| Project by bigwoodturner | posted 225 days ago | 315 views | 2 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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I was going through some of my cut offs and I had this piece of Maple Burl Cluster. A cluster burl is where more than one aireal burl is growing together. They are normally small but they have some incredibly tight eyes. As you can see it has a natural edge and all the voids are kept. This piece is 14 by 16 inches and is a platter in my fractured platter series. I had thought about doing some translucent laquer color but there was to much charater to enhance this piece. Some things in nature are to perfect to change.
-- Dale
9 comments so far
savannah505
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978 posts in 486 days
posted 225 days ago
Wow, I would think this is really difficult to do, but I’ve never tried this, and haven’t turned on a lathe for many years. Looks cool.
-- Dan Wiggins
Bill Hayes
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22 posts in 552 days
posted 225 days ago
This looks great, always wanted to try this type of turning but have not had the nerve. Great job.
-- Bill, Broken Arrow OK.
Todd A. Clippinger
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5655 posts in 999 days
posted 224 days ago
That is such a great piece. I love your interpretations of the wood.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Rj
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571 posts in 531 days
posted 224 days ago
I’m Glad you posted this Dale, I have some really great cluster burls Etc. & I’m just now getting up the nerve to start turning them . I would like to get some advice from you on how I should approach something like this.
After seeing some of your natural edge turnings I think I’m ready to take the plunge
Thanks Dale for posting this & all of your projects!!!
-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,
trifern
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7897 posts in 667 days
posted 224 days ago
Nice looking platter. Thanks for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
jockmike2
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7368 posts in 1146 days
posted 224 days ago
Beautiful, and a challenge for any of us.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
a1Jim
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17172 posts in 477 days
posted 224 days ago
Looks great I’m intrigued how such a turning is done also.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
Chris Cunanan
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224 posts in 380 days
posted 224 days ago
what are your sanding/finishing methods with these types of fragmented pieces?
bigwoodturner
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231 posts in 245 days
posted 224 days ago
Any sanding that is needed must be done off the lathe. If you sand on a piece with voids on the lathe the fall side of the opening will be dipped or thinner than the cut side. You have to pefect your tool control to minimize any sanding if you want to turn pieces with uneven edges or voids. All of my finishing is done off the lathe with airbrush either using laquer or polly. Laquer is my preference but you have to coat all surfaces inside and out as laquer does not flex and will shatter if you don’t coat all surfaces. Some times I use waterlox and after it has compleately dried I buff it with the beal system.
-- Dale