| Project by trifern | posted 409 days ago | 872 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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1843 posts in 625 days
posted 409 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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1555 posts in 605 days
posted 409 days ago
Amazing grain, interesting use of leather dyes.
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
CharlieM1958
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7601 posts in 1110 days
posted 409 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 572 days
posted 409 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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3791 posts in 1206 days
posted 409 days ago
...building up a beautiful portfolio of turnings!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Scott Bryan
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20549 posts in 714 days
posted 409 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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7297 posts in 1139 days
posted 408 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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756 posts in 605 days
posted 408 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 483 days
posted 408 days ago
Incredible colours, Well done.
Woody.
-- Woody, UK
Kerux
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511 posts in 776 days
posted 408 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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14914 posts in 743 days
posted 408 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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1365 posts in 615 days
posted 408 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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3456 posts in 580 days
posted 408 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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7894 posts in 659 days
posted 408 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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1377 posts in 614 days
posted 407 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 486 days
posted 407 days ago
Another one out of the park.
-- Michael A. Brailsford
bigpops0259
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197 posts in 1042 days
posted 404 days ago
Wow! What more can be said? Love the color.
-- Marty Ohio
Lewda
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14 posts in 489 days
posted 404 days ago
Stunning!
Adam Weis
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25 posts in 912 days
posted 400 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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1377 posts in 614 days
posted 394 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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1377 posts in 614 days
posted 394 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 665 days
posted 392 days ago
stunning
-- www.robneves.com
rikkor
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11338 posts in 767 days
posted 392 days ago
I can’t believe I missed this the first time around. You really do some nice turning.
KnickKnack
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99 posts in 458 days
posted 380 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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7894 posts in 659 days
posted 380 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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99 posts in 458 days
posted 379 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 376 days
posted 372 days ago
Trifern, really nice, thanks for sharing.
Do you spray the laquer, polycrylic,shellac?
Thanks
-- Fred, Georgia
trifern
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7894 posts in 659 days
posted 372 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 300 days
posted 295 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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120 posts in 118 days
posted 94 days ago
Now here is a blue I can fall in love with real beauty
a1Jim
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16577 posts in 469 days
posted 94 days ago
another winner
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon