Thread: 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.



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.

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.

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.

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
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.