Woodturning With Negative Space – Whoops What Happened?
FYI, This post is also on YouTube, Vimeo, and FaceBook, Best right here!
I started this project to explore a bowl form with negative space. My plan was to turn twelve long thin spindles and form them into a bowl shape.
Turning twelve similar spindles is a challenge so I kept the profile very simple. In addition, variation in spindle thickness would bend very differently. I used air dried cherry that I split so the cuts would follow the grain.
Bending was a challenge. I divided the spindles into two batches of six. Then steamed each batch for 20 minutes in a pressure cooker. After a full cycle, I bent the spindles around a plywood form and clamped them to dry. However, even with splitting the wood, many did not survive the bending. Many split as they bent. Perhaps the curve was too great.
I turned more out of another half log of cherry. These I rough cut on the band saw trying my best to follow the grain. Most of these also broke or split when turning or bending. Many broke instead of splitting, indicating low strength in the wood.
I needed still more to replace those that broke. I grabbed a kiln dried board of cherry and turned two more. The grain was very straight and turned nicely. However, when steamed, the first immediately split. The other did not want to bend. I steamed the other again immersed in water. This one finally bent easily but still split.
Disaster had struck. Plan “B” was long gone.
Enjoy!
Enjoyed the video. It gave me a few chuckles this morning. Some good tips!! Could be a spider bowl???
I thought about a spider but that would be too common. 🙂
Alan
Oak is your best wood to steam and then bendI have done a few stems on canoes and small ones as well
Oak is your best wood to steam and then bend
I have done a few stems on canoes and small ones as well
I plan to try oak. I have successfully bent cherry before – But this batch was a problem!
Alan
Alan,
A few years ago I successfully bent some small(about 1/2″ square cross section) poplar spindles by soaking them in water, wrapping them in a piece of wet cotton towel and heating them in the microwave oven. The bend radius was not quite as short as that in your cherry spindles. Worked very well. Might work for other woods.
That is a great alternative process that I would use for wood that does not fit the pressure cooker.
Thank you
Alan
Yeah, but I bet your skew skills are magnificent now!
More practice is still required. 🙂
Alan
Hi Alan;
Have you ever tried using “Cold-Bend Hardwood” (Compwood) for bended pieces like you are turning in this video? It is available from: Pure Timber LLC, 5418 Wallochet Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, Washington, USA 98335. Att: Chris Mroz
http://www.puretimber.com/
1-253-988-2046
It is available in most popular North American hardwoods.
Regards,
Allan Cusworth
A matter of fact, I have checked them out. I plan to try it sometime when I can afford it. 🙂
Alan