Here’s a different variation of an enclosed bowl. Instead of making it with just one type of wood I opted to make the main piece out of Birch and then creating a ring out of Walnut.

The bowl is about 5″ in diameter and 2″ tall. It is finished with tung oil and then buffed with the Beall Buffing System.

This was another one of those pieces that didn’t sit around too long. My daughter visited the same day that I finished it and she quickly laid claim to it.

Here are a few more photos:

Continue reading 'Enclosed Birch Bowl With Walnut Ring'

Woodworkers the world over seem to be the jovial type so in keeping with this tradition here’s a bit of woodworking humor to help you get you through your day:

An old timer is looking at some tools at the local building supply store, and picks up a hammer.  “Don’t make these like they used to,” he tells the salesman. “I’ve had the same one for over fifty years. Just had to replace the handle six times and the head twice.”

Alex and Benny had been woodworking buddies for almost eighty years, and one day Alex speculated on the possibility of there being woodworking in heaven. Both agreed that whoever died first would come back and tell the other if there is. As it turned out, Benny died the next day. Exactly one month later, Alex woke up to the sound of his name being called.

“Alex! Wake Up! I have good news and I have bad news!” cried the ghost of Benny to his friend. “The good news is that woodworking is everywhere in Heaven! No matter where you go, there’s an open shop. They always have the latest tools, everything always cuts perfectly, joints practically join themselves! It’s paradise up there!”

“That IS good news,” Alex said. “But what’s the bad news?”

“You’re scheduled to give a demonstration on dovetails tomorrow at 2:30.”

And here’s a couple of groaners:

Continue reading '03/04/2010 – Woodworking Humor'

Here’s another Squat Pot with a Walnut flute that I was able to finish recently. It measures approximately 7 1/2″ in diameter and is about 2 1/2″ tall with the flute.

The wide top of the base gives the perfect place to display the great example of spalted grain (nature’s art) of this piece of Birch.

Like the previous one I made it is hollowed to about 1 1/2″ of the edge which gives the pot a weight that matches the expectation that the low, flat base implies.

Here are some more photos:

Continue reading 'Birch Squat Pot With Walnut Flute'

Here’s another fruit bowl made out of Ash that I completed recently. It is very similar to the one that I made for my daughter for Christmas. However, the Ash that I used for this one has a more brownish color.

The bowl is just over 10″ in diameter and about 2: tall. It was finished with only tung oil and then hand buffed.

The thin rim was strengthened a bit with a thicker roll around the very ridge.

Here are some more photos:

Continue reading 'Another Ash Fruit Bowl'