Mimosa Bowls.

[TellicoTurning]

I saw Tomas's Black Pashaco bowl and before I read his post, thought it looked a lot like the Mimosa bowls I've turned lately...

The Mimosa is a beautiful tree in bloom... it has feathery leaves and gets a pink feathery blossom all over the tree in early spring... most people hate them because they tend to be a little invasive, almost like a weed... you can see them all through the woods here in east TN... but they also don't live long... we have one on the back of the lot that is good sized and planned to clear around it, but last year it died, and now I think it's too far gone for turning... these bowls were from a friend's cuttings and the wood was cut green... green Mimosa smells like old dirty wet socks... after it dries, it's just dusty... even with a dust mask I sneeze and cough for a day after turning... so I try to turn all I'm going to do in one day... than take a few days to get over them...

These are a few I have done lately...

 

[keithlong]

Who would have thunk that nice grain would be those pesty ole things. Nice bowls.

 

[nava1uni]

Really like your bowls a lot. Nice form. I just turned a bowl from this wood and it was dry and sooooooo dusty. But they have beautiful grain.

 

[Bob Wemm]

Wonderful grain and pattern. Love the shapes.
Thanks for showing.


Bob.

 

[Tom T]

Very nice, great gain

 

[robutacion]

Yes, they look really good, all around, nice job...!

For woods such as Mimosa when very dry, one of the ways to minimise the allergy effects from the very fine dust, apart from wearing a good musk, is to soak the wood in water for a day or 2, if the wood is already dry, soaking it in water will not alter the wood stability and wood cells equilibrium, what it does is to make the wood softer to turn and at the same time, use the moisture within from the water to keep the dust in check.

You may get a little wet in the beginning but, as the wood turns, the water is pushed out from the centrifugal forces (same as the spinning cycle of a washing machine) so, by the time you get to the sanding, the wood is very much dry or damp enough to keep the fine particles down but dry enough for the sandpaper to work.

After sanding, I suggest to put the piece aside for a couple of days under a protect environment (not in the sun) to allow all its extra moisture to evaporate then, the piece is ready for finishing...!

If using natural timber oils, the wood can be finished after sanding, the oils will allow the extra moisture to come out without compromising the finish...!

Cheers
George

 

[MikeL]

Outstanding!

 

[alamocdc]

Nice little collection, Chuck. I love the grain too. Intersting grain makes for a more attractive bowl... for me anyway.

 

[Bobostro61]

Very nice bowls there. I need to get back to making some. Only made one so far.

 

[1dweeb]

Great work.

 

[jack rich]

chinaberry also has a beautiful grain

 

[Fishinbo]

Beautiful bowls! The wood is really worth turning. It has very nice figures and the finish made them pop. Well done!

 

[BeSquare]

The grain on those is GORGEOUS...nice work!