Getting the blanks ready

Finally got some time to break one of the big pieces of sugar maple up into turning blanks. Here are the five big blanks that I chainsawed from the log. One of these will be turned into an Indian style pot, three into hollow forms and one into a large platter. The tall blank is 20 inches across. These will now go into the shop and get trimmed to size on the bandsaw.

Here is the blank that I will turn into an Indian style pot. It was cut to size on the bandsaw, turned between centers to true it up, a tenon was turned for the chuck and then the blank was attached to the chuck. I have spent about an hour turning the blank into the shape I want.

I have started to hollow out the inside of this vessel and will continue until I have a uniform wall thickness of 3/16 inch. The piece is 14 inches across and 8 inches deep – there will be quite a pile of shavings by the time I finish this up. I have not touched this piece with sandpaper yet.

The piece was hollowed down to a thickness of 3/16 inch and I decided to quit for the night. I wrapped a damp towel around the outside of the piece, filled the inside up with shavings and wrapped the entire thing up in a big plastic bag – it is still mounted on the lathe. I will sand the entire piece through 320 grit tomorrow and then do some detail work on it with my homemade woodburner.

-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.