AWGB Woodturning Forum

General Category => Gallery => Topic started by: Les Symonds on November 19, 2020, 08:40:30 PM

Title: Western Hemlock bowl
Post by: Les Symonds on November 19, 2020, 08:40:30 PM
This was cut from apiece of wood that a student gave me. It had been a beam in a neighbour's house, then, for several months, an edge of a raised bed in their garden, until he nabbed it in the hope of using it when he buys a lathe. He brought a lump for me to identify and to try out. It wasn't easy to turn; it cut easily enough but its grain tore-out readily and it took a fair amount of sanding to get an even finish. There was a lot of hairline cracks in the first inch-or-so of thickness, hence the scorched rim - not that I need much of an excuse to get the blow-torch out.

12" diameter and 4" deep. Cellulose sanding sealer and microcrystaline wax, with lime wax applied to the open, scorched grain and mostly buffed out again.

C&C always welcome...Les

p.s. .. I'm fairly certain it's Western Hemlock, but am happy to be corrected (Steve!).
Title: Re: Western Hemlock bowl
Post by: Les Symonds on November 19, 2020, 09:03:03 PM
Have added an image of the end grain
Title: Re: Western Hemlock bowl
Post by: Bryan Milham on November 20, 2020, 07:46:03 PM
I love the way old, manky wood still looks fresh and clean when you get into it.

Nice work there Les.
Title: Re: Western Hemlock bowl
Post by: willstewart on November 24, 2020, 09:05:09 AM
Really beautiful!

And softwoods seem to get a poor press but can give lovely items - I have some nice things from 'redwood'.  And 'found timber' is always worth a look wherever it has been - firewood logs a good source, too.
Title: Re: Western Hemlock bowl
Post by: bodrighywood on November 24, 2020, 09:12:57 AM
No timber (apart pehaps for *&q stuff) is unusable. Just neeed to adapt what you make. Mallets aren't much use in lime or birch for example LOL

Actually there may well be a use for a mallet with a softer head in carving.

Pete