Starting the enormous lampshade

12 Apr

This has to be my most challenging commission to date and the first time I'll be attempting something truly gigantic.

I’ve been approached by the designer of a bistro, who is looking for a feature with a difference. The plan is for me to make a 3’ diameter lampshade, complete with natural edge! They would like me to turn the piece green so that it slowly distorts over time.

This is a big step up from my normal process and will require quite a few changes to my methods. My friends at DF timber will be called upon once again – I’ve no access to a forklift, so my workshop is out of the equation.

After quite a bit of searching, I discovered an ash trunk, which was large enough and free from defects. Ash is probably the best timber to use for green turning, due to its natural resistance to cracking. Its grain is not too dense and usually easier to work. With the help of a local tree surgeon, I cut out the piece I wanted and loaded it onto his wagon.

This is the tree I used - it was the only one I could find that was large enough!...

My chosen piece loaded onto the wagon...

Unloaded and ready for processing...

An awful lot of chain sawing was required, in order to get it down to size. At this stage it was impossible to lift by hand, so a forklift was on standby all the time!

I needed an engine hoist to lift and position the blank on the lathe. The faceplate had been fastened in place with large coach screws, so I was confident it would not drop off. However, after removing the engine hoist, it looked very precarious indeed!