They were nothing fancy and really just a first trial run. But...they loved them and began having duels and fighting evil for the good of all mankind. My children even started naming their wands. Ben...the pine wand of power (far left), Sarah and Hannah...wands of unicorn horn (second @ left and far right), and Sam...well he was just happy to have a weapon of such power (middle).
My wife suggested I post pictures, so I did on facebook. A few days later I got requests from people I knew who wanted wands for their children (and at least one person wanted one for themselves!). So I procured a hardwood dowel and began making 12" wands. I even started experimenting with burning. I used picture frame wire and between the last two sandings turned the lathe up to speed and pressed the wire into the wood. Then finished sanding and put on a few coats of stain or urethane.
Take a look...
I also got a chance to do some really neat pens this summer. For some reason bullet pens were a big hit. For all those gun lovers out there take a look!
Ever turned on that hair dryer, only to get a whiff of something that just didn't smell right? Well this summer I got that experience as I got to experiment with river buffalo horn (humanely harvested). It was a material I had not worked with before, but turned out pretty good (pun intended). Buffalo horn, I learned, is nothing more than compressed hair. And so the heating of it (as on a lathe) creates a very pungent smell. It also requires a lot more attention to details like sanding, checking for cracks, etc. The sanding alone took a long time as it was wet sanded ina fashion similar to acrylic. In the end though after a couple coats of acrylic polish...well see for yourself...
So my summer was good...right up to the point where my lathe broke (insert sad face and @#$^%$). The micro-adjustment knob locked up as I was turning another bullet pen I will post later. Needless to say...the parts I need I am not sure I can get (company discontinued the model I have). So sadly "me time" has been put on hold... for the moment.
A man of many talents!
ReplyDeleteI really like your wands. I think that is so cool to turn wands. Your children must adore these gifts! I have to ask, as you were making them, did their wood 'speak' to you? ...As in 'tell you' what they wanted to look like & feel like?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting you say that. Actually it does! Before I actually start to turn I leave the wood spinning and run my hand over it to get a feel for it. Then I look at the swirls, curls and streaks of the wood and sort of see what it there. It is one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes I just put wood on the lathe and start turning it not knowing how it is going to look until the end.
ReplyDeleteNICE! I have a mini-lathe myself and made a wand for my wife a few years ago when she was Hermonie for Halloween. Have you tried turning acrylic? That stuff STINKS! But it sure turns out nice when you get everything sanded and polished. I haven't turned in about a year and a half (since we moved and I haven't cleaned out my garage to set up my lathe yet)..... :( I'm interested to see some of your projects and hopefully they'll give me some good ideas. I haven't ventured out too much to turn anything other than pens and that wand. I want to do Christmas ornaments and tops eventually.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kurt! I have done a few acrylic pieces, but nothing stinks like buffalo horn and deer antler! Do you wet sand your acrylic? I have made a few other things too, a coffee scoop, ice cream scoop, BBQ set, corn holders, tool handles, candle stick holders and a few paper weights (just playing around). I would like to try fishing lures, tops, and bowls. I will try to post some more of my creations later.
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