My Sculpture Weblog: Mazer (M2)

Stabilizing wooden is a course of that each strengthens a chunk of wooden, and makes it dimensionally steady in order that it may be utilized in additional precision purposes.

In earlier tasks, I relied on sourcing stabilized materials from different expert makers. However as my need to make new shapes and kinds grew, I rapidly realized I had outgrown the dimensions and shapes of fabric that have been available. I approached a number of individuals who specialise in stabilization with particular requests and was alternately advised that it was not potential, or not worthwhile, to make stabilized wooden in the dimensions and shapes that I needed.

I might dwell with, “not potential” if it have been true, however “not worthwhile” gave the impression of a foolish cause to not do one thing, so I needed to strive it myself to see what was what.

The method is just not terribly difficult and the setup comparatively inexpensive when you’ve got a small house to make a multitude. It includes drying the wooden, then putting it in a vacuum chamber whereas submerged in a particular resin.

Beneath vacuum, a lot of the air and residual moister are pulled from the wooden (you possibly can by no means really get all of it). After many hours below vacuum, strain is returned to the chamber and the resin is compelled deeper into the wooden by regular atmospheric strain and good previous capillary motion.

After an extended soak, the wooden is then positioned in an oven the place the resin cures and hardens. The result’s a plasticized piece of wooden that’s excellent for machining and different advantageous craft work.

It’s a fascinating course of to be taught, and I’m simplifying only a bit. This work represents my first try at utilizing a chunk of wooden from my very own course of. The wooden you see is a chunk of Maple Burl. It was stabilized as a 7″ spherical and completed down to six”diameter.

The steel particulars are all in Chrome steel. I went with a wood bowl type as a result of I simply love the work of so many wooden turners. However since I’m not fairly a wooden turner myself, I went with a really ornate type of bowl referred to as a Mazer. A much more ornamental than purposeful object for positive. That is what occurs whenever you give a machinist wooden to show I suppose. 

Anyhow, this is step one on my journey in the direction of a way more bold piece. I’ve yet another “small sketch” that I used to be planning, however contemplating how lengthy this primary one took, I might need delay that work for a short while. I’m simply unsure there’s time in my present work circulate. However we are going to see what occurs.

Thanks for wanting, and as all the time, feedback and questions are welcome.