Bowls 2000–01
01 / 20
Sometime in 2000 I started to explore the relationship between wood and plastic. The first three pictures represent that early effort. I was taking plastic tubes and inserting them into the rough bowl and turning it. The problems to be overcome were way past what I thought. The right glue, the right amount of glue,…
02 / 20
…the proper dryness of the wood (wood shrinks when it gets drier, but the plastic doesn't, and the center portions of the circle of wood were falling out) in addition to getting the groove in the wood the proper size. Eventually I resolved the production problems with a custom made jig that cuts a…
03 / 20
…perpendicular groove to .001" width. After al that, I then had to figure out how to hold and polish the plastic. I tried dozens of combinations plastics and polishes. In the bowl above I used 8" PVC pipe.
04 / 20
I turned a 4" square thin wall piece and set it on a plastic foot. I was looking for a different relationship between the mediums.
05 / 20
This was my first attempt at using a router to create details not possible with straight turning. I also inserted a plastic bar into the bottom. The result was terrific. The piece is about 4 1/2" square.
06 / 20
As usual I get carried away with what can be done as compared to what should be done. I combined Zircote, Bloodwood, plastic and silver wire. It took me the better part of 2 days to shape the legs, make the plastic parts, turn and assemble. All in all it was very worthwhile.
07 / 20
This is the bowl that changed everything. I envisioned a bowl with many inserts around the edges. The grooves had to be cut exactly and the inserts had to be just as exact. I also didn't want to give up the plastic idea. This was in June of 2001 at the time of the AAW (American Association of
08 / 20
Woodturners) convention in St. Paul MN. I realized that the lathe that I had, a VB36, was not sufficient for what I wanted to do. At the convention I looked at all the lathes that were available and chose the "STUBBY" lathe sold by John Jordan. As usual, I really lucked out. This is a magnificent piece of equipment.
09 / 20
The bed is movable and swingable, enabling me to establish multiple centers. The results were amazing. I designed and had built a router jig that can swing arcs, cut grooves and carve areas.
10 / 20
Using my router jig I made a perfect sphere and hollowed it out. The hollowing process was accomplished with a jamieson hollowing rig (don't ask), which is another great idea. I eventually I hit on the idea of a rimmed platter. Initially the designs were straight forward. Single axis with both horizontal and vertical grooves, as seen in two previous frames.
11 / 20
The bowl above represents the culmination of much experimenting. It has multiple centers, an open foot and textured sides. The details are impeccable. To produce this form great repeatability is required as it is necessary to move between centers during the processes. This led to refitting the lathe with a system to locate the jig in multiple locations.
12 / 20
This detail shows the great precision that is attainable. The trapezoidal elements, elements that I have since come to call petals, are exact. The horizontal bands, each .050 larger than the previous to create a perspective and culminate with an undercut. The undercut has since become a standard feature.
13 / 20
This is a view if the bottom of the bowl in the previous two frames. If you enlarge the picture you will be able to see the texturing on the sides more clearly. The openness of the foot also becomes clear. There is no glue or post assembly. This is all one piece.
14 / 20
I wasn't ready to give up the plastic with this new form. I moved the petals outboard of the bowl, skipped some cuts, added and insert AND plastic feet that appear on the inside of the bowl. I thought it was very clever. When I showed the result to Jacques Vessery his suggestion was, lose the plastic. Oh well!
15 / 20
Still, look at the form. The curves are all tangential and the plastic shines. I really had it down!
16 / 20
The great thing about the Stubby lathe is that it enabled me to locate centers off the centerline of the lathe. To see what the lathe looks like, with the modifications and additions, see the "Harvey's Studio" folder. This piece has a center located outboard of the bowl, creating the outward petals. This also has an open foot.
17 / 20
Along the way I also experimented with other forms. Usually during the week, an idea popped into my head or I saw a picture of someone's work. When the weekend came I tried to create the image. In this case it was a picture of a bowl done by a turner named Hans Weisflog. While he does it by hand, I attempted it using my jig. His is better.
18 / 20
Under the unrelenting influence of my wife to make things simpler, I made this piece. No foot, no decorations other than a thickened rim. I think she was on to something.
19 / 20
This is another example of a multiple center piece. I maintained the square form of the original block of wood and flared the top, while making the petals internal. This form, without the square part, also found its place in my repertoire.
20 / 20
The idea here was to make the foot a continuation of the inward curve if the bowl. The idea was simple but it took three attempts to get this result. I inserted the pink plastic for contrast. It sort of glows in the overhead light. Mostly what I like about this piece is the photo. 3/04- In retrospect this period set the stage for most of the next three years.