All wood used for my work comes from trees that were removed for public safety reasons, disease, a home owners personal needs, or the tree was at the end of it's natural life.  NO trees are cut down specifically for use in my projects.  Furthermore, I use only natural oils (Linseed and various vegetable oils) for the finishing of my work.  I do not use any chemical stains, or hardening type finishes (varnish, shellac, poly-whatevers, etc.) which may prevent someone from experiencing the natural look and feel of the wood.

The current popular trend in wood turning techniques is to turn the finished  piece as thin as possible.  Although this certainly is impressive with regards to the skills of the turner, and the ability of wood to hold together under these conditions, it does not  reflect what I have observed to be the preferences of "everyday people" whom I consider my customers.  These people want "heavy" bowls and vases they can actually use day to day without worrying about them being too fragile to take some abuse.  Most of these people also enjoy the natural look and feel of the wood - and aren't really interested in the feel of some hardened plastic looking surface, or the look of a false coloring job.

From my perspective, I too prefer the look and feel of the natural wood, and therefore turn my pieces to take the most advantage of these properties.  This includes leaving most pieces "thick" along the sides and somewhat heavier in the base to provide added stability.  Additionally I finish my work with the assumption that the piece will be used for a specific purpose, and not just placed on a shelf to collect dust (see Care of The Wood - below).  The vast majority of the wood I turn is still "green" (wet) when turned, and therefore the finished piece will usually experience some changes in shape and texture as it dries.  If the piece is small enough, (less than about 12"x12"x12") I will usually "heat" the piece during the final turning process to remove some of the surface moisture and permit sanding.  This also gives me a pretty good idea how the wood will react as it dries.  In the end however, real wood is real wood, and there's no exact science that can predict exactly how a certain piece of wood will look when it's completely dry.  In fact, even the concept of "completely dry" will actually change with both location and the seasons due to changes in the humidity and altitude.  All of these factors combine to enhance the ever changing personality of any one piece of wood.  One of these changes is a process known as "checking".  This minor separation or cracking of the wood is a  natural part of the drying process, and will vary from piece to piece, and species to species.  Although some woods are known to check more than others, there's no way to know for sure exactly how any one piece will react.  One of the best things you can do to minimize checking (if you find it objectionable) is to Never allow your wood to sit in direct sunlight, and follow the simple care directions below.

Care of The Wood
If you decide to purchase some of my work, I sincerely hope it will find a home where it's used for some purpose, and therefore handled on a regular basis.  In addition to this "appreciation", the wood benefits by developing a unique patina which should itself be respected as a natural quality of the wood.  Therefore, as needed, please clean the wood only with a soft cotton cloth moistened only with water.  Naturally bowls used for salads and foods should be washed with hot soap and water, and then dried.  Do not soak your wood for extended periods and never clean them in an automated dishwasher - the extremely high water temperatures are not kind to the wood fibers.  Allow your wood to air dry for a day, and then as needed, periodically rub a small amount of natural oil (linseed or your favorite vegetable oil) on the wood.  Never use artificial substances that claim to be oils and waxes (such as the popular sprays for dusting and waxing).  Also, as mentioned above, never allow your wood to sit in Direct Sunlight, as this will cause the wood to check and bleach in color.  Also, do not use your wood in the oven or microwave.  I suppose I could go on forever here such as don't use it for blocking your truck's tires, or as a dog chew toy, so hopefully common sense will guide you.

Call or write if you have questions about caring for your piece...

Thank You again and I hope you become one of my valued customers who enjoys the feel of wood.