Tennessee Calabashes

These are all very nice, Michael. Well done! I agree about turning bowls when you've been challenging yourself with other, more complex work. Very satisfying indeed!

Awesome group Michael, the colors and forms are a nice variation on the theme. They each have their own character and voice.

Thank you John and Phill! Turning is the most enjoyable part of the process for just about any process. It’s nice to be able to focus on that alone. Though, I’m about to run out of my calabash roughouts, so I need to get busy!

Nice ensemble of bowls Michael! Can you explain the fuming process in a few sentences please??

Russ Braun said:

Nice ensemble of bowls Michael! Can you explain the fuming process in a few sentences please??

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Thanks Russ! Happy to explain the fuming process. I've been using 10% ammonia that I buy at ACE. It's the "regular scent" but is listed as Extra Strength, a jump over the standard 5%. I pour some ammonia in a glass dish and place it in a 5 gallon bucket, and then suspend the piece above the dish somehow (sit it on a glass, hang from wire, or whatever other method), and then put a lid on the bucket. I just use a big metal lid wrapped in tin foil to make a loose, but semi-sealed cover that's easy to remove from the bucket. I'll check the piece at intervals, and flip over as needed. Woods fume at different rates--I let the Cherry above fume for around 4 hours, and the White Oak for around 2 hours.