Thread: Latest brush - Rhodendron and 22mm horse knot

After a while away from the lathe, I have been dabbling with turning again.

I read about the horse knots that some folks are using, and I ordered some from Virgina Sheng.

I can't figure how to rotate the image.




here it is next to a Semogue 1800 for size comparison.

The wood has some history: I live in a place called Steveston - and I live across the street from the old Steves family farm, after whom the 'town' is named.

About 8 years ago we had a bad windstorm and it blew over a bunch of trees in the neighbourhood - including a 100 year old rhododendron from the Steves front yard. I ran over and scrounged some of the wood (wood tuners disease). A section of the main trunk was probably 12" across. I grabbed a lot of main branches - all around 3 to 4 inches wide.


Rhodendron is relatively hard, turns well and is very similar to boxwood - but not as heavy.

I finished this with 4 coats of Tru-oil.

The knot seems pretty dense - i REALLY stinks - very mothballs - I lathered it up three times with Proraso and then soaked it in dish liquid and borax. seems to be de-stinkifying....