Oak burr vase

[Les Symonds]

This was quite a challenge to turn. A lump of semi-dry oak burr saved from the end of a slab that made a few good bowls, but it had its problems. The angle of the natural edge meant that it had its problems; mainly that it was completely out of balance. Added to that was a big lump of punky wood right in the middle of the natural edge, so trying to pin it between centres to support it during the roughing out stage was pointless. In the end I settled for a very slow speed and light cuts....it took 2 hours to get it shaped and hollowed.
10" High and finished with BLO.....looks a bit like a waffle-cone for an ice cream!

C&C always welcome....Les

[bodrighywood]

Right up my street Les. Obvious what I think. Very brave to take it that thin as well.

Pete

[bernuk1]

Love it Les-inspirational and aspirational for me 

Mike

[edbanger]

Love that Les Ding-Dong 

All the best

Ed

[Derek]

Now I like this one well done on persisting with it

[Walnut Les]

Well saved Les, I say that as I don't think many turners would have seen or had the patience to turn the vase out of punky wood.
so well turned mate. Les

[Les Symonds]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments....much appreciated.

.... Very brave to take it that thin...

Thanks Pete, but to be honest, it wasn't planned. The initial process of getting the blank as near to in-balance as possible, was slow and boring, in the process, the wing at the top of the vase, slowly changed shape and curled into the vase a bit. I could have lived with it, but the front-lower-right part of the vase was still much too thick, so I kept plugging away at it. Ironically, once thinned out, the wing then bent outwards, which is just visible from the profile photo.

Les

[bodrighywood]

That sort of wood can so easily become firewood so you have done well. Lovely piece.
Pete

[Bryan Milham]

Les, I've looked at this several times and just love it.

Reading your description of how you made it and the movement in it, I think you should call it 'Serendipity'.