Author Topic: Western Hemlock bowl  (Read 1088 times)

Offline Les Symonds

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Western Hemlock bowl
« 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!).
« Last Edit: November 19, 2020, 09:02:09 PM by Les Symonds »
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Offline Les Symonds

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Re: Western Hemlock bowl
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2020, 09:03:03 PM »
Have added an image of the end grain
Education is important, but wood turning is importanter.

Offline Bryan Milham

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Re: Western Hemlock bowl
« Reply #2 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.
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Offline willstewart

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Re: Western Hemlock bowl
« Reply #3 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.

Offline bodrighywood

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Re: Western Hemlock bowl
« Reply #4 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
Turners don't make mistakes, they have design opportunities