Am I In Over My Head.......?

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

This one actually started out as a bowl, the blank was about 10" tall by 12" in diameter, but it had some LARGE cracks along the bark inclusions, so I had to turn it down.

Sorry no before pics, I really was not expecting much but a big pile of curlies from this one..

hf_1a.jpg
Some cool bark inclusions in this one....

hf_2a.jpg
Some good grain pattern.

hf_3a.jpg
even a knot....

hf_4a.jpg
More bark inclusions

hf_5a.jpg
Yep, a nice BIG mess
......................

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

.............

hf_6a.jpg
I had to go and work at the L shop, so I bagged it for later tonight......

I'll see how this one goes, I have to fire up the hollowing rig later tonight, and give it a go, or I might wait until I get me a laser.....

Well wish me luck, never done a HF with a bark inclusion.........wait a minute......... this is only the second HF I've done, (exploding attempts don't count )

I know the shape needs a little refining yet, I've still got some work to do on it.

Cheers!

Edit..... I know that form needs a little more refining, I'll work on that too.....

[Glenn Clabo]

Man you got guts...but who didn't know that. Can't wait to see how it turns out...

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Thanks...... well, I certainly have a big gut.......

Oh well, I have about 100 round, but not roughed out blanks sitting on the shelf, so if this one goes POW......Oh well......

[Bernie Weishapl]

Stu that is going to be interesting piece when finished. Take you time and keep the speed down a little. Can't wait to see it done.

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Stu, why don't you wrap the outside of it with tape and maybe that will help hold it together. It looks like it's going to be great. I can't wait to see what you do with it. You got the stuff man! Go for it!!

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Stu, why don't you wrap the outside of it with tape and maybe that will help hold it together. It looks like it's going to be great. I can't wait to see what you do with it. You got the stuff man! Go for it!!

That is a great idea, I have some of that "Flat Twine" stuff, like Saran Wrap but thicker, I'll give that a try.....

I even have a piece of quince I might use as a collar.

Cheers!

[Mike Ramsey]

That's a great start on what should become a beautiful HF!
Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Well, I got some more time in on it tonight, not enough to get near done but .......

hf_bad_tear_out.jpg
While refining my form, I got some NASTY tear out Try as I might, I could NOT get rid of all of it, upped the speed, the tools were sharp, and I did the best I could but....

hf_no_tear_out.jpg
Then I picked up my Eli Avisera bowl finishing tool, boy did it work great!!

Now I know my skills are still lacking with the bowl gouge, but man, did this tool save my bacon!

hf_saran_wrappeda.jpg
Next I wrapped it up good with that saran warp kind of stuff, flat twine, I think they call it, and kept at it.

hf_hollowed1.jpg
I got about 80% of it hollowed out, and this cut so much cleaner than that other one I tried, I'm sure happy with it, but I could not really judge where the outside was from the inside, so I stopped before I had a blow out.

I'll be buying a laser pointer and rigging it to my D-handle soon.

hf_hollowed2.jpg
Another shot, different lighting to show the inside, well to TRY to show the inside.....

..........

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

...............

hf_stuffeda.jpg
I'm not going to get it done today, or even tomorrow, hopefully on Sunday, so I stuffed it back up with wet shavings, and..........

hf_baggeda.jpg
Bagged it once more, hope it holds up

Cheers!

[Jim Becker]

Stu...the ONLY way to truly learn anything in turning is to do it. Carry on!

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Well it looks like I got about 98% of the hollowing done today, ran out of time, I'll finish it tomorrow.

I'm not sure what I'll finish it with, I guess you have to finish the inside too eh

I really don't want to change the color, so maybe just some blond shellac or something?

I got my laser today

hf_laser_set.JPG
Here is the set. I went for this unit, as it was a straight cylinder, the others in the price range were not, also the body is aluminum, not plastic. It also takes the standard AAA batteries, no the half length AAAA batteries the other seem to all take. I bought two sets of rechargeable batteries and the charges, all for about $50 US, but I had a points card at this electronics store, so I paid nothing for them, zip, zero, nada

hf_laser_size.JPG
here you can see the laser dot, I was surprised it was not round....?

Attachment 63471
Here is my rig, kind of thrown together, it works, but I see the faults in my design. The aluminum tube on top is too bouncy, too flexible, it makes the laser dot wiggle all over the place, and the whole wooden block thing, while it works, I could be better. Next time I go shopping at my DIY place, I'll buys some thick chunks of aluminum, and some steel tubes, and make a better set up, but it does work!!

Attachment 63472
Here the laser is somewhat short, this means I'm still mostly on the HF, and the thickness is about 8mm or so (I set the gap between the edge of the laser dot and the cutter at about 5mm)

Attachment 63473
Here the laser is mostly off the HF, the Saran Wrap stuff is there too, so that adds to the thickness.
As it turns out, I was able to do almost all of the hollowing with the two tools I have, but one between the straight boring rod and the 45 cutter would have been a lot easier, so I'll l have to make one!

Going to unwrap it tomorrow, and then let it dry for a week or two, I sure hope it does not crack on me.............. any advice on what to do? It was moist, but not dripping wet.

Cheers!

[Andy Hoyt]

Stu - No more photos with links to your forum. Ever.

Andy Hoyt
Moderator

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Stu - No more photos with links to your forum. Ever.

Andy Hoyt
Moderator

First, it is not "My Forum" it is owned and run by the members, for the members, I'm a member there, like, I'm a member here, and at two other woodworking forums, that I fear to mention.

Sorry Andy, those sticker were on there from a photo shoot that I did for a Japanese DIY mag, they have been on there for a few months.

Until you pointed it out and censored my pics, I did not even notice it.

Your sandbox, your rules, sorry.

Cheers!

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Wow, you actually went and photo-shopped my pics,

Man , I did not mean to cause you any trouble like that, sorry for that Andy, sincerely.

Well, I guess I'll not be posting "On the Lathe" pics anymore.