| Project by trifern | posted 395 days ago | 864 views | 7 times favorited | 31 comments | ![]() |
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This is a piece that really needs to be picked up and moved around in the sunlight. It is iridescent and changes colors quit nicely. The colors range from shades of black, purple and blue. It measures 3.5” tall by 6.5” wide and is turned from catalpa. It was dyed with purple leather dye and then sanded with 220 grit paper. It was then dyed with turquoise leather dye and sealed with 5 coats of lacquer. The lacquer was buffed with 0000 steel wool. A liming wax was then applied and buffed with 0000 steel wool. A final topcoat of Briwax was applied.
Thanks for looking and all comments are welcome.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.































31 comments so far
TedM
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1839 posts in 611 days
posted 395 days ago
Majestic, indeed!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Mark Shymanski
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1549 posts in 591 days
posted 395 days ago
Amazing grain, interesting use of leather dyes.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
CharlieM1958
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7467 posts in 1097 days
posted 395 days ago
I guess I’m prejudiced because blue is my favorite color, but this is spectacular. What the color does for the grain is amazing.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
oldskoolmodder
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707 posts in 558 days
posted 395 days ago
I’m loving your blue “phase” lately Picasso. :) It’s not easy to make wood look nice when “colored” blue, but you do the best job of it, imo.
-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric
dennis mitchell
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3785 posts in 1193 days
posted 395 days ago
...building up a beautiful portfolio of turnings!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Scott Bryan
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20080 posts in 701 days
posted 395 days ago
This is another amazing piece. It has such a beautiful color and grain pattern.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 395 days ago
Another beautiful turning Joe, it is amazing how you get the colors you do get from the wood.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Roper
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718 posts in 592 days
posted 395 days ago
this piece is f ing amazing! your finishes make every piece just that much more amazing. i would love it if you did a small blog or vid on how you do your finishes. and if it’s your little secret i understand that to. great job as always.
-- Roper - Master of sawdust-
woodyone
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234 posts in 470 days
posted 395 days ago
Incredible colours, Well done.
Woody.
-- Woody, UK
Kerux
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505 posts in 762 days
posted 395 days ago
Those are just absolutely awesome. If I ever get rid of all this spalted Maple, I’m going to give that process a try!
-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 395 days ago
I bet you get a spiral effect when you turn that one slowly Joe.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
brianinpa
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1363 posts in 602 days
posted 395 days ago
Those grain lines really play eye tricks. It looks great but I really have to know, where to do find the time to have a job?
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
Dusty56
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3401 posts in 567 days
posted 394 days ago
I thought the last blue one was nice , Joe , but this one really takes the ribbon ! Great job : )
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 394 days ago
Brian. I do have a job that I am successful at. I usually spend a couple of hours most nights in the shop.
Thanks for all the kind remarks. I appreciate them all.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
mmh
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1366 posts in 601 days
posted 394 days ago
Beautiful piece! The lines are so elegant with the contrast you created. I want to touch it and feel the wonderful curves you created. Well done! Well done! Please creat and show more!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Michael Brailsford
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212 posts in 472 days
posted 393 days ago
Another one out of the park.
-- Michael A. Brailsford
bigpops0259
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195 posts in 1028 days
posted 391 days ago
Wow! What more can be said? Love the color.
-- Marty Ohio
Lewda
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14 posts in 476 days
posted 391 days ago
Stunning!
Adam Weis
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25 posts in 899 days
posted 387 days ago
have you ever tried combining this technique with gold leaf or mother of pearl inlay? I love the iridescent quality of these bowls. It would be interesting to see how it looked combined with something reflective. Thanks for sharing your work.
-- Adam, http://adamweisfurniture.com
mmh
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1366 posts in 601 days
posted 381 days ago
If I’m not mistaken I think Catalpa grows in my area in Maryland. Where do you get your nicely grained Catalpa? Do you have to special order or hunt it down?
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
mmh
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1366 posts in 601 days
posted 381 days ago
I really like this piece! Excellent execution!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
romansfivefive
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258 posts in 652 days
posted 379 days ago
stunning
-- www.robneves.com
rikkor
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11338 posts in 753 days
posted 379 days ago
I can’t believe I missed this the first time around. You really do some nice turning.
KnickKnack
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97 posts in 445 days
posted 366 days ago
Inspired by the beauty of this I bought some leather dye and tried it.
In a moderated forum such as this it’s hard to describe the result – “blotchy disgusting mess” doesn’t even get close. What’s the secret of getting an even coat on?
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 366 days ago
KnickKnack,
What kind of wood?
What grit did you sand to?
What brand of leather dye?
I typically use an open grained wood like catalpa, oak, ash…
I sand through 180 grit or 220 grit.
I use Fiebing’s leather dye, it is alcohol based.
I apply liberally, let it penetrate and soak in, and then rub off any excess.
I seal with 3-4 thin coats of either lacquer, polycrylic, or shellac prior to applying the liming wax. Too many or too thick will fill the open grain too much and will not leave enough grain for the liming wax.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
KnickKnack
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97 posts in 445 days
posted 366 days ago
Thanks for the reply.
It was pine, mostly end-grain.
Sanded to 1000
Brand is “Bufalo” (here in Portugal, not spoilt for choice, in fact, I had to go to Spain) – smells alcoholy.
I have some ash and oak offcuts – one day I’ll give it another go on that.
fred4999
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77 posts in 363 days
posted 359 days ago
Trifern, really nice, thanks for sharing.
Do you spray the laquer, polycrylic,shellac?
Thanks
-- Fred, Georgia
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 359 days ago
Thanks Fred, yes I typically spray the finish on my dyed pieces.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
warnimct
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5 posts in 286 days
posted 281 days ago
Amazing. this makes me wanna cut down the catalpa in my backyard, i never knew these trees had such nice grain and i really like the way you finished this bowl.
-- C...
GaryBuck
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108 posts in 105 days
posted 80 days ago
Now here is a blue I can fall in love with real beauty
a1Jim
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15557 posts in 456 days
posted 80 days ago
another winner
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon