Musing in praise of solid forms

I think it's disingenuous to speak of how graceful a "form" is - only if it's hollowed. Sort of like showing a picture of something, and, instead of letting it stand on its own, detailing how thin, how finely sanded, how many coats....

If it's pretty, and will sell, make it. If it's a chore, bag it. Only "hollow forms" I do any more are ornaments, where lightness counts. The others aren't good sellers, and I find no special joy in making them.

I've a couple of thoughts. Don Derry, who sells a gated hollowing system, says that the "art" is on the outside of the piece. Hollowing only gets the sawdust out of the way. Therefore, whatever tool you use, make the hollowing as easy and painless as possible.

As for solid shapes, I like solids that fell good. Spheres feel good. Eggs feel good. A few others feel good too.

The only call for hollowing is that an item might feel better when it is lighter rather than heavier.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

"Joe Fleming" wrote: (clip) The only call for hollowing is that an item might feel better when it is lighter rather than heavier. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ And, knock *gently* on wood, it may have less tendency to crack.

Returning to Arch's point: Some of us old, retired turners do it solely for pleasure. The pleasure is in the doing and the giving. If it stops being enjoyable, there is absolutely no obligation to force yourself. If, as in Arch's case, it happens to be spindle-forms--enjoy.

Leo - absolutely agree. I turn what I enjoy: solid or otherwise. My only point is that some shapes feel better to me hollow. Joe

A rather timely topic Arch. Bowls and platters are indeed a hoot. A couple days ago I got to thinking about the fun I have been having on my lathe. I say fun as I still enjoy the heck out of turning the bowls and the occasional small plate. The first thing I ever turned on my lathe (October

2003) was a mushroom on some found wood. After maybe 10 or 20 I started in on bowls and plates and those have pretty much been it as far as what was produced other than copious amounts of sawdust. Well I got to thinking about the finishing on my pieces. I see on websites examples that look to be made of glass as the surfaces are so smooth. I see - I want. We are a rather visually driven species. So I put the spur center in, drew the tailstock up on a piece of soft maple and started it spinning to see how smooth a finish I could get. The added bonus to the exercise was I will be left with a handle for something that has yet to be determined. It does seem that it is easier to a get a smoother finish on smaller diameter pieces than larger ones.

I do notice that much of the discussion on this group seems to be on bowls and such. Not a bad thing at all.. But I wonder if folks here ever slap a piece in just to make it round and remove nothing from the interior.

Hello Arch,

There are probably more woodturners making a living turning solid forms; i.e., architectural pieces than there are making hollow items. Serveral years ago, when I first retired, I did the craft shows regularly. Some of my best selling items were vase forms that were drilled to accept dry flowers. I used a 1/2" hole. The pieces were heavy, but people liked the shapes. My best sellers were from an old yew fence post. I called the pieces Fence Post 1, Fence Post 2, etc. until I ran out of the fence post. It is not necessarily customers who are so impressed by thin walled hollow forms--it is the other woodturners.

After about four or five years working the craft shows, I decided that I really like to write and woodturning gives me something to write about. I started More Woodturning in 1996 and found it more of a pleasure to do than it is to turn large batches of pieces for craft fairs. I've also written three books since

2000 and have a fourth in the works. I do lots of woodturning to test tools and work out ideas to write about. I don't have the stress of trying to make those thin walled vessels that is the rave among woodturners.

I say turn what you find enjoyable if you are turning for pleasure. If you are turning to sell you work, turn what people are buying. But always enjoy what you are turning.

Good luck with your new solid is beautiful approach. I fully agree.

Fred Holder

=============================== Arch, If you are a follower of Richard Raffen, you know he advocates doing forms for the sake of the form. When complete, he sprays each one black to keep any of the natural grain and coloration from detracting from the shape itself. If you do a series (or library) of shapes like this, you always have a reference for your chase for the "perfect curve". Unfortunately I still haven't found that perfection. {:-)

Ken Moon Webberville, TX