Turning of the Week for September 19, 2022

[Donna Banfield]

My selection for Turning of the Week for September 19, 2022, is "Alabaster Box" by Andy Chen. Andy has created a stunning work of art in this lidded form. Ribs of mesquite contrast nicely with the soft creamy tones of Alabaster in the lower portion. The form is finished quite nicely with a finial that has visual appeal without too many beads and coves that would distract from the pure and simple beauty of the Alabaster form below.

Turning Alabaster is quite challenging. I've never worked with this material but know enough from others that it can make quite the mess in your shop. Top-quality dust collection and personal respiratory protection are essential. Perhaps Andy may share with all of us some tips and tricks to turning this material.

Beautiful work, Andy. This made my choice for Turning of the Week a genuine pleasure.

 

[Lyle Jamieson]

Great choice, beautiful work by Andy!

 

[hughie]

yup its a stunner for sure, well done

 

[hockenbery]

@Andy Chen great piece ! Congrats

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Andy always sets the bar so high the rest of us can only look up in admiration

 

[Bill Boehme]

Congratulations, Andy. That really is spectacular. And who else, but you would have considered segmenting alabaster?

 

[Russ Braun]

Great choice Donna, Andy’s effort is top shelf for sure!!

 

[Greg Carles]

Nicely done. True professional !

 

[Linda Ferber]

Outstanding choice, congratulations

 

[Andy Chen]

I apologize for my tardiness in responding to all the accolades and praises I received on this box. I am on my way (driving) to Chicago for the segmenting symposium. Thanks, Donna for the honor and everyone else for you compliment. I watched Max Krimmel's demo on turning alabaster in the 2005 AAW symposium at Overland Park, KS. He invited the audience to come up and try it out after the demo but I don't think anyone took him up on that offer even though they say the best way to turn alabaster is to do it on someone else's lathe. Frankly, turning it on the lathe is not the bad part. You just need to sharpen your turning tools consistently or use carbide cutters. It is cutting the segments that really presents a challenge, as with segmenting wood but several orders of magnitude more difficult. With my years of experience of working with Corian I felt I was ready to tackle alabaster. Unfortunately, that was not the case because Corian does not chip off nearly as easily as alabaster. Alabaster has hidden fractures. So, it is an absolute requirement to wear PPEs. I feel fortunate that I was able to finish this piece.