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Manzanita burl wine stopper with gold inclusions - this is solid wood with a unique method of stabilization that allows color, texture, and patterns to be included into the voids natural to manzanita. The cap is ebony for an additional color balance point.

Any combination of colors, inclusions such as crushed stone, pearl, or metallic flakes can be combined for an original appearance. Stay tuned - this is the first of many projects of this nature that are coming this year!

Manzanita is a very unique substance. This stuff turns like plastic once you're through the dirt, grime, and weird bark, rock, and other junk included in the mix. It's also known to explode and come to pieces at any random moment during the turning process given the entirely random and unstable growth patterns. Of course this is what makes it so cool in the end!

The stabilization process allows us to turn what would otherwise be a nightmare to work with. It also creates an opportunity to impart an assortment of colors and other textures.

This is one of Mike Pietras's projects - playing around in the shop. I just happened to be on a random burl buying spree in 2012, and we finally got around to starting to work with it. Other projects are in progress now with this material and some other cool exotic woods as well as common domestics used in non-standard ways.







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Comments

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thats some pretty wicked wood, its like a rainbow wood, good idea to make stoppers out of them..
 

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Your killing me, I need to get me a lathe! I'm missing out on to much fun…LOL

I love the colors and what a great job! Blondie would Love one of these for her wine. Great work!
 

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Hey go for it! - Start with a Midi there's some good deals out there. Get a digital variable speed though if you get one, Penn State has some nice small ones to start with Grizzly.

Actually check with Grizzly they are doing a 10% off your entire order sale! ... I'm thinking of getting one of these for my house just to play at home. Or if I move the shop my father will keep his small lathe and I'll have to buy one anyway.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-x-16-Heavy-Duty-Bench-Top-Wood-Lathe/G0657

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/TCLC12VS.html

Thanks!
 

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Thx Eric, great info & advice. I have looked at the digital ones from Penn a few times. I got my dust collection from them and love it. I was always wondering what kind reviews were out there for that lathe. I think I'll be buying one soon, but only after I upgrade my current tablesaw to a 3 or 5 Hp one. As Blondie says, never enough tools for the shop is there? Smile.
 

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We found a good deal on a Leeson 3HP 3Phase for $275 on ebay and a controller for $115 - it is now in our lathe. I'll be blogging that project when I get a chance and it's finished. Still programming it, etc. A LOT more power than before!!
 

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Isn't Manzanita a great wood to turn, and work with?? I have several old dried Burls thai I have yet to turn. I must say you have to wear a full face shield when turning these pieces. Be careful I have found rocks in some of the Burls. Nice job on your Manzanita Burls.
 

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Yeah we've been stepping aside in case things explode a lot with these projects. ALWAYS chunks flying and inclusions jamming up the works. Lots of tool sharpening.
 
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