Next project

I think I found my next project. This is the useable portion of an Olive stump I got a couple weeks ago. I cut off the cracked portions and all of the various protrusions that Olive trees tend to get around the base. I plan to do a fairly large hollow form and expect 1 or 2 significant voids to remain.









This is an extreme example, but this type of growth is typical for Olive trees. It's uncommon to find one with a round or even oblong trunk; unlike most other trees.












Rough cut this piece is 11" diameter and 6" thick. If everything goes well I expect it to finish up about 10" x 5". Its about half dry, the stump was cut about 6 months ago and had been setting outside since. There would have been more useable wood but there was a deep chainsaw cut in the other half of the stump. With the other half being cut it only yielded a blank roughly 6" diameter and 4" thick.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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

My next project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEibt31OlCA&sns=em



I've seen this video before, a couple of years ago and filed it away in the back of my mind. I found it again this weekend and now my mind is spinning to figure out how to best replicate it using modern tools and techniques.

I think I have the basic process figured out, now it's a matter of picking out the right piece of wood and getting it done.

Here are a couple made using the traditional spring pole technique by Robin Wood (http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/)





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 332: Mystery project

I started working on a mystery project today.  No photos because they would give it away.  I will say that it took a trip to Sears, Home Depot, and Radio Shack to gather materials.  I'll also be picking up a few supplies at Woodcraft tomorrow but progress today was brisk.

Tonight I started to get ready for tomorrow's meeting.  It's a hands on event at Woodcraft and I'm planning to do a couple of short demonstrations.  I plan to hollow a pair of small hollow forms and then texture one and burn on the other.  I've roughed out the exterior of both forms and got most of my stuff packed up.