After a long winter...

...I was at long last able to set up the lathe on my balcony yesterday and have some brush handle-making fun. Reason #87 for getting the heck out of an apartment and into a house: seasonal woodworking restrictions.

Anyway, this will hold one of the 30mm high mountain white knots that have been taunting me since last fall. It's a big 'un. :)

Walnut, copper, faux ivory, finished in tung oil (2 coats on so far, many more to follow). What looks like a crack in the back there is just a bit of epoxy that dribbled there when I was gluing a dowel down through the centre.

Attachment 165808

Many thanks to Bill (pixelfixed) for the knowledge he has shared along the way. I would not likely have thought of stacking material like this without it, and had I actually thought of trying it, I probably would not have got it right. :chapeau

Beautiful workmanship! Thanks for the picture. Hope your woodworking & turning season this year is a long and satisfying one.

Wow,, That is a master piece. Perfect home for a HMW.

Very nice indeed,glad all worked out:)

The copper turns like the neighboring wood?
Very nice contrast.
I have trouble turning nice sweeping radii without bulges and swales.

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Originally Posted by Neckbone

The copper turns like the neighboring wood?
Very nice contrast.
I have trouble turning nice sweeping radii without bulges and swales.

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I'd say it turns, but not quite like the neighbouring wood. Throw in the faux ivory and you've got three different materials that behave in three different ways. I found the copper took a very steady hand with gentle cuts. Anything harsher tended to catch. I found using a file was helpful getting it to rough shape too. I have a crap lathe with even crapper gouges, so I don't know how it would behave with better tools.

"{I have a crap lathe with even crapper gouges,}"

This is encouraging. I have an old Craftsman lathe and tools. I have yet to fire it up. Bought some blanks and used some redwood to see if I can spin but haven't gotten serious about it yet. This brush handle leads me to believe I might be able to spin something nice someday soon.

Kris, That is beautiful !
Great job :tu
The copper is just incredible.

Mike

Nicely done. Being a metal man I would have to say you can't go wrong with a little metal.
Yes copper is a real bugger to turn on a metal lathe. I can imagine how difficult it was by hand!!
Well done sir!!

Ray

I was going to put some brass into an upcoming brush project - now I know what it supposed to look like when it's done right! Nicely done sir.

That's a sweet looking brush Kris! It's a very classy looking handle. The three materials flow together perfectly.

So what kind of wood is it? And where did you track down a 30mm HMW knot??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

That's a sweet looking brush Kris! It's a very classy looking handle. The three materials flow together perfectly.

So what kind of wood is it? And where did you track down a 30mm HMW knot??

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Thanks Andrew!

The wood is walnut, and I got the knot via alibaba from a Mr. Chen (who I'm not sure is still trading there). I bought it last year and haven't looked on the site recently so I'm not sure what the availability is like now. The other brushes I have made with his knots are now my favourites, so while it took quite a while for them to arrive, they were worth the wait.

Looks really good! The copper is a nice touch! Enjoy!

Striking! very well done and a great start to the woodworking season...