Hi Gang, I've got a couple of burl caps and have a question or three about turning them. What do you do with the spiny things (they probably have a name)? Do you leave them on or remove them? If you remove them, how? I've got one type of wood that has a fairly smooth exterior that's kind of attractive. Also, I'm not sure if the cap should face up or down. Ideas please? Thanks.
Steve Sarasohn
Yes.
That's the short version of this ...
Do what you want. Almost all of those questions are one of design. Design is up to you. Do a search of other woodturnings that use these burl caps and see what strikes your fancy. Immitate it if you need; innovate if you can. Do whatever you want. I've seen them done, successfully, all different ways that you've mentioned and more.
The only question that isn't one of design is concerning the removing of the "spines" if you are so inclined to do so. Actually, it's a question very dependent on design but ....
1) You can leave them on, of course. Makes for quite an interesting and eye catching feature. Incorporate it into the design of the entire bowl if you want. Use it. Put more (maybe contrasting color/size/style) spikes on there to compliment or fight with them.2) Use a gouge and turn them off as you would anything else.
3) Clip them off so that the spike rises up and then abruptly ends. Again, makes an interesting effect in the right burls and piece of design. You can do this with toe nail clippers, knives, or shears. Turning gouges could work too but I've not been too successful in getting a clean cut. You'll also have different lengths of spikes (assuming your turning them partially off and not using your gouge as a carving tool ).4) Burn them off. Another interesting effect. Torch individuals or groups a little to burn off the tips.
5) Smash them down. Use a hammer or just the back of a skew (is there a back? hmmmm) to hit them.and so on and so on and so on.....
- Andrew
Steve,
The [non] answer is "whatever you want to do". All options have been done with good effect.
Outer face up, the spiny things up can work on a natural edge piece if they scale out right and some of the points remain. It's dissapointing when they line up in the wrong place and you turn them off leaving just a bumpy, but not spiny, edge. Outer face down, if the cap is very symmetrical then they can look good as the rough outside of the bowl if the inside and top edge are very refined.
If you do not want to incorporate a natural edge then face down will probably give you a bigger bowl for your money. That may not be the best option, though.
Look at the direction and symmetry of the rays in the burl. It is entirely possible that with the outer face of the burl to the top of an open bowl you may get longer streaks of figure up the sides but with the same bowl made the other way you will get more roundling things. It will depend on the shape of the bowl, the shape of the burl, the size and density of the figure, and what you want to achieve.
The only solid advice I would offer is not to focus on being efficient with the wood to get the biggest bowl possible, but to orient and shape it to get the most pleasing bowl from it. That's a much better value in the long run.
Hope this helps.
David
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