Cherry Burl NE Vase

[John Hart]

A week or so ago I mounted up this nasty piece of cherry burl.
CherryBurl1.jpg

Couldn't decide what to do with it until Thursday when I figured that I'd just wail away at it and see what it wanted to be. This wood had huge voids throughout that really treated me unkindly and also made the blank very offset in terms of weight distribution so it really rocked the lathe even when it was round. Probably did the whole thing at about 700 rpm.

So anyway, this is what it wanted to be.
CherryBurl4.jpg

CherryBurl5.jpg

CherryBurl7.jpg

CherryBurl6.jpg

It's 6.5" diameter by 7.5" high...finished in spray satin lacquer (that smells like bubble gum )...then steel wool...then brutally hand rubbed. Went a bit thin on the bottom so I didn't want to go too deep on the foot.

Your critiques are welcome!!...and invited.....and warmly received!!!

[Tim A. Mitchell]

Very Nice. I like the shapr taransition from top to bottom, and the over all curve of the upper portion.

Inspiring.

[George Guadiane]

I'd say you did a really good job of helping that burl hunk become what it wanted! It bacame a really nice form, worthy of respect!

[Tom Sherman]

John it looks like you respond well to unkind treatment. I like it.

[Earl Reid]

Looks different from yesterday John. Nice job
I turned the antlers this AM turned out pretty good.
Earl

[Jon Lanier]

I would say that piece of wood decided nicely on what it wanted to be.

Great job.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Nice looking vase John! Beautiful wood! Third photo looks like a natural edge pitcher! Nice work!

[David Fried]

Seriously gnarly. Nice job John.
I'm still not sure how you get the ice cream into these hollow forms.

[Bernie Weishapl]

John that is a beauty. Very nice.

[Allen Neighbors]

Beautiful... I, too, like that sharper transition from the bottom to the top. Good job on making the top and keeping it together also... I think it's close to a pitcher, like Steve. The top photo looks like an eccentric turning.

[Alex Elias]

I like the look a lot. I usually gravitate more into curves more than sharper transitions, but that is what makes the world a beatiful place. I think you've done a beatiful piece from that wood. Lots of character and the thing that also appeals to me is the foot, nice transition into it and good detail.
Congrats,
Alex
PS: Nice photography.

[John Hart]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Fact is...the wood really drove the form. The voids kinda dictated where and when I needed to stop and where the curves had to go. Overall, I wish that the transistion were a little higher rather than toward the middle. But, regardless...it was a great learning experience and I'll do better on the next one.

[TYLER WOOD]

Do better on the next one? How? This one is extremely nice. Sometimes the wood has to determine the form. I think with the voids in the locations they are, and the shape of the blank, the form is great!! Good job!

[John Hart]

Thanks Tyler...I appreciate the compliment. .....But I rue the day that I would say, "Ok that's it...I've learned everything that I'm gonna learn...."


Sheesh....I gotta long way to go...

[Paul Engle]

Nice work John, " BURL all you can BURL " be , er .... . Indeed.