| Project by Innovator | posted 75 days ago | 387 views | 2 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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I had some maple logs that I got locally from neighbor that was having a tree cut down. As I was taking the logs I was trying to think about where I would put them. I have a very limited space to store raw logs. I usually place them on a skid in my yard but I knew that it was full but I wasn’t passing up this wood. So I decided to experiment with them. I have read that you can spalt your own lumber by placing it directly in the dirt. The trick is to not leave it there too long, if so you will rot the log.
This is where the surprise comes in. I placed these logs directly on the dirt (it was grass at first) and left them there for about 3 months. I cut these logs last week and I was excited when I saw how the wood reacted. I had to coat them and put them on the shelf until I had time to get to them. I pulled one off the shelf yesterday and I had at it. As I started turning the wood the pattern started jumping out. I just love richness in a piece of wood.
I started the bowl around 7:00pm and at 9:30 I was cutting the foot off of it. I had already finished it with EEE Ultra Shine and Shellawax Cream. Here is where things start to go wrong. I got cocky as I was cutting the foot off. I used a jam chuck and the tail center to hold the piece in place and I was using a thin knife parting tool for the cut. I got the cut down to about 3/16” in diameter and I took it off of the lathe. I know that I should use a saw to cut the rest of it off but “Hey I don’t need to follow the rules, I’ve done this a thousand times”. So I proceeded to hit the foot with a soft blow hammer and the foot fell on the floor, which was fine until I looked at the bottom of the bowl and saw that when I wacked the foot off I took a chip out of the bottom of the bowl, it went clear through. MAD was an understatement! The worst part about it is I know better, but every once in a while I need to be reminded that the rules apply to me also.
I used some titebond III and some CA and did the best repair I could with it. The break was not very clean the wood fibers tore out from hitting the foot.
Overall I like the bowl, my wife has already found a home for it in our kitchen. The bowls diameter is 8” at the top and it stands 4” tall. The wall thickness is a full 3/16”.
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
17 comments so far
DaddyT
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53 posts in 404 days
posted 75 days ago
Man is that beautiful ! Shame about the break though, funny how we humble ourselves sometimes huh?
-- Jimi _ Measure twice, cut once.......@#%#$@!!!......measure twice, cut....
scott83
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14 posts in 83 days
posted 75 days ago
That is the nicest spalting I’ve ever seen, and your work is great! If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have noticed the break… at least in the photos.
-- Scott
stefang
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1646 posts in 228 days
posted 75 days ago
Nice shape and beautiful spalting. I’ve done a little home spalting myself, but never got anything as spectacular as that.
-- Mike, American in Norway
woodisit
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61 posts in 135 days
posted 75 days ago
Beautiful bowel, did leaving it the dirt darken the wood? I can’t say I have seen maple that dark before.
-- Woodisit
DAN
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6439 posts in 877 days
posted 75 days ago
wow … great eye candy
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
alholstein
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63 posts in 936 days
posted 75 days ago
Now that is a nice suprise. I really like the pattern of the grain. It’s a keeper.
Al
-- Al Holstein
cabinetmaster
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8534 posts in 452 days
posted 75 days ago
That is one FANTASTIC looking bowl. I just love that grain pattern and the finish is excellent. SUPER JOB.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Innovator
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3125 posts in 307 days
posted 75 days ago
Jimi – humbling is an understatement. I am sure I wont do that again any time soon.
Woodisit – I was not able to see all of the spectacular color until I split the log so I done know what it looked like prior to splitting.
Thanks all for the comments, I appreciarte it.
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
scrappy
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1609 posts in 324 days
posted 75 days ago
Fantastic bowl. Just love that coloring of that maple. The spalting is spectacular.
Great turning. And with a lessen to boot! I have done the same thing. (OH I’ll just break that off…...Dang now I have to return the bottom!)
Look forward to seeing more of your beautifull turnings.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
Karson
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25793 posts in 1294 days
posted 75 days ago
A great looking bowl. I cut down a Holly tree and left about 3’ of log sticking up to the weather. It’s been that way for about a year. I’ll be interested to see what has happened to it.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
patron
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2379 posts in 235 days
posted 75 days ago
thats a nice bowl .
i never heard of spalting it yourself !
it sure looks good !
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
Broda
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235 posts in 413 days
posted 74 days ago
WOW….
I gotta try to spalt my own wood sometime
how do you like the EEE and Shellawax?
-- BRODY. NSW AUSTRALIA -arguments with turnings are rarely productive-
toyguy
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717 posts in 731 days
posted 74 days ago
That is one real nice funnel you made there. I have heard of the home spalting plan, but never have tried it…...but I think I will !
Good job !
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
Innovator
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3125 posts in 307 days
posted 74 days ago
Scrappy – I agree on the spalting it came out awesome, I wish I could take credit for it.
Karson – I am sure the wood will be spectacular, I cant wait to see the pics.
David – It was simple to so, just sit it on the ground. From what I understand the micro-organisims get into the wood and start the rotting process. Actually I saw on one of the logs I have already cut up and waxed that there is some mold growing on the outside of the anchorseal.
Broda – I like the EEE, quick and easy. I made a handle for a chisel today and used it over linseed oil and it came out very nice.
Toyguy – Give it a try and thats where the suprise comes in!
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
a1Jim
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16770 posts in 471 days
posted 74 days ago
Weee dogie that’s a beaut great job super wood
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Grumpy
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14920 posts in 745 days
posted 71 days ago
Thats one nice piece of wood innovator. great job
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Berg
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45 posts in 84 days
posted 58 days ago
Beautiful Innovator.
-- Berg, Central NH & Gulfport, FL - "It's raining...what a beautiful day to puddle jump" 3y/o Devlyn