Category: Projects

On my last trip to my preferred wood supplier, he handed me a piece of Monkey Puzzle and challenged me to turn it. It was a cutting that, he said, would be uncommonly tricky and he wasn’t wrong.

As someone who can’t write (in teh physical sense at least) I do see the irony in wanting to give pen turning a go. The intricacy and precision required to turn the perfect pen appeals to me, especially as precision is harder to achieve on a wood lathe than machinist tools.

A decorative yet functional jewelery bowl, ring dish or trinket dish. Finished in a natural oil finish.

Sycamore, often referring to the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), is a striking and massive deciduous tree native to eastern North America. Known for its mottled, camouflage-like bark that peels off in irregular patches to reveal shades of brown, gray, and cream, it’s a familiar sight along riverbanks and in bottomland forests.

A matched pair of octagonal bowls in Tulip. The shape was formed simply by partially turning a square blank to form an octagon at teh top in which 4 of the edges are slightly curved.

Maple is prized for its creamy, light color and fine, even grain, making it a popular choice for furniture and cabinetry. It’s a hard and dense wood, known for its durability and resistance to scratches and dents.

Macrocarpa wood, known for its durability and distinctive aroma, presents a character that’s both rustic and refined. Typically ranging from a light yellow-brown to a richer reddish-brown, its color deepens with age, often revealing beautiful knots and varied grain patterns.

Beech wood, in its natural state, is known for its pale, creamy color, sometimes with a hint of pink or tan. It has a fine, even texture and a relatively straight grain, making it a versatile and predictable material for woodworking.

Rippled sweet chestnut, also known as “fiddleback” or “tiger stripe” presents a figure that arises from the undulating growth rings within the tree, creating a series of parallel, shimmering lines that appear to move and change with the angle of light. The wood itself is typically a warm, medium brown with hints of golden or…

Tigerwood, also known as Goncalo Alves, is a striking hardwood known for its dramatic, contrasting stripes that resemble the pattern of a tiger. The tree itself, Astronium graveolens, is a relatively large tree native to Central and South America, often found in the rainforests of Brazil, Mexico, and Guatemala.

A local tree surgeon was cutting down an Apple tree in the neighbourhood and kindly offered the wood for reclaiming. Having spent a couple of years seasoning and drying in the fresh outside air it has turned some lovely bowls.