Desert Ironwood is one of the hardest and heaviest woods in the world, and this log came from a subscriber! Thank you, Larry! Consequently, this piece was commissioned for him. He also has no idea what the finished piece looks like, so he will see it for the first time in this video, which might make him my new favorite customer!
This project presented many challenges, not the least of which was the requirement for stabilization. Although the finished piece showed very little resin, it was impossible to mount the log safely on the lathe with those deep cracks running through. So, that meant filling voids and stabilizing the entire piece by drowning it in resin. Although I generally prefer to remove the bulk of excess resin using carbide tools, I had planned and hoped to use traditional tools to refine the shape once it got down to the bare wood. In what little experience I have, what I am always certain of is that traditional tools are vastly superior to carbide tools when turning wood, and the finished piece would be 99% wood. However, the freshly sharpened bowl gouges were dulling immediately, causing the tool to bounce on the uneven surface. Oddly, however, the bowl gouges were only useful on the end grain. I fairly certain that the desert ironwood on the side grain was harder than the resin. I'm probably wrong about that, but that's what it felt like.
There were a number of refreshing changes that this piece allowed for me, and one of those what the opportunity to use a traditional oil/wax finish. This vase was not required to be waterproof, so that opened up more options for shaping concepts. Resin finishes have a hard time adhering to sharp angles and edges, which means resin finishes require continuous curves. I wanted this piece to feature a sharp transition between the slender curve up from the base to the swooping under curve of the neck. This shape allows for the end grain to be featured as well as the side grain of the heart wood. This piece would have become too narrow if I had turned away all of the sap wood (the lighter wood). The blue resin also ended up growing on me. I thought it might be too loud of a color choice, but I think it adds a subtle detail that doesn't take too much away from the natural beauty of the wood.
Let me know what you think of this piece! Comment below and smash that like button! I love to read the comments, and I respond to as many of them as I can. Also, your engagement helps support my goal of funding a new workshop. I'm also considering opening a Patreon page where I would offer exclusive perks like added voice-over commentary on my videos, consultations, frequent shop updates, behind-the-scenes content, and much more. Let me know if you'd be interested in something like that.
Thank you @TotalBoat for providing the epoxy used in this video:
TotalBoat Thickset Fathom Deep Pour Epoxy: www.totalboat.com/collections...
TotalBoat Tabletop Epoxy: www.totalboat.com/products/ta...
TotatBoat Clear UV Cure Resin: www.totalboat.com/collections...
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REFERRAL LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE:
Starbond Clear Thin CA glue: amzn.to/3z0sZdz
Starbond Clear Medium CA glue: amzn.to/3Bb6aqr
Starbond Clear Thick CA glue: amzn.to/3oqiXxE
Starbond Activator: amzn.to/3v9r8Ca
TotalBoat Penetrating Epoxy: amzn.to/3zr1MSH
TotalBoat Thickset Epoxy: amzn.to/3PtTkrw
TotalBoat Tabletop Epoxy: amzn.to/3oke5tQ
Carter & Son 5/8" Bowl Gouge: amzn.to/2G5YV5g
Crown Diamond Parting Tool: amzn.to/2NIqsOj
Tormek T-8 Sharpener: amzn.to/30D2iKA
Easy Wood Tools Carbide Cutter: amzn.to/3z6E6Db
Easy Wood Tools Carbide Cutter: amzn.to/3yH6JVN