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January 2026 Turning Challenge: Bernie Hyrtzak Wins!

Pick your favorite!

  • Bernie Hyrtzak

    Votes: 22 56.4%
  • Rick Moreton

    Votes: 4 10.3%
  • WH Seelinger

    Votes: 13 33.3%

  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .

Michael Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
TOTW Team
Joined
Aug 22, 2022
Messages
2,098
Likes
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Location
Chattanooga, TN
Hi everyone! This month's turning challenge involved turning and bending wood. Although participation was low, the three qualifying entries were wildly different and wildly cool. I am impressed by each one for various reasons. Thank you for participating @WH Seelinger, @Bernie Hrytzak, and @Rick Moreton!

Now, the challenge for all forum members (this means you and me) is to choose a favorite. Voting begins now and concludes ~11:59p UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) Monday, 2 February, 2026. You are allowed one vote; once you have voted, you won't be able to go back and change your vote. After you have voted, you can track the vote totals. The voting is secret (just like an actual election), so nobody else can see who you voted for (not even the moderators/administrators). In case of a tie vote, the forum moderators will gather in a virtual waist-deep green shavings-filled shop to determine the winner.

As in all previous challenges, the winner might have to pass a lie detector test before being awarded the Grand Prize (rumored to be a dogleg spindle roughing gouge).

The following are this month's entries. FYI, you can click on each image for a larger view:

HrytzakBernie.JPG
MoretonRick.jpg
SeelingerWH.jpg
 
Big congratulations to @Bernie Hrytzak for his piece being chosen as the people's favorite. It's vibrant and unique (I would also find the final turning to be nerve-wracking). Well done! Thanks also to Rick and WH for their efforts, and to everyone else for voting. Stay tuned for February's challenge announcement coming soon. Cheers!
 
I know that this does not compare to the artistry and skill of Bernie's piece, not to mention to late, but I came across this goblet form that I had done after receiving the dogwood at our August 2025 meeting. The goblet form was the only project I could think of for such a small diameter piece of wood and I think the one on the right meets the criteria of the challange .


Dogwood4.jpg IMG_1834.jpeg
 

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  • Dogwood6.jpg
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Hi everyone! This month's turning challenge involved turning and bending wood. Although participation was low, the three qualifying entries were wildly different and wildly cool. I am impressed by each one for various reasons. Thank you for participating @WH Seelinger, @Bernie Hrytzak, and @Rick Moreton!

Now, the challenge for all forum members (this means you and me) is to choose a favorite. Voting begins now and concludes ~11:59p UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) Monday, 2 February, 2026. You are allowed one vote; once you have voted, you won't be able to go back and change your vote. After you have voted, you can track the vote totals. The voting is secret (just like an actual election), so nobody else can see who you voted for (not even the moderators/administrators). In case of a tie vote, the forum moderators will gather in a virtual waist-deep green shavings-filled shop to determine the winner.

As in all previous challenges, the winner might have to pass a lie detector test before being awarded the Grand Prize (rumored to be a dogleg spindle roughing gouge).

The following are this month's entries. FYI, you can click on each image for a larger view:

View attachment 84689
View attachment 84690
View attachment 84691
Excellent work!
 
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