Wed 14 Apr 2010
Dear students -
If you believe that God has allowed you access to a college education then you would want to be a good steward of that which is provided by that education. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many students, many very well intentioned, lose focus on the stewardship of their education and don’t nearly receive the return that they should on it. Invariably it is accountability that determines the return on your education.
Personal Financial Stewardship, Ed C. Anthony, p. 16
Wed 7 Apr 2010
During the snowmageddon event of 2010 a Chinese Elm tree came down. This particular Chinese Elm was planted by my great-grandfather at the house then being built by my grandfather. The tree hadn’t been in the best of health for the last decade or so, but was a lovely tree and served well for over 60 years. Some pieces were salvaged for bowl making operations.
Here is how a rank amateur roughs out a bowl out of sopping wet elm.
At 10:30 I fired up the chainsaw and started making some flat spots on this log.
At 10:37 the blank is roughed out. Normally a bowl would not go through the heart-wood like this does but since this is a crotch section of the tree and has end-grain on all four sides I am hoping it might work out. Time will tell.
At 10:43 the blank is mounted up between centers on the Powermatic 3520b. It’s a little off center but not bad. This lathe has plenty of weight to dampen it. The blank weighs in at about 35 pounds.
At 11:03 the blank is rounded off and running true. Time to dial up the speed a little.
At 11:16 the bottom of the bowl is taking shape and a tenon is cut for the chuck jaws. Time to reverse the mount and grab it by the bottom end. It’s a little heavy to get in the chuck, fortunately my good friend Mac stops by just in time to lend a hand.
Hollowed out with a nice sharp bowl gouge. I’ve never turned anything this heavy before so I left a center post in place for tail-stock support. It may get too warped to use that when dried, but it can be cut away easily enough.
Now it just has to dry for 6 months, then go back on the lathe and get round and thin.
Lots of blanks end their lives at this stage since they are prone to severe cracking and warping.