Learning the Turning #19
Camphor Laurel
A truly beautiful wood. This one reminded me of the giant Red Spot on Jupiter. Very spacy. The fragrance was otherworldly too, as I'd mentioned some time ago on another bowl. Camphor Laurel can provoke allergic reactions in some people, but it doesn't seem to have any affect on me. If you end up with this one, be wary of that, although the entire surface, inside and out (except for the circular mortise on the base) is sealed by the friction-melted wax finish. The melt was occasioned by burnishing the surface with wood shavings from the turning process, while still spinning on the lathe.
It's kind of nice once in a while to turn a bowl with absolutely no complications or catches or ineradicable chisel scars in the grain, and to have it turn out to be a truly beautiful piece of wood. The grain is iridescent in places, that is the apparent depth of the grain changes depending on the angle -- sort of like one of those antique plastic toys that showed two different pictures depending on how you tilted it. Remember those?
Anyway this one turned out rather nice, and I'm really quite pleased with it.
Looks beautiful and makes me harken back to my Tech School days when I was able to use the lathes when the teacher was absent (intoxicated/non caring) and wish that my situation allowed me to live the dream you are...
ReplyDeleteThank you Darren. Come on by if you're ever near Warburton and I'll show you how to turn a bowl.
DeleteAh, re-reading. Sounds like you've already been initiated into The Mysteries, Darren. Come on bt anyway :-)
DeleteIt's a beauty. Lovely when you carve down into a blank and reveal lovely grain and coloring like that. Does that make you an intrepid explorer into the micro-inner workings of wood?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Such a little thing, so huge in satisfaction!
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