Beaded Camphor H/F - The quentessential SnafuHere's a 13 1/2" X 5 1/2" H/F in camphor with a 4 7/8" finial. This is similar to, but a little larger than, another done recently. I decided to try some experiments on this since it was really a break between doing some translucent Norfolk Island pine pieces. Had so many screw ups on this thing that I probably should apply for a grant from the government to mass produce it. Some of the many screw ups are as follows:
-the wood had a spectacular red flare on one side. I attached it to the faceplate upside down and turned it off.
-didn't check the form closely before adding beads and discovered it was too bottom heavy
-Decided to use shellac as a finish to compare it to the last one with danish oil. Didn't mix the flakes well enough and had small clots of shellac all over it. Had to sand it off and use a safety pin and a toothbrush to get them off between the beads
-didn't sand off the shellac well enough and the danish oil wouldn't absorb into the wood
-got really steamed and tossed it (literally) into a bucket of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits that I'd been using for Norfolk Island pine. Had the brililant flash idea that the mixture would color the wood from the inside out. (My worst idea since I tried to grow a beard in College)
-set it on the edge of my work bench in the garage thinking it would either fall off and break or just disappear after a few weeks. It didn't.
-finished it with a brand new can of WOP clear satin. it came out as glossy as anything I've ever done
-made the best finial I ever made, but it was too short
-made a second finial for it but it was too tall
Finally came to the conclusion that screwed up, not meant-to-be turnings are what Christmas and the joy of giving is all about. Hopefully, some relative will appreciate all the frustration I put into this thing. Merry Christmas!
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Looks great in the pic. In a lot of years of turning I've found that it's a continual learning experience.
