Don't You Hate it When

You've inadvertently created a "feature" and a unique product - a Christmas tree ornament AND a rattle. Use it as a product differentation item in your advertising. If you're going to sell you stuff this marketing advantage will come in handy!

charlie b

Leave it - adds intrigue...

...Kevin

Charlie,

That's so funny.. Just last night during the "fundamentals" portion of our club meeting, I was demonstrating how the skills used for boxmaking could be used to make an ornament and a baby rattle!

Non woodturning types have no idea that the globe ornaments can be hollowed out, even if the ornaments are very light in weight. I and some other makers (including Bob Rosand, I believe) put a dry split pea or two into the globe before glue-up. This lets the curious know that the ornament has been hollowed out. Now they wonder how that can be done. Ed.

When I was selling ornaments I always intentionally added a tiny wood cube to rattle around in there. So many folks in the general public are incredibly ignorant about wood and it was worth sales to be able to validate their suspicion that the lightweight ornaments MIGHT be hollow. Plus it made it easier for them to show it off to their friends, "Look, it's hollow," (shake, shake).

-mike paulson, fort collins, co

Now that's a good idea. I know what you mean about them not having a clue of what they have in their hands. I know some are so uneducated that they don't understand that a maple ball with an ebony icicle is not accomplished with paint. Hollowing is completely out of their sphere of referenece.

You may have something there...

Robert

That's right. When I first started selling them, I had them hanging on the wires. Now I hang them on a little 3-foot tree so they won't ask how anything with a two-inch spike can be a good top. Second question is always "how'd you get them so light?"

Split pea ornaments, here we come.

I'm fortunate that the few who fawn on my ornaments are not wood savvy and don't know that my work is ordinary. Of course, they may be suppressing their malicious glee about my ignorance re their hobbies. Insider distain if well hidden or in good spirit is usual and acceptable in most special knowledge groups, but they need to be careful not to bite the hand that feeds them. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

====>But how does he turn the tiny wood cubes? Is this like the pierced ball within a pierced ball?*G*

Leif

I think this would call for a "I meant to do that", George... (great market in cat toys)

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

simple.. turn round shapes and have the elves hammer them gently square...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I TURN my body so my back is to the lathe, and then I TURN on the bandsaw. Easy!

Now you are a dual function artiss