19-05-2011, 09:19 AM
In a recent post I mentioned that I'd made a pair of candlesticks from strips of beech and purpleheart that I'd laminated, for entry into the local woodturning club's competition in May. We have an average attendance of 50 members, of whom, most months, eight to fifteen enter the competiton. Competitions are themed, and on alternate months are either judged by three experienced judges from a panel, awarding points (or not!) for such aspects as technical challenge, quality of finish, and overall appeal, or on the intervening months, judged by the members, who each get one vote for whichever item appeals to them most. (Entries are anonymous, and not even the judges know who's entries they're judging, though they may guess!).
There were ten entries this month, which was quite good because each person had to turn two items, and as best they were able, to make them not just similar, but identical, which is far harder than it may sound. As a judge myself (though not this month!) I was desparately keen to at least get a place on the podium, and just managed that, at third place. The standards are extremely high, and to illustrate that, I've attached pics of all three placed entries. The winning entry consisted of a pair of segmented candlesticks, each with more than 200 pieces of contrasting timber, accurately cut and glued together before being turned. The 'lids' can be reversed so that the candlesticks become 'lidded boxes'. The member who turned these items is a full time carer for his wife, so is able to do a bit at a time in his workshop, while popping back into the house to look after his wife. His items are always segmented, and made from scraps of wood that many turners would throw away. These candlesticks are the result of 80 hours work, spread over three weeks.
The candlesticks that were placed second are what is known as 'involuted' turning sometimes called 'inside out' turning. 4 sticks of timber are glude together in a block, with newspaper separating them, so that once turned, the timbler can be split into the four pieces, turned inside out, and finally reglued and turned. Thus, it appears that the inside as well as the outside, has been turned, as indeed it has. Four finials had to be turned in ebony, and fitted inside the sticks.
My own entry will inevitably have lost a few marks because to the eye of experiences judges, the fact that the blanks were laminated will have shown up small inaccuracies in the finished pattern, despite my best endevours. I was cotent with thrid place, which is where - when I'd seen the standrd on entries - I'd hoped to be. At least I made it 'onto the podium' so didn't entirely blow my street cred as a judge!
Next months competition is much less challenging - 'a simple bowl less than 10" in diameter'. Much more in keeping with my sphere of competence:D
Hope the pics are of interest.
David
There were ten entries this month, which was quite good because each person had to turn two items, and as best they were able, to make them not just similar, but identical, which is far harder than it may sound. As a judge myself (though not this month!) I was desparately keen to at least get a place on the podium, and just managed that, at third place. The standards are extremely high, and to illustrate that, I've attached pics of all three placed entries. The winning entry consisted of a pair of segmented candlesticks, each with more than 200 pieces of contrasting timber, accurately cut and glued together before being turned. The 'lids' can be reversed so that the candlesticks become 'lidded boxes'. The member who turned these items is a full time carer for his wife, so is able to do a bit at a time in his workshop, while popping back into the house to look after his wife. His items are always segmented, and made from scraps of wood that many turners would throw away. These candlesticks are the result of 80 hours work, spread over three weeks.
The candlesticks that were placed second are what is known as 'involuted' turning sometimes called 'inside out' turning. 4 sticks of timber are glude together in a block, with newspaper separating them, so that once turned, the timbler can be split into the four pieces, turned inside out, and finally reglued and turned. Thus, it appears that the inside as well as the outside, has been turned, as indeed it has. Four finials had to be turned in ebony, and fitted inside the sticks.
My own entry will inevitably have lost a few marks because to the eye of experiences judges, the fact that the blanks were laminated will have shown up small inaccuracies in the finished pattern, despite my best endevours. I was cotent with thrid place, which is where - when I'd seen the standrd on entries - I'd hoped to be. At least I made it 'onto the podium' so didn't entirely blow my street cred as a judge!
Next months competition is much less challenging - 'a simple bowl less than 10" in diameter'. Much more in keeping with my sphere of competence:D
Hope the pics are of interest.
David