Maple hollow form

Beautiful!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Beautiful!

With all due respect, though, I have to wonder about the necessity of sanding down that fine in the beginning if you are going to come back with numerous coats of lacquer. Since you are going to be building up a relatively thick finish, it seems like it is the sanding after the lacquer that is what would yield the ultrasmooth surface. In other words, as long as your initial surface is smooth enough so that your coats of finish are going to fill any surface imperfections (i.e. down to 400 or so), then you should be good to go.

Now I admit, I say all of the above based on my experience with poly. Maybe lacquer is a different story.

At any rate, your result is wonderful.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

You have a valid point Charlie. Sanding to this fine of a grit allows me to decide on the finish to be applied after I’m done sanding. I always sand up to a very high grit first. This allows me to very carefully examine the surface to be sure it is completely uniform, as I spend a lot of time looking it over with each successive grit. Thereafter I have the choice of finish – sometimes I resand with a lower grit after doing all of that. I look at it as preparing a clean, blank canvas with which to take the next step. Additionally, this is a paid hobby for me and surface prep is one of my most liked parts of woodworking. If I were in a production shop I’m sure I’d choose to eliminate those what would be considered extra steps that you referred to. Thanks for the comment!

-- Just another woodworker

I see your point, and it is a good one. :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Very pretty, glassy looking. I like the ebony on top, thats hard to get that kind of shine on. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Beautiful! I love the look of the grain figure.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Very nice work…and what a great piece of wood you found!

-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY

Holy smokes!! To think that somebody would throw something that beautifull in the dump!! It looks almost like it is made out of glass. Awesome!

-- Woodworking is Life. Anything before or after is just waiting.--S. McQueen sort of

Very nice piece Mike. I can’t wait for your blog on how you send the curved surfaces. Did you sand this on the lather of off?

In terms of being surprised that such nice wood was thrown out, I really am not. Virtually all my woodturnings are made out of “garbage” (destined for the mulching machine). Most people think that only exotic woods are worth anything. Some lady did not believe me that my bandsaw boxes are made out of local cherry and not some exotic wood.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Bravo on the finish, woodworking is only part of the journey…Blkcherry

That is a striking piece. I assume there is no stain and the pink color is natural?

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

This is a beautiful hollow form piece. I am anxious to try hollow form turning. I purchased a Sorby Hollow Master tool today. I can only hope to turn out something half as nice as this. Thank you for sharing.

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