Ruth et al

Ooops! Senior moment! Yesterday was my 24th anniversary, also my wife's, I love a coincidence. The web page is

Hi Darrell; You didn't ask me, but I looked at the "so far" aspects of your page and think it's great. Don't scrap it. It makes one consider all the options. Here's a couple of mine.

1. Split it just an inch or two, end to end, off to one side of the three piths. Put a tenon on the thickest cut side and turn a face grain natural edge bowl out of it. This would allow you to cut down into and reveal the widest and prettiest part of the crotch feather.

1. Put a tenon on the biggest end, balance the two branches to get the center aligned along the middle of the edges of the two branches and turn a natural edged, end grain vessel. It may turn out to have two angel wings with both feathers showing up between them.

Hope this was clearer than a mud hole. (G) Best Regards OB in Pensacola, Fl.

PS; I really liked your comment > Ruth

Hi Darrell, I've used a bit of crotch wood before - usually making bowls or platters. You have to be careful in doing a bowl or platter that the center where the flame figure is, remains the inside bottom of your object. Otherwise you loose the figure. I have a couple in progress atm, and will see if I can take a picture today or tomorrow and send. --Jim M.

Assuming that since you posted this on a public forum, anybody can jump in other than Ruth, I would say keep going. I would like to see, instead of the reddish oval overlays, an actual turning of the type you're talking about in each picture that is semi-transparent and use that for the overlay. Preferrably, use a lighter color like a yellowish color instead of red if you need to. Also, it would be nice for you to have a more contrasting background in the photos. I can barely make out the outline of the wood in question against the ground especially in the overlay pictures.

In image im00x731.jpg you've got a red line separating the crotch into 2 halves and write about making two bowls, etc. from each side. For those that are new to it, it would make things much clearer how those would be positioned in those 2 halves. Again, an overlay (preferrable an actual picture instead of just an oval or line drawing) would be nice.

Keep it up,

- Andrew

Ah, I misread the intent of the post. Yes Darryl, keep going, the page looks good.

Thanks for the input folks. The "et al" in the heading means that this is certainly for everybody. As soon as I figure out how to do a line drawing instead of the red overlays, which were a quick and dirty solution I grant you, I will do so. The problem with putting an actual picture of the proposed piece up there is simply that it is still proposed, not turned. But I will work on something. Keep those suggestions coming, there seems to be an interest.

Darrell - I think this is going to make a great "how to" page for those who never turned crotch wood before. Even better if you picture more finished pieces next to the shaded areas - to show what it will finally look like for each cutting plan.

John

Talk about your coincidences.........my wife and I were married on the same day.............and all of our anniversaries (32 of them now!) have all been on the same day..........July 4th! Ain't that weird?

Barry

Ruth I think it is cool too! Thanks for the comments on the page. I roughed part of that piece and will get it up soon as I can. This was a good idea on your part.

Barry All of our anniversaries are on the same day too. What are the chances of that? Take that all you statisticians! :-)

I think this is a great page. I end up getting wood and ask the same question now what. I don't have years of experience to make good decisions, so the question is how to cut it up. I took a turning class and the instructor said " now you just use your imagination" My thought was I am dead meat, I don't have one. I guess I would make a good forger or copier. Nothing original. I will be watching to see what you do with it. It would be great if you could think outloud as to why you are doing it the way you do. To me it would make a great reference site.

I think this is a great page. I end up getting wood and ask the same question now what. I don't have years of experience to make good decisions, so the question is how to cut it up. I took a turning class and the instructor said " now you just use your imagination" My thought was I am dead meat, I don't have one. I guess I would make a good forger or copier. Nothing original. I will be watching to see what you do with it. It would be great if you could think outloud as to why you are doing it the way you do. To me it would make a great reference site.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. I plan to "think out loud as I turn this. It is a good exercise for me as well. Besides which, the whole thing is fun. by the way, imagination can be trained or exercised to a usable tool. Maybe that is something to work on as well in a now page? "I would have done it dear, but I have no time."