April 2012

Cheam welcomed Mark Baker for another informative and entertaining evening in March. Mark was demonstrating unsupported vessels – that is ones that do not have an integral base but rely on sitting on a separate piece. He started making a square shallow platter, where he uses sycamore or ash because the corners are less likely to fragment. He mounted a piece of sycamore between centres. Beginning from the outside edge Mark removed a small amount at a time with a pull cut at low speed. A line was marked on the sides of the wood ensuring that the pointed wings exit through the side wall. He continued with a push cut with the flute at 10 o’clock in line with the bevel, using micro-cuts to take off the corners.