Cedar Sunflower

Mark Cothren · Nov 21, 2009

Decided to try something I've never done before - a piece to hang on a wall. A friend said it made him think of a sunflower, so I'm stickin' with it.

Vaughn told me to paint it green and fill in the voids with red glitter... but I decided to seal it up good with dewaxed shellac and then use some antique oil on it (thanks Vaughn :thumb:

).

I had several Cedars in my yard that got some type of disease and they all died. This is the base of the stump from one of those trees.

Jay Caughron · Nov 21, 2009

Nice job Mark do you still have all your fingers

Vaughn McMillan · Nov 22, 2009

Mark Cothren said:
...Vaughn told me to paint it green and fill in the voids with red glitter...

You gotta admit it would have looked just right for Christmas. :thumb:

I really like the way it came out, Mark. I'll bet when it was spinning that piece of wood sounded like a herd of Sopwith Camels.

Pete MoncrieffJury · Nov 22, 2009

That is really special. I love the natural look. Hope you have strong walls, I should imagine it's pretty heavy.

Pete

Stephen Bellinger · Nov 22, 2009

to me it looks like it could use a small clock in it with some gold numbers. i really like it. :thumb:

steve

Mark Cothren · Nov 22, 2009

Yep, couldn't spin this piece too awful fast being out of balance like it was. I think about 600rpm was about all I could do. It definitely made some noise while spinning!

Pete, the piece is extremely light for the size. The piece stands about 2" when laid flat, but it is slightly dished out, which is hard to tell from the pictures. I'm going to guess the average thickness is around 3/4" or so.

Frank Fusco · Nov 22, 2009

Very interesting. Yep, it would be a challenge to turn.
About what diameter is it?

larry merlau · Nov 22, 2009

nice work mark, now how are you gonna keep it from checking? in my expeiernce with end cuts they have always checked..or is cedar better in that respect?

Chuck Rodekohr · Nov 22, 2009

BUT, will it hold guacamole? Beautiful work

Chuck Ellis · Nov 22, 2009

Chuck Rodekohr said:
BUT, will it hold guacamole? Beautiful work

I would think the cedar would make the quacamole taste funny
but it would definitely take care of Vaughn's suggestion of painting it green :rofl:

Being a redneck, I might have to have somebody hold my beer before I try to turn one of those... beautiful piece and know it will look good on the wall. :thumb:

Pete MoncrieffJury · Nov 22, 2009

Mark Cothren said:
Yep, couldn't spin this piece too awful fast being out of balance like it was. I think about 600rpm was about all I could do. It definitely made some noise while spinning!

Pete, the piece is extremely light for the size. The piece stands about 2" when laid flat, but it is slightly dished out, which is hard to tell from the pictures. I'm going to guess the average thickness is around 3/4" or so.

All the more credit due then. I should imagine that it flexed a fair bit at that thickness.

Pete

Bob Gibson · Nov 22, 2009

Kind of looks like the butterfly that hit my windshield at 75 mph :rofl:

Just kidding. that is really really nice :thumb:

.
I love the look of cedar.

Mark Cothren · Nov 22, 2009

Frank, the piece is 19" at the widest point and about 2" tall when laying flat.

As for the checking, I just dunno... :dunno:

...but I don't expect it to do much. The tree was dead/dry when I cut it and then it has been sitting in my shop for several months with more opportunity to dry out. I put several coats of shellac on it and then put Danish oil on top of that. So whatever moisture might have been left in it should be sealed up pretty good right now.

But I reckon time will tell...

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