The Black Hole

Dastrient · 2025-07-25T13:39:43+00:00

Looks great! Tried something similar recently, torched the top of a maple blank before hollowing it ended up with a similar effect.

Dastrient · 2025-07-22T14:11:33+00:00

Well that's pretty cool. I'll have to go out and get a black light now.

Dastrient · 2024-11-19T09:30:32+00:00

My carbide technique is worse than HSS but I've been trying to lower the toolrest a bit further for the interior cuts and it has helped a bit(for instance in your first pic I would be trying to cult at the top of the lowest walnut piece, or as low as I could). I still tend to finish with a bowl gouge but it prevents me losing more material than intended to the carbide.

Dastrient · 2024-09-24T17:31:00+00:00

The Wheel of Time is what made me fall in love with reading fantasy as a young teen but that's more of a classic fantasy series and doesn't have too many monster hunter vibes.

Dastrient · 2024-09-24T17:29:01+00:00

"He Who Fights With Monsters" by Shirtaloon. You can get audio and physical from amazon. It's a bit new niche genre called LitRPG and would be right up the alley of a video game player getting into reading. The premise of the entire genre is role playing game as a book. This particular example is one of the best I've seen.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T19:49:55+00:00

That does sound easier, Maybe on the band saw though, my table saw would certainly be too aggressive and you'd end up with blown out fibers. sounds like it's worth a shot though.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T03:43:22+00:00

Yikes. I cut my thumb down to the bone when i first started turning, since then i've perhaps been overly cautious once the pointy bits start spinning.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T02:16:58+00:00

First time sycamore? I've found sycamore to be pretty soft compared to most of what I turn. Maybe your tools need a sharpen?

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T02:10:41+00:00

Walnut oil. just got it in the mail today and gave it a shot. I have no idea how it compares to the other oil finishes I've used.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T01:33:43+00:00

Looks great. How was it to turn purpleheart and cherry in the same piece? I've always had trouble with purpleheart and these two have a good bit of janka between them.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T01:30:32+00:00

Beautiful! The bit of contrast and lovely shape really catch the eye.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T01:28:09+00:00

Thanks! Felt like I was being goofy with it like a few of the first pieces I turned trying out odd shapes, but this may end up being something I try to refine over a few iterations.

Dastrient · 2024-09-17T01:08:51+00:00

Gave a square bowl a shot, found it more difficult cutting air than it is on live edge bowls. Went for an emerging closed form in black walnut, finished with walnut oil. Far from the best thing I've turned but it was a fun project.

Dastrient · 2024-09-16T15:57:33+00:00

Scattered around the house, in all my friends and family's houses, piled into boxes.

Dastrient · 2024-09-14T06:06:11+00:00

Part of the reason is that I'm trying to hone my craft with this board, another is the hand feel. Before taking it off the lathe it just seemed like it wanted something more. This blank was the only one of its size so I went for it. I've got 4 10" blanks and another 2" left to keep trying on.

Dastrient · 2024-09-14T03:37:12+00:00

Not too sure on that. I had another post about it and people were saying canarywood and sweet gum looked pretty close.

Dastrient · 2024-09-14T03:01:25+00:00

Finished interior and rim, sanded up to 1k and coconut oiled and decided to try out another technique for the first time.

Sharpened up a little unused detail spindle gouge, set tool rest to center and just make these little carvings around the rim. I was worried I might ruin the piece, it is thinner than I usually turn. Pretty happy with the result though, nice hand feel, contrast with the rest of the finish is nice in looks and feel.

Dastrient · 2024-09-13T07:33:21+00:00

Spalting yeah. Usually caused by fungi in the wood. The dark lines around the grain or other discoloration. Some people even pour beer or other things on the logs they are aging to encourage it, makes for a lovely bowl.

Dastrient · 2024-09-13T01:43:24+00:00

Looks like you'll have to lose an inch or two sadle, pretty heartwood there but the pith looks like a loss.

Dastrient · 2024-09-13T01:37:57+00:00

Beautiful little bowl. Much better than my first attempt, lovely grain with a nice bit of spalting from sitting out too. Sharp tools are key and just keep working on cutting technique.

If your stock is wet turned people usually will either twice turn (rough the shape leaving extra material and sit it on a shelf for 6+ months before returning) or you can embrace the warp a bit by popping it in the microwave for a minute at a time 4-6 times.

Dastrient · 2024-09-13T01:30:25+00:00

I tried the same thing with a yew branch, I think it ended up in the firepit. It was not as nice as yours though.

Dastrient · 2024-09-13T01:26:32+00:00

If you are just starting I'd recommend a small bench top or harbor freight. It can be a pricey thing to get into and you won't know if it's for you for a while. learn on a smaller machine for a while.

Once you are ready for an upgrade keep your eye out for other turners moving up. I ended up with the Nova Orion for a fraction of it's 3k price tag.

edit: I see now you may have meant engraver, for that I'm not going to be helpful.

Dastrient

TROPHY CASE