Critique Requested

[Ken Vonk]

I've only been turning for about 8 months and don't have a club or store nearby to get mentored / tutored. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I copied the idea from Ray Key's piece on the cover of the latest Woodturner Catalog (thanks Ray). The 'box' is maple burl that was pretty punky and rotten in spots. I stabilized with thin CA. The box is 5" tall and 3" in diameter. Wall thickness is 1/4" and follows the contures of the exterior. The base is walnut and is 6 1/2" wide and 2 1/2" tall. The lid with finial is from what I think is claro walnut. This is my second try at a finial and the lid is about 2 1/2" tall. Since this is in an 'oriental' style I finished with gloss wipe on poly and Beall buffed. It was a lot of fun figuring out how to turn this project and trying to learn the skew chisel!

Thanks,

Ken

[Tony De Masi]

Ken, I absolutely love this piece. You don't usually see turners, or any other craft, with as little time at it as you producing such a beautiful piece. I think the finial fits the overall piece beautifully as well.

Very well done.

Tony

[Mike Golka]

Excellent piece! You said you've been turning for 8 months, you meant 8 years didn't you? At least that's what it looks like.

[Bruce Pennell]

Ken great job, love the piece.

[robert hainstock]

Copy or not that piece is very artistic, and beautiful. Congrats. you will be teaching us all soon.
Bob

[Dennis Peacock]

Ken,

From what I see...it is nicely done and attention to detail is clear and clean. I'd like to see a profile shot of this piece...just to check curve consistency and such.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Wow Ken!! Congrats on an extremely impressive turning! Beautiful woods, forms and finishes! I love the imagination! Like Bob stated - copy or not - this is artistic! You had to figure out how to turn this and with no one else to ask for assist - that is exceptional!

I look forward to seeing what you are turning next! Thanks for posting!

[Ken Vonk]

Here is a profile picture. The photo came out bad so I didn't post it earlier

I was able to have a 5 hour lesson from Wally Dickerman about 6 weeks ago. My Dad has been turning for about 15 years and spent a week showing me the basics when he came and delivered the lathe as a present to me.

thanks everyone, don't hold back because I'm new. Let me know what you would have done different and why please.

Ken

[Dennis Puskar]

That really is a very nice piece,nice work.

Dennis

[John Shuk]

Nice piece Ken. As a critique I think the finish is a bit too much for the piece. It is a bit glossy for my taste and I think you may have been more well served with an oil non film forming finish. I think this would allow the Maple to mellow with age and would bring out the warmth of the wood.

[Ken Vonk]

Thanks for the critique. I like the softer look too. I thought my daughter might like the gloss finish because of her like for oriental things. Are you talking about a tongue oil or something similar. I am only familar with wipe on poly and CA so far. I prefer the look of the satin wipe on poly but am wanting to learn about other finishes, how to apply them and when to use them.

Thanks,

Ken

[Keith Burns]

Ken, what an ambitious undertaking ! The wood choices are perfect. The finial is great and fits the design. I really like the stand. Overall its is a wonderful piece, like others have said, copy or not. A couple of things show up it the profile though. The lid doesn't set flat on the top. The second thing is you seem to have lost the curve in the middle half of the body. Avoiding flat spots will come with practice. You can use a small straight edge and roll it on the side to help see them. Those are two small things. Like I said, you have done a great job, especially with only 8 months turning !

[Bernie Weishapl]

Ken that is a beauty. I wish I could have turned something that nice after only 8 months. The only thing I noticed was the lid not sitting flat. I like the gloss on it. It really makes it stand out.

[Horst Hohoff]

Great piece, Ken!
I wouldn't dare to publish anything I made 8 month after taking up turning.

Horst

[George Guadiane]

I like everything about this daring piece...


But the finish, and here is why:
The finish isn't the same across the whole piece. The cover/finial are glassy smooth, and on the base, you can still see the grain. The vessel, with it's voids is great! It is an OUTSTANDING piece for anyone, especially with the amount of time you have at turning. If you get the grain smoothed out on the base/stand, and give the whole thing a semi-gloss+ finish, I would consider it for best in show.
JMHO
G