Display Base for small carvings.

[Larry in Harrow]

This is something new for me. I don't do much faceplate turning but when a friend asked me if I could help him with a display base for his daughter as a Christmas gift I jumped on the chance (sort of).
He supplied a 12" square, 2" thick piece of walnut and a 9" diameter glass bell jar.
Having never designed anything like this before, the task was a little daunting. A wanted something a little classy but not overpowering, after all the carving will be the star attraction.
This is what I came up with.

The final dimensions ended up being 11-3/4" diameter and 2" thick. I stuck the bell jar on it and placed one of my old carvings in it for demonstration purposes.

I still prefer spindle turning (don't much like that heavy disk flopping around on the lathe) but this was a fun project. Here's hoping he likes it.
Any comments or criticisms are welcome. Thanks for looking.

 

[Mack C.]

Any comments or criticisms are welcome. Thanks for looking.

You've done yourself proud, my friend! If your other friend doesn't like it, send it to me. I have just the place for it.

How do you get that bird to sit still in the bell jar?

 

[Larry in Harrow]

How do you get that bird to sit still in the bell jar?

Temperature control!

 

[Rick_G]

How do you get that bird to sit still in the bell jar?

Probably glued it's feet to the base then when it ran out of air it couldn't fall over.

Turned out very nice Larry. I don't think there's any fear of you having to send it to Mack.

 

[gwilki]

Very nice, Larry. The textured parts really add to the overall effect. Your friend must love it.

 

[KenV]

the texturing is supurb and adds to the turning. The feet being separate also is a great feature.

 

[Crickett]

How do you get that bird to sit still in the bell jar?

Probably glued it's feet to the base then when it ran out of air it couldn't fall over.

Turned out very nice Larry. I don't think there's any fear of you having to send it to Mack.

As least he didn't glue it's mouth shut!! :wink: :biggrin:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=71260

Great looking base, Larry. I'm with you on the spindle turning. What's even scarier is when you have a bowl blank on the lathe!

 

[ctubbs]

Is it possible that the bird landed in the CA left over from the 'shop visitors'?
http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=71260
Charles

 

[jttheclockman]

Excellent job. show there is alot that can be accomplished on a lathe. Thanks for showing.

 

[jaywood1207]

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What is scariest is when it flies off, hits the ceiling and ricochets into your forehead. That's when you call it a day on bowls. Or at least I did. :biggrin:

Very nicely done Larry. How did you do the feet?

 

[Larry in Harrow]

Carved Feet

How did you do the feet?

Jamie, the feet were all done with hand tools. I laid them out on the lathe at 60 degree intervals, cut the ends with my dovetail saw at an eyeballed angle (probably close to a dovetail angle) and removed the wood between the cuts with a #2-1/2 carving gouge. A little sanding and all done.

View of underside of the base. Thanks everyone for your comments.

As for the bird, it reminds me of the "Dead Parrot" skit from Monty Python.

 

[soligen]

It even looks great upside down! Very nice turning AND carving!

 

[jaywood1207]

Thanks Larry. Excellent job both top and bottom.

 

[CaptG]

Very nice. That is one classy looking display.