Big Chunk of Liquid Amber

I came across some recently felled Liquid Amber the other day. The log was about 14" dia. Split and roughed out a blank with the chain saw then off to the lathe with it. Just fitted over the bed. 

Now the big test..

Will it work or will it throw itself out of the.lathe and destroy the workshop?

Well its in the lathe...BUT will it stay there?

Stand clear and start it up.

Tentative first cut.

More confidence... Up close and personal now.

Owen's Fourth Birthday at Melbourne Zoo.

Regan did a great job organising a fantastic birthday celebration for Owen. It started with a 10:00 am Saturday morning start at Melbourne Zoo and finished with Sunday lunch and a beaut four candle chocolate cake at the Yacht Club.

We all met outside the main gate where 'zoo' bags, made up by Regan, were given out to the kids. The bags were full of delights including special binoculars, i spi sheets and a big favourite... cookies in the theme of zoo animals professionally made by Meredith. 

An obligatory coffee (for the adults) then off to see the animals. Taking on the role of expedition leader Owen navigated around the exhibits like a professional, never covering the same track twice and at a pace which kept the group scurrying.

We lost the obligatory one boy somewhere around the Butterfly Enclosure but reunited him with his Mum upon mounting a successful search party.

Some pics below. Happy Birthday Owen.

Sorry Gran, Too busy. I'm off to the Zoo.

Must see Giraffe

Dad, there is a bug on your shoulder

Meercats being photogenic. These guys know how to pose for the camera

A short break from Owen's gruelling pace.

I'm tired Dad... Carry me.

Ducks are animals too.. and need to be fed

My photo comp entry.

Yum. Meredith's cookies

Lots of lovely pics of the other Mom's Dads and kids ... available on request.

Can't have a birthday without family and cake....

Practice on the Lilly Pilly Finished Now it's time to Slab the Silky Oak.

Took longer than I thought. About 4 hours to slab a half trunk (6 ft long x 20" dia) of the silky oak at 2 1/2 inch intervals.

I quartered it then took cuts off a alternative surfaces to give quarter sawn slabs to show the grain to its best.

I'm not sure this is 'pure' quarter sawn. But it's the best I can do with the equipment I currently have.

A Days Spent Slabbing up the Lilly Pilly an Flattening the Silky Oak

... now just 3 years to wait until it air dries and I can make something out of it.

Its amazing what you can do with a $165 electric chain saw. As long as the blade is sharp, it is pretty easy to control the cut.

I made up a guide for the chain saw, but didn't like it so after much deliberation decided to tackle the cuts freehand.

Unlike the liquid amber, which stains any steel that comes near it, the Lilly Pilly slabbed cleanly and easily. I choose to cut it at 2 1/2 inches thick, rotating the slab so as to get a quarter sawn cut. A bit wasteful, but I was unsure how accurately I could cut it freehand.

Update. Next day we dug out more of the silky oak and did some preliminary flattening.
The log I am working on with the chainsaw is 6  inches deep. Hell knows what I am going to do with it.

Maybe a coffee table top here.

Another Table Under Way.... perhaps!!!

Laurie dropped bt this morning with a couple of pieces of Silky Oak for me. Now ... What to do with them??!!

Market Rescue.

I found this old 4 1/2 (made in Sheffield ) plane down at the market today. I didn't recognise it but thought after getting it home a quick google search would reveal its origins Unfortunately this proved to not be the case.
No problem, it's a great user.