Circle of life

[Gargamel]

Or, also known as Taxidermy For Trees.

I planted this (Silver?) maple tree 35 odd years ago as a little kid. There were 6 flower pots I planted from the Helicopter seeds that had fallen of our tree in Mechanicsburg, PA. I think 4 of them sprouted, and we transferred them from house to house as we moved a few times while growing up. The last move, only one of the remaining 2 could be moved again, and it ended up in the front yard of our house. That was 25 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a good sized tree for a front yard.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/goestrider/CF7B6477-A8ED-44B8-860E-846DB4715A7A-101-00000000A2E1AAC4_zpswapyapcp.jpg


Last year, I collected 3 more seed pods, and now have 3 saplings growing in the back garden, eventually looking for a final home. Most likely my back yard once I get settled in my new place.

Tonight, my father and I were talking, and I mentioned I was going to get the snips out and take down a couple small branches to eventually make pens out of. He said, just take that whole lower limb, it always gets in the way while you're mowing. So I did. Ended up with a whole bunch more wood than I can ever use in pens.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/goestrider/55300725-A634-45D0-A792-79EB83A97E4C-101-00000000AB37FD2B_zpsbbm1ztps.jpg

So tonight, I turned a bowl from the wood. It's technically an Ambrosia Silver Maple, as the dark streaks are from the residue of the Ambrosia Beetle, makes for good figure in the wood. The wood is so green, the wood was splattering on me as I turned it. The bowl feels like it was just dunked under water for a while, it's that wet. I can see the moisture slowly working it's way out. I know it will warp, and that's ok, it will give it a natural melted look to it. But I can't even sand it yet.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/goestrider/2694F5C6-1268-4B0C-BE15-35EF626EEA2B-101-00000000B6E7FC42_zpsx8qimx1e.jpg


http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/goestrider/06BED606-16ED-426B-BBA5-2ACE9A37347F-101-00000000C65C98BE_zpswah3218z.jpg



And yes, I used the reciprocating saw to cut a tree. Chainsaw is out of commission right now.

[Onkel Neal]

Subscribed :up:

[Wolferz]

That's going to look really nice once sanded and sealed.:up:

[Eichhörnchen]

Here's something you might be interested in:

http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/made-in-tonbridge/tunbridge-ware.htm

My maternal grandfather was one of the last craftsmen making Tunbridge Ware

[Penguin]

That's pretty cool! I'm always a little jealous at folks able to do carpentry work, as I probably would have chopped off both my own arms trying to make the bowl. :D

[Gargamel]

That's pretty cool! I'm always a little jealous at folks able to do carpentry work, as I probably would have chopped off both my own arms trying to make the bowl. :D

My bowl turning technique is still very...... green. ::rimshot::. It scares the hell out of me turning bowls still. I need to learn better technique.

[Jimbuna]

I predict successful outcomes here :sunny:

[Aktungbby]

My bowl turning technique is still very...... green. ::rimshot::. It scares the hell out of me turning bowls still. I need to learn better technique. https://media.giphy.com/media/QerCtrc8wyoKc/giphy.gifThink of it from the bowel's perspective ...and stiffen yer rimshot's resolve! https://67.media.tumblr.com/c72824f0b93936223726a045396999c9/tumblr_nojm0rZnVP1s0jr9fo1_400.gif (https://www.tumblr.com/search/pottery%20scene#):arrgh!:

[Gargamel]

Well this is wood turning, not pottery.... so... instead of 100 rpm, the wood is turning upwards of 4000 rpm, so the photo would just be a blur....



In fact.... I think I might try this with my go pro.....

[Gerald]

Good work here.:yep:

[Gargamel]

Finished cutting it up, sealed the ends in wax to keep them from cracking. Lotsa good blanks in here. I even see a Baseball Bat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087781/?ref_=nv_sr_1) in there.


http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll203/goestrider/569E5A15-83EC-40DF-9C0A-325C81CA6FB8-1898-0000013083B299D8_zps4fdom1bo.jpg

[em2nought]

Thread got me poking around to find that there's still a Meat Market with my dad's name in Carlisle, PA.

Circle of life. :up: