Piccolo Trombone (& a Poplar Bowl)

2024 is here, and with it some interesting new commissions. I turn down at least half of the jobs I'm asked to take on; I don't like repetitive stuff (requests to turn 300 spheres, 200 stairway spindles etc. are all straightforward, but don't fit with my 'portfolio retirment' model) and there are a small proportion of jobs which I simply can't do (for reasons of complexity or of their size vs my lathes). I do, however, accept the more unusual and individual projects with some gusto.

One of my latest requests was certainly not going to be turned down for reasons relating to the size of my lathe. A concert trombonist was looking to change a lever 'knob' on his trombone, replacing the existing (and rather boring) black resin original with something a little more traditional.

32 mm long and 12mm in diameter, I was able to get my tiny turning gouges out of their box, and enjoyed rooting through my offcuts to make four lever covers in Sycamore, Cherry, Walnut & Bubinga.

Turning these piccolo pieces was a joy, and reminded me of one of the reasons I started this small business. Delighted client - 4 craft pieces which he can change at will, and items it's difficult to source. Not sure that they'll improve the sound coming out of the trombone, but it'll certainly look good in the orchestra.

After that, a small gift for a very old friend whom we're visiting soon. I've had a poplar log, felled many years ago and given to be by a publican mate around 2019. I've turned bowls from it before - it's a tricky wood to turn due to its 'lightness' and the many fissures and cracks, but I had a plan involving resin.

First I rough-turned the external bowl shape, fairly covering the workshop around me with wood chips, ribbons and dust. Next I mixed 800ml of epoxy resin with a gold mica powder, and submerged the bowl blank overnight. As I hoped, the resin permeated the various fissures, which had been tearing and splitting as I turned the log.

Next morning I cracked on with turning the now resin-coated bowl. It always seems a bit of a waste, turning resin like this, as truly 90% of the stuff becomes waste. But what's left ensures a rather stunning end-result, and I couldn't be happier with the finished bowl. Let's hope she is!!

As a finishing touch, my makers mark embedded in a green-tinged resin, and the job was complete!

Today I took delivery of my next job - an extension plinth for a local rowing club trophy. It has a few intricacies, so looking forward to cracking on next week.