Spalted Maple Vase



Here is one of the last chunks of maple I have.  This came from a tree that was dead and upright for
four or five years.  It is quite dry, but there are some moist areas.  A little mold too.



Half an hour later using one of my favorite tools - a grinder with a chain saw blade, some spalting is
showing through.



A couple hours later, there wood seems to be part solid maple, partly decomposed (the white area) and
a pretty nice spalt line.



The following day  was a day for major headway.  The wood now shows three distinct hardnesses.
Pink is the hardest, white the softest, and the orange is somewhere in between.  Sanding is going to
be a challenge.



The piece is now round.  I think  I'll cut this into two pieces and use the larger on for a vase.



The roughed out vase takes about two hours.



I sanded the outside down to 400 grit.  The white area was very soft so it was fortified with CA glue prior
to sanding.  The orange area had soft patches.  I cranked up the speed and sanded it down using wave
disks on a 3/8" drill.  

I've found that when you have different hardnesses, even sanding at high speeds is the way to go -
in effect turning the piece using sand paper.  It minimizes sanding the vase out of round.



I am using an 1 1/4" Forstener bit with a 12" extension to drill out  the center.



A large bowl gouge is being used to hollow out the vase.  I wish I had some support
for the neck of the vase. but I don't.



The holloring actually went pretty well.  I sanded the inside using wave discs and a home-made extension.



I've got to get this thing off the lathe.  I keep scratching the vase.  I will need a  good, hard finish.



I decided to use True Oil.  The vase has something of a southwestern flair, I think.