End Grain Hollow form in Wych Elm

[Nick Simpson]

I had to travel to Ullapool to find this piece. It is 22.5 x 5.8 cm end grain Wych Elm.
There is none of this wood available in my area. I am grateful to Mark Sutton for directing me to Alec Mutch near Ullapool. What a nice man. Sometimes you meet new people and just wish you had met them sooner; Alec is just that man.

I wanted to show as much of the pattern as possible so chose a flattish hollow form. I've little experience with this form and no previous experience with flat end grain HFs, so welcome any constructive comments. I did think about a lid and finial but decided that it would detract from the fantastic natural patterns. Wall thickness is 10 - 15mm.  I was frightened to go too thin with this wood in end grain . It can be seen to be checking around the knot close to the opening. The spalted section was very punky and would not take a scraper without chunks falling out despite a soak in thin CA glue.



Constructive comments to help with more of this will be gratefully received
Regards
Nick

[Tom Sherman]

Nick, I have heard of folks using a mixture of 50/50 white glue (Elmers here in the states) and brushing it on to the punky areas with good success, I have never tried it myself. I have used very sharp tools to cut with light cuts not scrape with varying degrees of success.

[Lazurus]

That is a difficult shape to undercut inside, I like the form but feel the wood was not very sympathetic to work with, knot and punky patch to cope with.

[Dave Atkinson]

Hello Nick

I like the form, finish and timber.  If I'm being really picky there seems to be a tool mark around both the neck and the foot.  And also just inside on the base it looks a bit uneven. (told you I was picky!!)

I have a swept back 5/8" bowl gouge which I hone and then take a cut with the edge of the wing at around 45 degrees.  It's a shearing cut and is sometimes helpful when the timber has a tendency to tear out.

I've also found a dose of 60/80 grit helps with spalted areas 

Cheers Dave