| Project by brianinpa | posted 94 days ago | 166 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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At a previous job, I was often asked: “How are you doing?” I would often respond with: “Just another day in paradise.” In most cases it was a sarcastic response which helps to explain why it is a previous job. One of my co-workers, who held the same opinion as I did, went to a flea market and saw a large metal coffee cup with this saying painted on it and she bought it for me. I placed it on my desk and kept it filled with a wide assortment of candy. When I changed jobs, the cup went along to the new work-place for the same purpose, and people will often stop in the office for nothing more than to say Hi and to get a piece of candy: sugar is a great additive to any day at work.
After I purchased a lathe, I wanted to replace this coffee cup candy dish with something more appropriate for a lumberjock, but every time I made something, my wife would say something which led me to believe I would never see it again: I have made her two bowls to hold her paper clips. This “Candy Dish” is my third attempt, and I plan to keep this one for myself!
This piece of wood started life as a Japanese Maple tree that was cut down because it was dying and I wanted the fire wood. After it was cut down, the trunk was used for several years as a chopping block for splitting firewood. I have turned a few other small projects from this tree and knew there was a good grain pattern but I never would have guessed this piece of wood had a grain pattern that looked like this. So as not to hide the natural beauty of this piece, I finished it with only tongue oil. The best part of all is that there is a lot more wood where this piece came from.
The lathe used is a 1958 Wards Powr-Kraft; the turning chisels used is a set Disston gouges from the same era; and the tree was planted in the early 60’s. I am the youngest part of the equation. Thanks for looking.
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
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9 comments so far
pappyjohn
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138 posts in 119 days
posted 94 days ago
Very Nice looking candy dish. I would get it to the office as soon as possible, because it does have a lot of character.
-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.
kenn
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60 posts in 126 days
posted 94 days ago
That is an awesome piece of wood, really nice job, you had better hide it quick.
-- Every cloud has a silver lining
Scott Bryan
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8031 posts in 228 days
posted 94 days ago
That is a beautiful piece of wood and you created a nice turning from it. You need to put all of the wood you can get into your shop. I am sure that you can find a use for it. :)
Thanks for the post and the story behind it.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
trifern
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2311 posts in 173 days
posted 94 days ago
Very nice piece of spalted wood. The only fallout may be people will hang out longer now for their candy.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
Bradford
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552 posts in 228 days
posted 94 days ago
That is beautiful wood. You have done it again.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
DocK16
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395 posts in 493 days
posted 93 days ago
Trifern is correct this is spalted maple but the configurations are not grain patterns. They are the result of fungus that grows into the cambium and core wood when the wood is still wet. Maple is the most common wood to have this type of configurations . It can occur while the tree is still standing or after is cut and laying on the ground as long as it is kept wet. If the process is allowed to progress too far the wood begins to rot. (Once it is sealed there is no harm to the candy.) yes it is beautiful
-- DocK, WV
brianinpa
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288 posts in 129 days
posted 93 days ago
Thanks to all for your comments.
Dock, Thanks for the advise. This evening I was beginning to realize what you wrote even before I read it. I was turning another piece of wood that was lower on the stump, and it was cutting way too easy for a piece of maple.
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
jockmike2
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3890 posts in 652 days
posted 93 days ago
Beautiful turning I love maple, especially spalted maple. Beware of breathing the fungus from the spalting. It is a fungus and can affect your lungs and eyes. I know, a couple years ago I had a round of fungal infection from turning spalted wood. Took a trip to the eye Dr. and a bout of oral meds and eye drops and 2 weeks out of the shop. Just a warning. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Dusty56
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690 posts in 94 days
posted 93 days ago
GORGEOUS CANDY DISH…THANKS FOR THE TIP ABOUT THE FUNGUS ISSUES
-- Dusty56@comcast.net