through spirals aren't for weenies!!!

Neat picture, glad you weren’t hurt

-- Don, Royersford, PA

Bummer, good advice on the safety gear and I’m glad you were unscathed.

And don’t forget to use a respirator when cutting or turning that spalted wood.

-- Carpenter assembles with hands, Designer builds with brains, Artist creates with heart!

Ditto the above, but what a cool idea.

-- Don, North Carolina,http://www.ncdon.com " A sharp blade & a tuned saw= happiness"

All that effort!

-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com

That scares me and I’m fearless!

Ouch! You could have been speared. I’m glad you were smart enough to be prepared.

-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/

wow that’s scary.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Wow! That is scary! I do think it is good that you show us all this. It reminds us that we need to be attentive to safety and to really respect our power tools and wood and realize how unforgiving they can be. Its good you weren’t hurt (and smart!) Thanks, Michelle!

Sheila

-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"

Glad you’re OK. Those end pieces look a lot like hole saws.

-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

Glad you weren’t hurt either…..but there is a bit of risk when taking turning to it’s limits and beyond.

I’ve been experimenting alot with my lathe trying new ideas…different chucking methods (eccentric – off center- oval), inside out turning – diamond turning….different materials (metal, plastic, etc..)...sculpting, carving, routering…I really enjoy trying out new methods and techniques.

As a result of this I have also had a few blow ups. One thing I do not shortcut though is safety. I always turn with a full face mask (I use a Triton full face – powered respirator), a leather apron, long sleeve coveralls and calfskin gloves (ones that don’t limit dexterity) – I also make sure I am concentrating on what I am doing – if I lose focus…I stop.

So far this has served well and kept me safe….unfortunately, it can’t keep the wood from checking, splitting, crumbling…etc….but when things turn out good…it is really fantastic – almost spiritual – Zen like. The good turnings make everything else worth while….so the best I can tell you is to chuck up another piece and get back too it….good turning!

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Would it have been a less likely accident if you cut the spirals before turning out the inside?

one of the guys in my local turners group recently brought in a new piece he had turned that featured cutouts. he said he only cut one out before hollowing so he could gauge how thin he was hollowing. when done hollowing he then made the other cutouts… i wonder if that might be a better way to go for what you are trying. i’d think it might give you some more stability.

you’ve got a really cool concept though! can’t wait to see when you pull it off!

Bugger ay, pretty game Michelle with this one being part spalted, I generally find the spalted not so stable for thin stuff.
Do you think the steady wheels being right in the weakest point may have been a just enough to “pop” a couple of veins & once a couple have gone then, “bang”. ??
Just a suggestion, Would you be able to bring the tail stock up to the base with a revolving centre & a small wooden block between the two & once set up pop a bit of hot melt glue to the block & the base then you could maybe do away with the steady wheels ? just a thought, I know I use a ton of hot melt,wedges & whatever for tricky fixing.
On a happier note I love this theme you are on right now Michelle, never know what you going to come up with next, &, you know, we all get some ‘designer” firewood along the way, :: ))
Pete

-- Pete G: If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got

Incredible effort! Glad to hear you weren’t hurt!

I think you could salvage the pieces and make an interesting “explosion” sculpture.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe