Monkey Wood Bowl

[Ralph]

Hi All.

This is my first post here, so please be gentle
This piece is 200mm wide and made from Monkey Wood, finished with Microcrystalline.
I have only been turning for about a year, but comments and criticism very welcome.

Ralph

[Andy Coates]

Well I love it. The blank has been sensitively cut to provide good feature, and the unusual shape highlights the grain and feature. If the wood was green then there might be distortion issues due to the thickness, but otherwise it all works for me. Nice piece.

[Ralph]

Hi Andy.

Thank you for your possitive comments.
The wood was kiln dried and distortion was not a problem.

Cheers.

Ralph

[GBF]

Blimey if you have got Andy Coates out making comments Ralph it must be good well done.

Regards George

[seventhdevil]

monkey puzzle is difficult stuff to turn especially for a beginner so well done.i like the shape too.


where did you find it kiln dried???

[Ralph]

Lol.
Thanks Andy for your warm welcome. I hope to get to know everybody a bit more on this forum over the coming weeks and months.

I got the wood from a company in Glasgow.

http://www.spanglefish.com/woodcarving-scotland/

This piece was not too bad to cut. However I did have another piece of monkey wood that had a knot that was off centre. I could not get it balanced on the lathe for love nor money.
Fortunately I have a large log fireplace, so it didn't go completely to waste.

Ralph

[edbanger]

Very dramatic grain patten and looks great to me.

Ed

PS I've never seen Andy Coates make comment on a piece 

[woodndesign]

Excellent 1st post, Ralph, very nicely turned and finished. Well done indeed.

Cheers  David

[Les Symonds]

Well done Ralph, and what a debut posting!
Les

[steve w]

lovely looking item, wish i had know about the supplier a few weeks ago as i have been working in scotland,

[Lazurus]

What a wonderful first piece, I have never turned this timber but I did once read an article on a Benedictine monk who cuts and turned this timber into some stunning vessels.

Well done on a great start.

Stuart

[TWiG]

Although not a design I will seek to replicate , it does seem to be well executed and finished and a bit different / special  so well done !!, the softness of the wood in comparison to the knots can be problematic, also it is most unusual to see MP turned from a conventional blank ( side grain ) most are done end grain which presents its own problems , not least the soft /hollow pith ... by coincidence I am taking down a MP tomorrow , only small though and dead !!

[Bryan Milham]

I think this is the first time I've seen a piece of Monkey Puzzle turned crossgrain, normally it is turned to include the ring of 5 branch knots.

The effect if the knot through the middle of this bowl really brings it to life.

[Ralph]

Thank you all for your positive comments.

Regards.

Ralph