Apple tree down

The tree at the top. The wood at the bottom.
Significant date: 17/11/2009
Hopefully something nice will come of the wood.

Manitoba maple Bowl

I am still doing some turnings from a large Manitoba maple tree that fell down in June in Colebrook north of Kingston.
The homeowner was not interested in the wood as "it does not burn worth a ##**". This tree was literally one big burl from top to bottom, so great for turning.
As you can see in this photo the wood was full of red streaks. And Manitoba maple, or box elder as it is also known, is very nice to turn. It finishes well with a very smooth surface. And contrary to popular opinion the wood is fairly hard once dry. The one problem is that it will not dry in this climate if left outside, which is why it does not burn well as its moisture content remains high. (Most people dry their firewood outside)
Another characteristic of this wood is that it does not shrink much when it dries. Of the local hardwoods it seems to move the least. Good for making natural edge bowls.
Today I cut down a large crab apple tree which looks to have some nice grain. I will try to get some pictures posted later. Apple checks very quickly so I will have to move fast to get some turned.
George, my father in law, passed away last night and this was my way of occupying my time to avoid dwelling on that passage. The tree was pretty old and partly rotten near the bottom so it had to come down. It was situated next to the driveway and would have been a costly accident if it had fallen on a car.

Garden Vision

Some images just jump out at me. This is one. Beautiful water drop magnifiers on an iris leaf.
The Christmas sale is over and I can relax and get on with woodturning again.

Christmas Crafts Sale at RMC Gym in Kingston

Christmas Crafts Sale at RMC Gym in Kingston. Nelson holding the fort as it were. Lots of people and a few sales but not the bigger items.
Ron Oastler was there too with Sawdust and Glass and he looked busy.
On again tomorrow.

Christmas Craft Sale

I will be participating (along with the Kingston Woodturners club) in the Christmas Craft Sale at the Canadian Forces Community Center this weekend - November 14 and 15.
The Canadian Forces Community Center is located on Hwy 2 Opposite to the entrance to Fort Henry just outside Kingston Ontario.
If you are in the area please drop by and say hello.

John and Nelson visit John Jordan in Ottawa

This is the maple blank he started with.
Lionel enjoying the joke. A man and a platypus walk in to a bar...
Looks a bit like the cross section of a blurry eyeball John.
"I'm not looking but I hope this is not in lieu of the cheque"

November 8 I went to Ottawa with Nelson and we took in a demonstration by John Jordan.
The Valley Woodturners made us feel very much at home as we were both greeted warmly. Nelson said that he was most impressed because people actually talked to him as if he knew something about the topic. Thanks to the folks at Valley Woodturners and John Jordan we both thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and the pizza was pretty good too.

John started with a slide show of inspirational material plus a selection of some of his work.
This was followed by a lathe demonstration on making a hollow form. Watching the outside take shape was good but since one cannot see what is happening inside it was only thanks to John's informative banter that no-one went to sleep for this process (I don't think anyway)
Some quotes, hopefully mostly correct but I paraphrase liberally so...
"Accomplished turners seem to pull creative ideas out of their pockets - they have spent a lifetime filling their pockets with those ideas"
"ALL problems in woodturning are directly related to the sharpness of the tool"
"Spend as much time as you need to"
"Answer to everything - A sharp tool and finesse"
"Stop the lathe to check on progress. You can't screw it up with the lathe turned off."
"Polish the tool rest"
Finishing: Use spray acrylic from Krylon. Easy fast finish.

The finished hollow form made in Ottawa

Top Making - My Spin on the topic

This is what I start with. 3/4 X 3/4 inch by four inch long (oak) glued (with epoxy in this case) to a 2.5 X 2.5 inch by 3/4 inch thick (maple) piece. The grain on both pieces runs along the axis of the lathe. The chuck is an Apprentice brand 4 jaw with pin jaws.
Using a wide flat spindle gouge the bottom of the top is shaped.
After removing the tail stock support...
..complete the point on the bottom of the top.
Replace the tailstock and attack the top and handle. Using a smaller but thicker spindle gouge.
See the next post for completion of the project.

Making Tops - My Spin on this topic

Trimming the handle using a spindle gouge.

After using a vibration tool to make a pattern on the maple the entire top is sanded.
Adding colour with a pink Sharpie. After a friction polish has been applied.
Parting off with a small skew chisel.
The finished product. Takes about five minutes to complete one top on the lathe but add on preparation time and each top takes about ten minutes to finish. Spiral line is put on at slow speed.