First handful of items I've made.

[Rlewisrlou666]

I'm having so much fun and learning a lot but running out of scraps.

This is one of the bigger chess pieces I made.


Some Pawns


Other Chess Pieces


Small Bowl


Bigger Bowl

[Graham]

Looking good, its fun isn't it 

[Rlewisrlou666]

It's so much fun and relaxing too.
The main problem I have is I need a mountain of wood to make all the things I want to make.

[Graham]

I know what you mean. Wood doesn't grow on trees. 

[woodndesign]

Hi Ryan,

 Judging from the chess pieces you look to be mastering the forms and rolling some nice detailed shapes, (like the highlights Pawns) not the easiest of pieces with having to repeat the exact form so many times, it's with time and these are good practice, but you'll get there.

When you said "running out of scraps", I see here you've glued up some blocks for the bowls, good job there in itself. Like the design of the small bowl, the cross grains set it off on the inside and gives the outside an interesting contrast, plus with the beads and dark lines.

Big bowl, equally fine for where you are and with the limited equipment you have, lacks the detail, but the knot and grain makeup for it. Design and finishes are things which come to us all in time.

Well done so far.   David

[Rlewisrlou666]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I had a few boards lying around that I bought as shelves that became the bowls and I had a few 1x1 offcuts that I used for the chess pieces.
I need to get some blanks to have a go at something that hasn't been glued together or limited by size as to what can be made from it.
Any ideas on where to look for fair priced blanks?

[Bryan Milham]

Ryan,

Wow what an interesting first post, you have been busy and you had definitely got the turning bug. The only know cure is to keep at it until there is nothing left inside you, you want to make. Never seen it work though!

Pine is not always thew easiest of timer to turn although like you it's where I started, so keep at it and keep posting.

Well critique your work, Good and Bad, but we'll be trying to help you develop your skills and techniques.

Bryan

[Graham]

Have a look at woodturningblanks.co.uk They are a small family sawmill and excellent to deal with. Best price for blanks I have seen.

[georg]

     These look good Ryan....And welcome
      Think you will find its just as much fun searching for wood
      as it is turning it.
      Have Fun
      Tony and Di

[woodndesign]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I had a few boards lying around that I bought as shelves that became the bowls and I had a few 1x1 offcuts that I used for the chess pieces.
I need to get some blanks to have a go at something that hasn't been glued together or limited by size as to what can be made from it.
Any ideas on where to look for fair priced blanks?

Ryan

As you've been turning as Bryan has mentioned Pine, you can't go wrong on practicing with more of the same, if clean and straight, keep to spindle work for the moment, improve your cuts off the tool, don't rush keep an eye open for bowl blanks for later on ... yes we all rush to make bowls, concentrate on like said the spindle work .. make dozens of chess sets ..   ..

Regarding Blanks, you can google turning blanks and find suppliers,even ebay, who will mail, not the cheapest way and less you know them, you can't be sure of the quality, always nice to pick over timber.  

And yes .. it grows on trees, plus no limit on size, only what you can handle and as a source has in the long term to be dried or turned green, left over size to again dry (less time than in the whole) or turned thin even wall to finish and left then hopefully to survive drying, can move to interesting form than first turned.  
  
Cheers  David