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December 2025 Turning Challenge: Single Tree!

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Michael Anderson

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Hi everyone,

Given we are within the busy holiday season, I wanted to get this challenge posted relatively early. And, I wanted the challenge to be something that most people can finish in a reasonably short single session at the lathe--of course, depending on how complicated the piece this may not be true.

So, without further ado, this month's challenge is to turn a tree. The official title of the challenge is "single" tree; what I mean, is that final photograph you submit can only be one single tree. However, that single tree can be made from many parts. It can be simple or complex, natural wood or embellished with other techniques, big or small, etc. As usual, the sky is the limit for your creativity.

Here are a few pieces for inspiration (made by Jay Hostetler, Bob Henrickson, and Andy Henderson, respectively):

JHTree.jpeg

BHTree.JPG

AHTree.jpg

Here are the challenge rules, as determined by AAW Forum legal counsel Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe:
  • Entries must be posted in this thread by 11:59 PM Coordinated Universal Time (ish) on Monday, December 29, 2025.
  • Your entry must only include a single tree (groupings of trees will be disqualified).
  • You can post up to two photos of your tree in this thread. Please don't crop your images tightly (meaning, leave a bit of room in the image so I can add your name later).
  • Your turning can be any size, and can be embellished or natural. There are plenty of opportunities to get creative here, so feel free. Include the dimensions in your entry post.
  • As always, this is a turning contest, not a "moldy oldie" photo contest, so in fairness to everybody, make sure your work is something you have made since this challenge was issued on December 4, 2025.
  • You may not post any photos of your entry in this month’s challenge in any other thread or in the gallery until the voting has ended and a winner has been declared. Your are allowed to solicit information on mounting strategies though.
  • Voting will take place from December 31, 2025, through 3:59 am Coordinated Universal Time on January 2, 2026.
  • Solicitation of votes will result in disqualification.
The winner might have to pass a lie detector test before collecting the grand prize: this month is my Spruce Christmas tree from last year--it's seasoned, cracked, dry, and may be more trouble than it's worth. Oh, and you have to pay shipping.

Good luck, have fun, make shavings, and let the chips fall where they may!!
 
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Jay Hostetler here, thought I was registered for the forum but had conflicting emails and passwords, took me a couple days with the help of the AAW staff to figure this out...much easier to turn a tree! So, posting late, still need to add my profile, but wanted to make a post and thank you for using a photo of one of my trees as an example. That one is a 150 year old barn beam with the hand hewn marks on the base. I like making trees in order to make trees "live" on. I understand what Don is saying about live vs. dead, I still like using live edge but understand natural edge.

Here's a 14" x 3-1/2" Dogwood, first time turning Dogwood, lovely wood. Another reason I like making trees is you can use so many odd species, have folks give me a piece of their favorite tree, once again it can "live" on in their house.

IMG_4439.jpegIMG_4441.jpeg
 
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