Let’s start with a particularly homely Red Gum burl from Australia to craft our bangle.
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I have a good idea of what to expect, but I’m never really sure what is underneath this most unattractive exterior.
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Once I have cut the burl open, I will dampen the surface to give me a better idea of the color and figure of the burl.
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This helps greatly in marking out where the bangle placement will take best advantage of the wildgrain and imperfections.
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Next, I will rough out the shape of the bangle and drill the opening.
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The old time metal guys would have something to say about me using this great old lathe for wood!
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I then chuck the blank onto another lathe where I will hand-shape the bangle to the point where I feel that there is a balance between the shape and voids which will be inlaid.
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A dental styled tool with a burr that spins at 300,000rpm is used to open up the inclusions, cracks and bark pockets to allow the turquoise to fill the tiny crevises.
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A very viscous binder is used to cement the pulverized stone into place.
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After all of the rough inlay work is completed, sometimes taking several hours, the bangle is nearing the final phase.
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The bangle must be sanded to 600 grit to prepare for final finishing.
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