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Advanced Woodturning Project
Black Cherry Vase - Page 1

Seeking to make a thin walled vessel from a questionable log of black cherry

Intending to make a thin walled vase

I had a piece of black cherry that I was able to cut down to a log about 10" in diameter and 11" long. Intending to make a thin walled vase I attached a 3" faceplate with 1 1/2" long #14 self tapping sheet metal screws.

mounted it on the lathe

I mounted it on the lathe and brought up the tail stock for support.

examining the quality of the wood

Once the bark was off I was better able to see what I had, in this case a long crack down the side

crack in the wood

The crack also extended about 3/4" into the top

a depth mark to turn to

So I gave myself a depth mark to turn to. I find it easier than guessing the depth and then starting and stopping the lathe. Here I just cut to the line.

trimmed off the excess

So I trimmed off the excess and cut away enough at the base to allow for screw length.