Wood you like some wine?

Chess, I wood love some.

Often times when playing around on the lathe I’ll let the wood (cracks or voids and/or errant chisel marks) dictate what a piece wants to be. For this stopper – Holly, the first time I’ve ever used it, I was more focused on what I didn’t want it to be. I didn’t want this almost pure white wood to look like a snowman or a chefs hat… then it started taking on the form of a rook.

Rather than fight it, I went with it. and it came together surprisingly easy. A nice wood to work. I normally like medium to darker woods with interesting grains. This cut very well, and surprisingly cleanly. It chipped a bit when I was squaring up the bottom to drill and tap for the mandrel, so I was worried, but there were no issues at all – just lots of almost pure white ribbons. I did use clean sandpaper to avoid discoloration from the dust from other woods. I sanded up to 600 grit as the 220 and even 320 left marks in the wood. Now it’s smooth as glass, only finished with bowling alley wax to try to maintain the pureness of the wood.

Osage

Third day in the super cold shop… and I might be able to put off getting that heater pad for in front of the lathe. My wife got me a pair of these insoles, and My feet have been nice and comfortable all day. – working in a very cold basement, and then later in my garage after the sun went down. Yesterday I had a pair of fleece socks on over my regular ones… and it wasn’t long before my toes were cold. No problems today!

Here is a section of Osage Orange, turned sideways (so you can see the growth rings on two sides). Sanded (and wet sanded) to 1000 grit) – even though it was really smooth to begin with. Now its like a polished semiprecious stone – which the grain patterns, colors and the chatoyance also reminds me of. Finished, appropriately with Howard’s Orange Oil and Beeswax.

Bubinga! (not to be confused with Bazinga)

Got the heater cranking up in the shop after work… and by the time my fingers warmed up, I’d prepped 5 blanks, turned this one,… and my toes were freezing. I think the space heater needs company, in the form of one of these guys.

I turned this Bubinga sideways to highlight the grain, show it off more like layers of exposed rock. It took a little extra sanding (to 1000 grit) to get the end grain sides perfectly smooth. Finished with boiled linseed oil and wax. Which gives this one some richer color than its sister cut from the same block:

Though it might be the difference of end grain vs face grain, or the result of time turning the other one a little lighter reddish/pinkier.

Make Art Everyday (Hey, I’ve still got a blog!)

Got home from work early today. A little daylight left – a little shop time before dinner – and a chance to get cracking on my next shipment off to Mountainside Gallery and Gifts, near Mount Snow in Vermont. My work was accepted in there a few weeks ago, perfect timing – pre-Christmas and pre-Ski season!!! Check them out online, or aprés-ski!

And I’ve already got the good news that they’ve sold a few pieces and that I should please send more!

OKAY!

Here is the first of the second set, Desert Ironwood and stainless steel. A LONG AWAITED sister to this one I turned a few years back (also sold immediately – though I’d have been more than happy to keep it.) I love this wood, but it’s a little hard to come by, so YES, I’ve been hoarding it. A little more info on the stoppers and the wood at my original project post on Lumberjocks.