The Perfect Christmas Gift-Tamarack Bowls

 

 



Brian and I made a special delivery this weekend, just in time for Christmas. Susan and Rick had to take a tree down on their cottage property this summer and wondered if one of the logs could be made into bowls as a gift for their daughters.  The tamarack tree had been planted by their great-great grandfather more than 100 years ago. 

 

Brian sawed the log down the middle lengthwise with his chainsaw and cut each half of the log into a circle.  It was his first time working with tamarack, which is a softwood, and he found it had a distinctive wide grain and golden colour. 

The bowls were roughed turned and waxed to slow down the drying process and prevent cracking. 

Brian used the nesting tool on the lathe to maximize the use of the wood and turn four bowls from each half of the log.

After months of drying, each bowl was chucked, mounted on the lathe and turned.

Weeks of shaping, sanding, oiling and polishing resulted in a smooth, food-safe finish.

Natural knots, wide grain and the variation in colours of the darker heartwood and lighter sapwood add to the beauty of the bowls. 

 

A tree which has been been part of the cottage for generations is sadly missed when it is removed, but it will be with the family for generations once made into bowls.  They can be stored by nesting one into the other.  Susan and Rick's daughters will have bowls for large and small salads, rolls, snacks and nuts.  And each time they use them, they will be reminded of their cottage and the property they love.  The perfect Christmas present!

 

 

Summit Centre Exhibit: Eucalyptus Burl Bowl

Eucalyptus trees, found in Australia, are among the tallest trees in the world.  In a trip to Western Australia, Brian and I travelled through forested areas and marvelled at the enormous gum trees which were occasionally covered with burls.  Brian mostly works with Canadian wood but was drawn to the striking reddish heartwood and light sapwood of this beautiful eucalyptus burl.  Brian worked with the natural shape of the burl to create a stunning piece of art with a food-safe finish.

Eucalyptus Burl Bowl

For more information about the Artists of the Limberlost Exhibit at the Huntsville Summit Centre until April 15:

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/press.html?todo=viewnews&newsid=93



Black Walnut Table with a Bark Edge

Brian was inspired to make this beautiful table when he purchased slabs of a black walnut tree. Even in its raw form, the character of the wood shone through. Black walnut trees are straight-grained with a rich chocolate heartwood and creamy white sapwood closer to the bark.  The bark of the black walnut tree is grey-black and deeply furrowed. 

  

Brian used two boards, milled from the same walnut tree, which had defined figuring, intact bark and were free of cracks.  He cut the boards closer to one edge, leaving about 6 inches on the narrower side.  These smaller pieces were used for the skirt of the table.  Brian glued the two pieces, clamped them together and fashioned legs out of black walnut.

The result is a beautiful table with a lustrous finish, rich colours, unique grain variations and a live bark edge.

Black Walnut Limb Platter

Black walnut is a deciduous North American tree with deeply furrowed black bark. These slabs, cut on the diagonal through the limb, have distinctive dark brown heartwood and lighter sapwood on the outer edge.

The variations in colour from butternut to dark brown with visible growth rings made a unique platter.  Brian experimented with a raised lip, offset from the centre, with great results.



From the raw slab of wood to the finished platter--beautiful.  I can imagine cheese and grapes arranged on the outer edge and crackers in the centre bowl.  Appetizers never looked better.

Turning Ash: Bowl and Baseball Bat

Brian has turned white ash only a few times in his life.  Ash is straight-grained, open-pored, and strong, with a high level of shock resistance.  These characteristics make it the wood of choice for baseball bats, canoe paddles and hockey sticks.

The colour of ash heartwood tends to be pale white or yellow but the dark brown sapwood of this ash bowl give it a distinctive, interesting look.

Its appearance immediately makes me think of a baseball bat. 

Brian's introduction to wood turning was in his Grandfather's workshop, where he had his first opportunity to use a lathe.  Brian was 8-years-old when he turned this baseball bat.  It was just the right size for a young fellow and both of our sons played with it when they were boys.  Maybe when our granddaughters are older they will be the third generation of Markham's to hit a home run with Brian's bat.

Spalted Maple Tray

A few weeks ago Brian & I walked into the curling club and saw this slab of spalted maple leaning against the wall.  Brian loves when people approach him with logs, burls and interesting wood and ask him if he can do anything with them.

When the dead limb of the maple tree in Deane's back yard fell, it was cut into pieces.  Most were stacked for firewood but this one was set aside because of the interesting, contrasting colours of the decaying heartwood. As wood sits in damp conditions, an organic process occurs where dark lines run though the material.  The spalting process ceases when the wood is dried.

Brian wasn't sure if the maple slab could be turned, as the decaying process may have been too far along but he attached the circular faceplate and screwed it onto the lathe.

As the maple slab rotated on the lathe, Brian used a very sharp gouge to shave away the layers of wood and establish the final shape of the bottom and top of the platter.  The centre was a bit soft but with careful, thin shaving and buffing, a smooth finish was achieved. 

The first application of oil is always fun because the contrasting colours and spalting in the wood become very evident.  The oil is applied on the lathe as the tray rotates to evenly coat the surface and allow the heat of the friction to force the oil deep into the wood.

The bottom of the tray is very distinctive with a small round base and contrasting colours.  Many coats of oil were applied with time for them to dry between applications.  This establishes a very durable, food-safe finish.

Deane and Wendy were amazed with the beauty of the finished tray.  They do a lot of entertaining and look forward to serving cheese and crackers on the platter made from the branch of their backyard maple tree.