Elm Trumpet Vase

This is the type of vase I like to turn using my lockpin spindles, which I just posted a pic of in the Tools & Equipment Gallery. 10" high, about 4 1/2" diameter.
It holds a 5/8" glass tube insert, and the hole is drilled right through the pith.
David Ellsworth handled this piece when he was visiting our club, giving a critique on our instant gallery. He liked it for the most part, but in his words "the bead at the bottom doesn't send me". I was kinda thrilled just to have him pick it up, didn't care what he actually said! Smile!

Photo Details

kengrunke

Registered: November 2004
Location: La Farge, SW Wisconsin USA
Posts: 199

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Date: Tue May 31, 2005
Views: 1,266
Keywords: elm trumpet vase

Comments

Gil

Ken, I like your trumpet vase. (But I'm a pushover for weed vases) When you install a glass tube (for water) how much oversize is the bore hole to keep from crushing the glass when the wood shrinks?

#1 Tue May 31, 2005 10:31pm

kengrunke

Good question, Gil. I figure the best way is to let the wood dry and shrink after drilling the nominal size hole, then use a reamer of the same size to open it back up after the wood stabilizes. I've tried using a drill, but it usually scars up the area around the hole or worse yet, grabs in the hole and ruins the piece. A machinist's reamer with straight flutes won't do that, and it leaves a nice smooth hole in the end.

#2 Wed June 1, 2005 12:24am

Gil

Sounds good to me.

#3 Wed June 1, 2005 1:21am

Philip Peak

Ken
what about forstner bits, ever tried them?

#4 Wed June 1, 2005 5:03am

kengrunke

Phillip, I've used forstner bits hardly at all, anywhere, actually. On the trumpet vases, I need to drill all the way through and they generally are shorter than twist drills, although I realize that bit extensions could be used. I have a full arsenal of twist drills up to 1" so I use what I have.

#5 Wed June 1, 2005 5:21am