I had a chunk of figured maple that I knew was going to have awesome chatoyancy, and it was about the right size for a small bowl. I've never done a finial top lidded bowl, so I figured what the hell?
I turned the bowl body first, then used a vacuum chuck to hold the lid blank well enough to cut a lip on it, then used the bowl body as a jam chuck to finish the lid. The cats eye is just awesome. The pics clearly don't do it justice, I had a piece of walnut for the finial, but it ended up being all checked when I got it turned down, so I found a really pretty piece of sapele. I feel like the finial is a bit chunky, but it's my first attempt at it, so I'm not too upset. Sanded to 600 then, finished with homemade friction polish and a little Renaissance wax.
First time with this type of bowl, first time with the vacuum chuck and transfer tail stock insert (neat setup!). I did learn the limits of the vacuum chuck, which is probably a good thing too!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
I think the principle BLING for me, is that patch of grain that isn't perfect. So many would have selected it out, and that is ok too. But leaving it in, makes it a focal point, and I am an, embrace the imperfections guy. So it's like a becon shining in the night, saying lookit me. And Ma Nature makes no mistakes, so it is beautiful. Otherwise some crazy wild fiddleback grain.
