Maple Burl and Resin Paper Weight

My buddy Heath Nuckles cast this amazing hybrid resin and Maple burl blank, and I turned it on the lathe. It's 4" tall and 4 1/2" in diameter. Checkout Heath's channel to see how he made the blank.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ymj9d5HO-sLh2An...

Tools I used to turn this piece.

Lathe

Faceplate

Easy Wood #1 hollower

Thomson spindle gouge

Sandpaper

Yorkshire grit

Pull saw

Vacuum chuck

Step 1: Mounting the Faceplate

I mounted a faceplate on the blank to turn it on the lathe. Use steel screws when working with a face plate, drywall screws will break. The blank was 5 1/4" X 4 1/4" when I started. Screw the faceplate on the headstock of your lathe.

Step 2: Turning and Shaping the Piece

I started turning at 1000 rpm with a #1 hollower from Easy Wood Tools. Carbide turning tools work best for turning epoxy resin. When turning resin you want the cutting edge angled down like a negative rake scraper. The carbide cuts like butter, and is a lot of fun to work with. After the piece was true I increased the speed to 2000 rpm. I shaped the top/resin with a #1 hollowing tool before working on the bottom, with a spindle gouge. Take small passes you'll get a better finish.

Step 3: Sanding the Top

I wet sanded up to 400 grit and water. Final polish with Yorkshire Grit. Yorkshire grit is a sanding paste that breaks down to 3000 grit as you work it in. Polishing with a paper towel.

Step 4: Finishing the Bottom

Cut the blank off with a small pull saw. I finished the bottom by mounting the piece in a vacuum chuck, cutting a small dimple in the bottom so it will sit flat. Again I used the #1 hollower for this. Sanding and finishing the bottom. Again I wet sanded up to 400 grit, and finished it off with Yorkshire grit.

Step 5: Take It to the Park and Get Some Awesome Pictures.

I love how this piece turned out! I think it looks like the ocean floor.