Oak burl

[Dennis Ford]

Hesitant to post this because I don't want to encourage anyone to turn things that might be dangerous.
I probably should not have turned this piece but I like a challenge. It is about 10 inches diameter. The openings were full of bark when I started and some of it was still in place after turning. I did wear a face-shield and carefully stayed out of "line of fire".

Comments and critiques welcome.

[James Combs]

WOW, I would say that there were quite a few missiles being fired from that turning. I also suspect you had some problems getting it to stay on your vacuum chuck.

Seriously, that is one of the best looking burl/void turnings I have seen. Any finish on it?

[Ronald Campbell]

Outstanding job. No risk no reward, you have been rewarded

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

well done Dennis...will we see this at a club meeting soon?

[Thomas Canfield]

That should have been a "scary" Halloween post. Looks like it would have been scary turning and a real problem to sand. Another piece done well.

[Gus Dundon]

That's beyond stunning. The burl looks awesome. Way too cool.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Real nice work Dennis and certainly a challenge, but not as dangerous to turn as a blank with splits showing in it.

Love the swirling grain and the overall form, well done

[Thom Sturgill]

Wow! I get white knuckles just thinking about turning that, and I don't have a problem with a 'death grip' any more. Very high pucker factor, very impressive turning. As asked, what is the finish?

[Tom Giacomo]

You are a braver man than me.

[Dennis Ford]

Thanks for the compliments.
Re: finish, it had only tung oil when I took the picture. I have since put on some Wipe On Poly but am not through with that. I do plan to keep the finish soft with minimal gloss.
Re: danger, there were two issues.
* The tenon was not a full circle, so I was concerned about it until the piece was balanced and rough shaped. I kept the speed low and was not as aggressive as I would have been otherwise. The wood that exists is strong, otherwise the tenon would have failed.
* Once most of the inside had been removed, I became concerned about it staying together and slowed the lathe down again. My attitude at this time was; "it will come apart and I don't want to be in the way".

I agree with Leo that pieces with visible cracks are more dangerous because they are likely to come apart before the weight is reduced. A face-shield will not stop a heavy piece of wood.
No sanding was done until the piece had been removed from the lathe.