What did you do in your shop today?

So that's what Zelkova looks like. Had been wondering. They've been planting them as street and parking lot trees for some time now around here, but have not seen any cut down yet.
 
Mike Hill said:
So that's what Zelkova looks like. Had been wondering. They've been planting them as street and parking lot trees for some time now around here, but have not seen any cut down yet.
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Super lovely wood, but most won't look like that. This was a crotch piece. Hard as nails
 
trc65 said:
Grabbed the chainsaw and went for a walk yesterday planning to drop a tree to start restocking shelves. Happened upon a log section of honey locust I abandoned a year ago as it had very little color except a couple inches in the center of the log. Figured I'd cut a section and see what it looked like after sitting. Here are a couple of 10" bowls roughed from it. Can't believe how the color developed in these. I'll have to drop another and let it sit for a year.

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Found a picture of a little bowl finished from the same tree. Roughed last winter and finished last fall. Decent color in the middle of the bowl, but sapwood is mostly featureless.

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Looks like aging is the key, like a good steak:wink:
 
Had a definite idea for this latest challenge immediately. Wanted to make a lidded box with this piece for a while. Well, plan B already as it blew up in the lathe. Let’s try to cast the top and go from there......

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Trying a simpler mold build with tyvek tape on plywood. Already broke the mold apart once, got in a hurry and didn’t build it the right width. Ugh, oh well. Easy recovery at this point. Hopefully get it poured on Thursday.
 
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Allied Arts is our local art gallery. This will the fourth year this institutional has sponsored the "Empty Bowls" program. The reason for the program is to raise money for the food bank. Sales has generated over $3,000 per year. The hand crafted bowls are made of wood, glass or pottery and go on sale to the public during the month of February. I delivered three bowls to the gallery this afternoon. I no longer do any glass work because my buddy with the kilns passed away two years ago.

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They are all nice and great that you donate to this cause. My favorites are the first two. No disrespect but I don't care for the lids. Not my cup of tea but someone's gonna love them. Can you show me a picture of the bottom of the first one and a side profile? I really like that design
 
^ @William Tanner- what a kind gesture you are doing and those look fantastic- love the mystery of the beauty inside once you lift the lid top! Love the mix of materials. Is the first one with the blister big leaf maple? The middle one is also big leaf with the fiddleback pattern? Very nice!
 
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Eric Rorabaugh said:
They are all nice and great that you donate to this cause. My favorites are the first two. No disrespect but I don't care for the lids. Not my cup of tea but someone's gonna love them. Can you show me a picture of the bottom of the first one and a side profile? I really like that design
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Sorry, don’t have any other photos of these bowls.
 
Today's lathe turning: 2021-03 spin-top...African Pink Ivory with C-Tek (aluminum mesh cast in white resin) and a white Delrin point. Measures 2.5" x 2.5". Spins true and pretty.
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Mr. Ed, you really can't be from Earth. What did us Wber's do to have you come down from where ever you came from, and cause us to have to rethink what we have been doing over and over for years? Man, that is a nice looking piece you just posted. Expanded metal, resin and Delrin. Who wooda thought that combination of different materials would have ever produced such a fine looking piece as that. Thanks for posting this. ............ Jerry (in Tucson)
 
Nubsnstubs said:
Mr. Ed, you really can't be from Earth. What did us Wber's do to have you come down from where ever you came from, and cause us to have to rethink what we have been doing over and over for years? Man, that is a nice looking piece you just posted. Expanded metal, resin and Delrin. Who wooda thought that combination of different materials would have ever produced such a fine looking piece as that. Thanks for posting this. ............ Jerry (in Tucson)
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Thanks Jerry, I appreciate the feedback. These muti-part glue-up tops are a challenge to make, but my primary woodturning interest is yo-yos. Making things that go-around keeps the mind active and I'm thankful for that. Here's some more, recently finished here in the Colorado shop:
 
Tony said:
Beautiful piece Ed! Is that material store bought or do you cast it yourself?
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C-Tek is the brand name for sheets of cast resin with aluminum chicken-wire looking mesh. It's normally used by knife makers for handle scales. I get some of my best woodturning ideas from other crafts, like knife making. Here's a link to the shop where I buy the stuff: C-Tek supplier

I've also bought Asian made C-Tek knock-offs, which are really good quality, through eBay and Amazon.com. The Asian versions tend to be more colorful and a little less expensive.
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