Root Ball and resin bowl

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ChrisNeilan
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Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by ChrisNeilan »

Thought I would share my latest project. I turned this bowl from a Yew root ball. I cut the bush down 18 years ago, and dug up the root ball 5 years ago. I stabilized it with Cactus Juice, plopped it into a mold, and through several pours, filled the voids with Alumilite resin of several colors. This piece was hard as stone, literally! It had sand and stone embedded in it. I destroyed at least 5 carbide inserts (have to call Cap'n Eddie and restock!)and shortened a few bowl gouges. In the end I am quite pleased. Finished with Ack's Sanding Paste (a new sanding paste that I really like) and Shine Juice.
I will release a video after I edit what has to be 20 hours of turning into a watchable length!
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Root Ball 1.jpg
Root Ball 1.jpg (278.02 KiB) Viewed 18829 times
Root Ball 2.jpg
Root Ball 2.jpg (419.78 KiB) Viewed 18829 times
root ball 3.jpg
root ball 3.jpg (244.21 KiB) Viewed 18829 times
root ball 4.jpg
root ball 4.jpg (177.71 KiB) Viewed 18829 times
Chris Neilan

Shopsmith Mark 7, Shopsmith Mark V 1982, shortened, Shopsmith 10 ER; Craftsman table saw (1964); Powermatic 3520B lathe
RFGuy
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by RFGuy »

Gorgeous! I had to Google what Cactus Juice is since I am new to bowlturning...
📶RF Guy

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algale
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by algale »

That is stunning!
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!

Hobbyman2
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by Hobbyman2 »

nice!
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BuckeyeDennis
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by BuckeyeDennis »

That’s a fabulous bowl, Chris ... it looks like it’s made from nice big burl! How big is it, anyway? Amazing that it didn’t rot after 13 years in the ground.
Gene Howe
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by Gene Howe »

Yew did a great job, Chris. It's gorgeous.
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wa2crk
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Re: Root Ball and resin bowl

Post by wa2crk »

I never cease to be amazed by the variation in grain structure of root and crotch stock. I never turned root stock but I have turned crotch stock and either of them are VERY hard. The twisted grain makes it extremely difficult to keep the tools under control. But, Chris, you did a magnificent job.
Bill V

PS Chris, you may want to try this site
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/BC32 ... %20inserts
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