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First Hollow Form

Dan Blankenberg

Dan Blankenberg

Joined
Mar 29, 2023
Messages
51
Likes
66
Location
Rushville, NY
My first hollow form made from gifted Maple Burl. I have been blessed with wonderful mentors that share outstanding knowledge and material! 7.25”w x 4.25”h hollowed through 1.5” opening. Finished with danish oil and Hampshire sheen. The wall is 3/8” thickness.
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Dan Blankenberg said:
gifted Maple Burl
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What a generous gift.

Nice piece! Surface and finish look perfect too. It’d be nice to see it in person - from the photos the chatoyance in the wood looks almost deep enough to make you dizzy! (the rate things are going, some day we’ll all have 3D stereo cameras and monitors/glasses to view such pieces)

Did you use handheld tools or a hollowing rig? Have any in-process photos?

JKJ
 
John K Jordan said:
What a generous gift.

Nice piece! Surface and finish look perfect too. It’d be nice to see it in person - from the photos the chatoyance in the wood looks almost deep enough to make you dizzy! (the rate things are going, some day we’ll all have 3D stereo cameras and monitors/glasses to view such pieces)

Did you use handheld tools or a hollowing rig? Have any in-process photos?

JKJ
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I'm very fortunate that my mentor has a wide selection of hollow form tools that I could play around with to complete this work. In the end, my preferred tools were the John Jordan 1/2" hollowing set and the Trent Bosch 1/2" radius scraper. I will be purchasing my own set of these tools very soon! I don't have any progress photos, next time!
 
Dan Blankenberg said:
I'm very fortunate that my mentor has a wide selection of hollow form tools that I could play around with to complete this work. In the end, my preferred tools were the John Jordan 1/2" hollowing set...
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That's some of the joy of all this - sharing tools and wood! (and watching progress!)

And that's a great set. I got the 1/2" set plus his handles and arm brace from him a few years back. (sure miss that guy) I don't use them much since I mostly do smaller things from dry wood and have some other sets. (I've got a little story about John and dry wood for some other time.) I like the Hunter tools as well. Had the Jamison rig but passed it on - running out of space!

A few new turners have had no tools (a couple with no lathe at first) or come with really bad tools. Oh my, one guy came with a gouge that looked like it was sharpened on the way over by holding it out the car door against the pavement. I want to see the tools to know how to proceed. I also want to eventually see their chucks, jaws, centers, etc. Nosy, eh?!

But I would far prefer people use my tools and not run out and buy a bunch of things prematurely and be sorry later. Better to try the different options before deciding! I keep some spares they can borrow to use at home. (and spare copies of my favorite books to loan too)

I look forward to seeing more of your work!

JKJ
 
Great job, Dan! The shape and proportion, the wild grain...! I could stare at that for a good while. Your craft is creating art here for sure.
 
John K Jordan said:
(the rate things are going, some day we’ll all have 3D stereo cameras and monitors/glasses to view such pieces)

JKJ
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(Sorry for this sidebar, Dan, the temptation was too great.)

JKJ, the world has already been there and done that! (I've not looked for the modern day equivalent.)

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Steve Tiedman said:
JKJ, the world has already been there and done that! (I've not looked for the modern day equivalent.)
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Ha, I still have some of those in a box somewhere. And don’t forget the diverged eye technique to see stereo - became popular when RDS (random dot stereograms) were all the rage. I was so fascinated I started calculating the angles and drawing image pairs of 3D shapes on paper to view without aids.

But I guess for now the best way for to experience the chatoyance on Dan’s piece is to drive to NY and hold and turn it in the hands!

JKJ
 
@Dan Blankenberg As noted by everyone already ... great job on your first hollow form - even if it was your 50th hollow form.
You might want to rethink the use of "Berg" as your signature (I assume that's what it is). I realize that "Blankenberg" (or Dan or D.----) is longer to write/engrave/etc., but if you're proud of your work you should use your name. Just my 2¢. :)
 
Tom Gall said:
You might want to rethink the use of "Berg" as your signature (I assume that's what it is). I realize that "Blankenberg" (or Dan or D.----) is longer to write/engrave/etc., but if you're proud of your work you should use your name. Just my 2¢. :)
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I understand the problem with long names and as such I long ago started signing "Don W" versus "Donald Joseph Wattenhofer" or even if I left out the middle name it would still be excessively long. My advice would be to sign "Dan B". The photo below should explain it better then words since that base is about 2" in diameter.21052GobletD.JPG
 
Don Wattenhofer said:
I understand the problem with long names and as such I long ago started signing "Don W" versus "Donald Joseph Wattenhofer" or even if I left out the middle name it would still be excessively long. My advice would be to sign "Dan B". The photo below should explain it better then words since that base is about 2" in diameter.View attachment 70705
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I understand, and I'm lucky to have a short name in that regard. But there is plenty of room on your example if you use the center for the date and/or inventory number. "Don W." --- there are a million Don's (or Dan's). "D. Wattenhofer" --- a lot fewer for sure! Besides, a few years (or months) down the road only you will know who made that piece ..... maybe - (depending on your age) !!! 😂
 
I like to write the stuff in a circle.

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To get it to look right, I first draw the circular space on paper with a compass and practice before going to ink.
There is a lot of room around a circle.

The 2" circle on one gift piece easily fit the words "In memory of xxxxxx and xxxxxx xxxxxx", my name John K Jordan, the wood type, and the date. With room to spare.

JKJ
 
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I've taken to just using my initials- SMT, and the species of the wood, and the 4-digit year. I use a very fine point permanent/archival ink pen to write on the bare wood, give it a couple minutes to make sure it's dry, then oil over the top of it.
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Dan, you've deservedly gotten a lot of positive comments on your hollow form, and that sure is good for the ego. But if you really want to become a fine turner, you'll need to shrink your head back down to standard size, look at that piece really hard and say, "OK, what don't I like about this? What could be improved? What do I want to try on my next piece that'll make it even better?" Since this is your first hollow form, maybe even, "How did this blessed accident happen? How can I do that again?" Then go turn 50 of them.
 
Steve Tiedman said:
I've taken to just using my initials- SMT, and the species of the wood, and the 4-digit year. I use a very fine point permanent/archival ink pen to write on the bare wood, give it a couple minutes to make sure it's dry, then oil over the top of it.
View attachment 70733
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The MIcron pens are what we use too - got a set with assorted sizes. The pigment ink is fantastic, doesn't fade. If I have some dried oil finish already on the piece, I just brush it lightly with 0000 steel wool, write, then when dry apply more oil finish on top. Or sometimes just write on top the finish - seems to work ok.
 
Blankenberg is a wonderful name Dan, don't shrimp on it, be proud of it !!
I sign my pieces with my name (Leo Van Der Loo) and have learned to write real small if needed :). I hope.
As I am 1000 miles from my home (I'm in Ottawa) I had to take these pictures from the forum, but you can see that I was able to write in odd places and real small with a pyrography burner, they stay forever.

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Oh I'm still drooling over your wonderful hollow form, beautiful !
 
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Leo Van Der Loo said:
Blankenberg is a wonderful name Dan, don't shrimp on it, be proud of it !!
I sign my pieces with my name (Leo Van Der Loo) and have learned to write real small if needed :). I hope.
As I am 1000 miles from my home (in Ottawa) I had to take these pictures from the forum, but you can see that I was able to write in odd places and real small with a pyrography burner, they stay forever.

View attachment 70864 View attachment 70865 View attachment 70866.
Oh I'm still drooling over your wonderful hollow form, beautiful !
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Thanks so much, Leo! Hope your staying warm!
 
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