This is a bowl with a built in pedestal attached.  I modeled this after Merryll Saylan who likes to make these types of bowls.  I attended a presentation by her on March 2016. This was made out of Pecan wood.  Gary

 New Pecan wood vase.  This wood is very hard to turn.  Very dry.  I made a different shape and finish as a result.  Gary

Wood Turning Poem by Gary Bingham

 

Turning Wood on A Lathe (a poem by Gary Bingham)

 

A hobby and for a small minority, a vocation

Wood secured to a spindle which moves in a circular motion at a high rate of speed

A wood turner standing nearby hopefully with a face shield and dust mask. 

The turner in many cases has a plan to produce a bowl, vase, ornament or other object

With or without embellishment

This activity involves many processes with a set of tools called chisels, resting on a piece of metal, called a banjo

The process is very physical and demanding

Involves constant decisions

Regarding which tools to use and how to use them

New techniques are learned along with ancient practices

Chips fly, dust envelopes the area

The process requires deep concentration.  A trance can occur in the mesmerizing stream of cut wood.

The process adds meaning to life through the power of creativity. 

Patience is required and the ability to deal with mistakes, failure, cracks. 

Correcting, resolving, overcoming design flaws is constant

The creative process is continued by sanding, applying finishes, polishing.

The joy of success in the finished product overcomes most life’s disappointments. 

 

 

 

I just finished making this week the two trees to the right. One is made of pecan and the other pinion woods. The tree ornaments were made by me over they years. Gary

I must face the prospect of turning this very hard Texas dry pecan wood.  Demanding.

 This is the first significant piece that I have made in El Paso, Texas.  It is made from a very hard and dry piece of pecan wood.  I did more grinding then cuting.

Ready to Turn Wood In El Paso, Texas

 

We are preparing to leave California so I have packed up most of the lathe room for departure.

Three iron wood modern design vases by Gary.

New items made on my lathe

New items finished.  Linda loves the bowl with a hole in it.  She put a candle inside it. Gary

Two New Creations to hold flowers or whatever.  Gary

These two pieces while drying decided to warp beyond repair.  Too bad.  Gary

Two new small flower vases.  Made from a tree limb.  Gary

Just finished two English Walnut bowls.  Thought I would throw in pictures of new flowers in garden.  Gary

I turned two new bowls.  They are finished with sanding sealer and bees wax, orange oil. 

This is a wooden cup.   I filled the cracks with brass powder.  This was a very large log to start with.  Too many cracks. 

These camphor bowls warped substantially in the drying process.  Part of wood turning wet wood.  Gary

Completed these three bowls:  red wood, carob and iron wood..  Trying to reduce my inventory of wood. 

Just finished a lamp I turned on the lathe.   The shade is from a giant Sequoia and I also turned that on my lathe.

The camphor wood was intoxicating while turning this platter with built in stand.  Gary