What could quite possibly be the Ugliest Spalted Oak Vase in existance...

Hey Greg, that looks good. What else are you doing with the log?

Paul.

I must be aesthetically challenged. I think it looks great. Good work.

RonB

Looks great to me. I've not done it myself, but the rigs I've seen used in deep hollowing sometimes had very long handles, sometimes an additional rest farther back along the ways with provision to prevent rotation of the tool, and sometimes a special arm brace/handle which provides more grip against tool torque. If you're anywhere around Southern California, I come by a pick up the "leftovers" from that log, and haul it away for free!

Odd-looking oak, that's for sure. Looks like walnut.

I wondered about that too. Regardless, it's a long way from butt-ugly.

Dave in Fairfax

Two votes for artistic. We had to think about whether or not we liked it. That makes it "art". Not necessarily likable -- but art.

:-)

Nice wood.

It ain't Oak, and it ain't ugly...it's kinda nice....It sure does look a bit like Walnut, and if it had been tapered a bit more at the bottom and maybe had a bit of shaping at the top to give it a hint of a 'neck', it could have been even nicer.

That's what I said when I wet it down with alcohol to look at the grain. But believe it or not, it's pin oak. It was a lot more oak colored before I applied the tung oil. Then it became very dark, and the reds sort of popped out. There is even a violet streak or two to further confuse. This piece was laying in a swamp for a year or two.

Greg G.

Thanks, Dave

Greg G.

Hey!.... Kinda like people in newsgroups, not necesaarily likable, but artsy. ;-)

It must be the viagra leaking into the swamp from the local chemical plant. :-o

Thanks,

Greg G.

I'm afraid it's pin oak - we have two standing in our back yard. It looked a lot more like oak until I applied the tung oil. Then it turned almost black, then lightened up somewhat, 'cause I left it in the sun for a day. The colors are almost entirely due to the spalting and whatever chemicals have leached into it from the ground water and surface run-off. It was recovered from a swampy area near our home.

As for the shape, I was going to give it a necked flair at the top, but SWMBO said she wanted this plain shape - go figure... And a heavy, broad base so that cats wouldn't knock it over.

I have a plastic liner to be inserted inside for holding water, my experiences with poly coatings have been WAY less than positive.

Thanks,

Greg G.

Folks,

You'll have to excuse the break >I must be aesthetically challenged. I think it looks great. Good work. Thanks,

I'm getting used to it... I think I like it... The colors continue to be dynamic - it's like a mood ring.

Thanks, Greg

gpdew said:

I've seen the RS2000/3000 - looks like a bit of overkill for a Jet Mini. I just need to fashion up an extended platform rest or some kind of deep tool rest for doing these sorts of things. I know I won't do another until then, however, as this one about killed my wrists. The lack of leverage and control was not pleasant.

I'm sure you wood. Unfortunately, I live in the vast unwashed red states of the Southeast - and although we do travel to Santa Barbara and Groveland on occasion, the shipping would be prohibitive. ;-)

One advantage (?) of living near a large city, is that the trees are systematically eradicated in lieu of tacky McMansions, more pavement, and new strip malls filled to the brim with crappy Chinese Imports.

I'm always tripping over logs and felled trees. The sidewalks are littered with these damned spalted birch logs. We've burned 5000 pounds of this stuff and it just keeps coming. Huge holly's, neatly sliced walnut burls, maple crotches, you name it - we've burned it... :-o

Thanks,

Greg G.

Let us know how it works out. ;-)

And actually we did like it too. LOL

Good stuff!

Are you sure it is oak? It looks like Walnut to me - It is not ugly, I have seen much worse in my own shop!

Ray

Thanks, Ray. And believe me - I have many, many ugly things in my shop - not the least of which is me.

As for the Oak vs. Walnut mini-debate, look at this close up of a portion of non-spalted wood and make your decision accordingly. Freshly cut with a 1/2" gouge, and not sanded. There is a streak of visible spalting running up the right side.

Greg G.

I think the definitive view is not available. One of the characteristics of Quercus spp is the presence of strong medullary rays. While there appears there might be ray figure in the first, without some idea of scale we might just be looking at pores.

Take a small piece, split it radially and see if it has prominent rays. If it does - bog oak. If not? How far north are you? Lots of walnut orchards around Sacramento and north.

Greg

At close range, the stuff still looks like walnut - maybe I need stronger glasses!

Ray