Anyone feel adventuresome?

[dicklaxt]

I always wanted to do this but never got around to it.I would do it in a heartbeat if I were able.

Here's what I had in mind,get a bunch of sound,dry tree limbs/branches, same wood hardness would be important I think, from say 3/4" to 2" diameter and slice off a bunch of 3/4" to 1" thick pieces cross grain with bark on or off, your choice.If you leave the bark on get some CA and make sure it is all secure. Get a large bowl of a shape you like from the kitchen and turn it up side down on a throw away flat surface of your choice,wood ,metal etc,cover the bowl with a plastic wrap to protect the bowl as you will need to return it to the kitchen later, after success or failure that is,LOL.Get your slices and CA and start building/stacking up the branch slices around the bowl (make a pattern if you like or do it by random size placement,using the bowl as a form).Once you have this all done, mix up some 30 minute epoxy that you have mixed a dye powder in, color of your choice.Butter the mixture into the voids between the slices,I think black would be regal in the end result.Once the epoxy sets remove it from the form,figure out a way to jig it up and slice off the bottom parallel to the top rim,you might be able to do this on the lathe.Get a bowl base material and turn a base with a rabbited edge that is a snug fit to the shell you just made on the form and epoxy it in place.Once this is all dry and cured chuck it up and turn the custom one of a kind bowl,make sure you follow all safety precautions as this thing may come apart but I don't think it will.If an open segmenterd bowl will hang together so will this.I accept no responcibility if this things hurts or mames you, proceed at your own risk.

I really think it would be a unique bowl design and a conversation piece. It just might sell for a good buck or two as well.

Polish to your hearts content.Chicken Chit if you don't do it.

Here's a pic of a 9" tall vase I turned that had a black dyed epoxy impregnated with aluminum shavings from a saw.This epoxy didn't even think about coming loose,it is about 1/4" thick if I remember correctly.



dick

[TDHofstetter]

Either I'm chickenchit or I'm not very fond of segmented stuff, one of the two.

[Ruffnek]

I'm not overly fond of segmented stuff but I may give this a try one day. I think the black epoxy would make it unique...not unlike a huge cast pen blank. ;D

[maverick31]

sounds like it may be a challenge but may be a great conversation piece. I may give this a go. I have a piece of pecan and hickory that will be dry enough in a few months to try this with. I may do it a little different than he described though. I was thinking of building a form say 6 x 6 x 3 inches tall. randomly throw these discs in glue up a layer with the epoxy then keep building up layers untill I reach my height. I have a face shield so I aint skurd

[Doug B]

That's interesting Dick. I hope somebody tries it out, but I'm too shicken chit to attempt it ;D

[dicklaxt]

Cody,Clay and Doug and any others I hope you all try it,you may cuss me before its over but I'll bet it will be a thing of curiosity to see.

dick