone center used to drive the piece between centers again do most of the tenon can be removed.









The blank was then mounted between centers but in face grain orientation and 3/4" off center. This allowed me to turn away the rest of the tenon and form the feet. Next the blank was mounted on the true center, the back face shaped and a tenon cut. With the blank gripped with the chuck I had full access to the front face and to the inside.













The face was opened up and the inside was removed using my hollowing system. I still need to turn the plug for the front face, remove the tenon, turn a stopper, and drill some holes in the handles for a strap.












Bottom view showing the feet. This has been and will be completely turned with only 2 exceptions, the hole drilled for the spout opening and the holes to be drilled for the strap.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Phase I

I think I've got the steps figured out. The blank is about 9 1/2 by 9 1/2 by 4 1/2. First it will be mounted in end grain (spindle) orientation and the outside profile shaped. I plan to turn a tenon on the bottom so I can drill and shape the opening. That tenon will be removed before moving on. The blank will then be switched to face grain orientation and a tenon turned on what will be the back side. The back profile will also be partially turned. Next the blank will be flipped over so the front face can be turned and the inside hollowed. I plan to do this through a large opening, probably 4" diameter. Next the blank will be flipped again and either jam chucked or vacuum chucked so the tenon can be removed and the back side finished. Then the plug to fill the opening on the front will be turned and then finally a stopper turned for the spout.





This is the blank I selected. It is a half log that started at 12" wide, 13" long, and 5 1/2" thick. I trimmed about 1 1/4" off each edge and the sliced about 3/4" off the back side that will be used to make the plug for the front side. I further trimmed the blank after doing the rough layout so there's less material to remove. Next up is the actual turning process.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mike's generosity

These 3 pieces were all from the stuff I got from Mike Mahoney.  Left to right they are, curly Black Ash, red burly Box Elder, and curly Mormon Poplar.  These will probably end up as hollow forms of various sizes.  Eventually.

Vacation haul

I'm back after a 3 week vacation to Idaho to visit family and to go on a 5 day white water rafting trip.  Along the way I picked up wood whenever possible.  This stack was sourced from Mike Mahoney and includes curly Ash, curly Maple, Maple burl, red Box Elder, and quilted Mormon Poplar.  All of this came from Mike's personal stash.  I also got a tour of Mike's operation - from his shop, to his drying room, on to his shipping room, and a small tour of his home and a quick look at his turning collection.  I don't think I've ever met a nicer person than Mike and he's a fantastic turning to boot.

While in Idaho I visited a couple of turners, Brian Brown in Idaho Falls and Dick Anderson in Pocatello.  I met Dick briefly at the 2011 Desert Woodturning Roundup and I met Brian a couple of years ago when he was in town on business.  With Dick I swapped some Mesquite for some Madrone Burl, Russian Olive, and a piece of Mountain Mahogany.  Brian and I traded some Mesquite, African Sumac, Desert Ironwood, and Olive for Russian Olive, Osage Orange, and Box Elder Burl.

My biggest haul on the vacation though was some Mountain Mahogany I managed to get near the end.  I thought I could get some in the 6" diameter range and hoped to find some between 8-10" diameter.  The biggest piece is approx 12" x 14" on the butt end.  It's also extremely heavy, similar to Desert Ironwood.  When dry it will not float in water, one of only a handful of woods with this property.