Thursday 22 April 2010

Death of a Yew bowl...

Started on a Yew bowl, the log had quite a lot of split & shake but I thought I had managed to cut a clean half, the outside was going well and I was happy with the shape and finish however, a large split started showing up.
It didn't appear to go too deep so I decided if I left it quite thick, it would be Ok...
Almost to the right depth, the crack had now opened up quite a lot...
With only a couple of last passes with the chisel needed to even it up, I tried to tidy the rim...
Which probably wasn't the best idea! In hindsight I probably should of just sanded the rim afterwards.
But then; hindsight is a wonderful thing!


Sunday 18 April 2010

The seasons are changing and the dryer climate means I'm in a race against time to use the green wood before it becomes not so green. Seasoned wood is much harder to turn and the nature of many of my blanks (taken from small logs which will split a lot once dry) means that much of it will be completely unusable if it gets too dry.
So, on with the bowls;

Small Ash bowl, the cleft rim shows interesting signs of Spalting;

Larger Ash bowl, lots of Burr and bark inclusions - taken from the crotch of a tree;
Another small Ash bowl, with more Spalting. Opposite piece of the log from the first bowl;
Another Ash bowl with a dead knot that stayed in place! Usually they come flying out, or curl and tear when they catch the chisel.
No longer round in any shape or form!
Deeper Ash bowl with natural edge rim, more seasoned than the others;
Bowls made from a beautiful piece of Elm;

The Elm was totally dead, overlooking the old tennis court.

Very large Ash bowl, now the largest I've turned at 15";

Holly bowl. If you want to see this from start to finish you'll find an extra page on the right; or click on; Burr to bowl.
I also turned some candlesticks, the first I've turned since my very first days turning!
Left to right: Hawthorn, Hawthorn, Holly, Ash, Hawthorn & Apple.
And finally, I made a couple of chisels. The metal is special metal working steel - very, very hard. The handles are turned from Ash. The 1st is a scraping tool.

The 2nd is a special parting tool, for making very thin cuts all the way through a piece of wood.


Saturday 17 April 2010




Greetings Bloggers! What a Spring, subject to snow, sleet and sun all in one

day, I never know what hat to wear!

Ben has just announced he has bought ANOTHER lathe, I believe it's for metal makings as he had a bit of an accident with the other one (1880's) which was a shame, but if I was that old, I'm sure I would have broken long ago!

I've finished the rustic Hazel sofa, at last, just in time as the cutting season has ended as the sap is rising fast.

It was a joy to finish, as I'd spent a lot of time gathering...and given away our old sofa to an upholsterer who fell in love with it!


Today I've been working on the latest, little wagon. New bows cut, shafts and side panels undercoated, door repaired, and the rest awaiting the epoxy treatment,,,too many places for water to settle for my liking! Ben has done the majority of the sanding on front and back, revealing rotten wood, which will be dug out, and treated. Will be glad when it's at the painting stage!


Thank goodness for the spring flowers to brighten up the occasional greyness,

daffs, primroses and periwinkle all bloom proudly to welcome a new growing year, the elephant garlic is living up to it's name..and have just planted raspberry canes from a kind neighbour who had too many. Hot salad seeds are in and already showing little green faces!