Learning the Turning #24

Huon Pine Rolling Pin

I'm not really that well versed in large spindle work.  However, I did find a nice 200mm square section of Huon Pine at the woodworking show, and I couldn't pass it up.  My lady had mentioned some years ago that she really needed a bigger rolling pin to comfortably roll out pastry (she's a cosmically superb cook) without bruising her knuckles or having to put too much pressure on it.  So weight's a thing, more is better?

It wasn't a surprise gift, because I had the foresight to ask her what dimensions she preferred.  Dragged the old one out; half again the diameter, same width, no crevices where food could get caught.

Sharpened the chisels, got to work, finished it over two days.  It's mostly a straight cylinder (I used a straightedge and my least-caffienated stance) and once again, I am absolutely thunderstruck at how beautiful Huon Pine is. Check out the grain in the second photo.

I did not apply a finish, leaving it to my lady to decide whether she wants to use olive oil, or butter, or cosmic unicorn cooking sauce.  I didn't have the faintest idea, to be honest.  But it's a rolling pin, of sorts.

Learning the Turning #23

Liquid Amber

Another lovely blank I acquired from the folks at Pops Shed was marked "Liquid Amber".  I'd never heard of that sort of tree.  I love learning new things (and I'm resisting the urge to add an emoji here).

The shape is another variation of the flared edge style, and this one comes with extra carved rings. The rings are a bit fiddly, cut with a thin-section parting tool.

Anyway this one behaved itself, so you're seeing the results here, unlike the last two blanks which evaded the light by punch-through.  I'd love to blame the blanks,but it wasn't their fault (Why am I seeing the lathe through the bowl?  Oh...).

This bowl did all the right things and I'm rather pleased with it.  Almost spalted in places, but I'm a new wood turner, not a botanist or arborist. I do take precautions not to breathe any of the dust.

Two new pieces of gear since the last posting -- a really nice magnetic clamp-on gooseneck lamp from Carbatec, and an all-singing, all-dancing powered fully enclosed woodturner's face shield from Pop's Shed.  I should have acquired these earlier, they make the work so much easier & thus more pleasant to do.

At no time did this piece fly off the chuck and chase me around the shop.  Still learning, it appears.