Nic Davies

 

First off let me say that it's an honor to be selected. I am very pleased to say the least. I have been turning seriously for only about 3 years.

I was born and raised in the Navy town of Bremerton, WA. That is just west of Seattle, WA. So, it wasn't unusual that I selected a sea going service for a career. I joined the USCG in 1964 and retired in 1988. I came up through the ranks and retired Chief Warrant Officer.  I spent 24 years traveling the world for the USCG. I made 3 tours in Viet Nam. I have been stationed and worked from Pt Barrow Alaska to Bangkok Thailand and from Saigon RVN to New York. I was privileged to work on or visit many of islands in the south pacific. Some of the more exotic islands are Guam, Eniwetok (where I got to dive in atomic blast craters), Saipan, Tinian, Palau, Pohnpei, Truk and many more.  After traveling the world for 24 years, I ended up 4 1/2 miles from where I was raised. After I retired, I spent 8 years as a technical writer. Then I was offered a position as an instructor, teaching in Egypt. to their navy.  That was an interesting 3 years. I was able to see and visit a lot places that I only dreamed about and get paid to do it.
I got an interest I wood turning at a street fair in Seattle, WA. in 1989. A young man was selling hollow forms. I was fascinated by them.  However, it was 10 years before I could afford to get started. Then I fell into the passion. Some of you turners refer to it as the "vortex". Well you are in error. It isn't vortex or even a whirlpool.  It is a full blown maelstrom.  


Now that I'm hooked, and I have a couple cords of turning wood out in the yard.  I do what my wood pile tells me. I have up graded My lathe 2 times from a very old Delta to a nice new Powermatic 3520.

I am one of those turners that start out with a chunk of wood and an idea of what I want to turn, and end up with something quite different. I don’t entirely let the wood dictate what it wants to be. I usually have an idea of what I want, and then adapt it to features in the wood, or artistic / creative opportunities that occur while mishandling a tool. Actually I sort of look forward to those challenges. Those challenges are nothing that a little glue and a lot of sand paper help to create.
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1

Jim's Cremation Urn

When my friend Jim was diagnosed with cancer, he asked me to make this for him.  It is made up of purple heart lid, maple burl top with Makore and purple heart staves.

 

2

Jan's Urn

Jim's wife Jan asked me to make a companion urn for her. I made hers out of the same pieces of wood that I made Jim's.

3

Maple Challis

The maple challis is 9 inches in diameter by 12 inches high. The base is dyed poplar. It is just buffed and waxed.

4

Onion Top Yarn Spindles

I am making these for the local spinners. They need to weigh less than 1.5 oz.  They are from the top:  maple whorl with purple heart shaft, mahogany and maple, walnut and ebony alowood, and mahogany and ebony alowood. They are sanded to 1000 and buffed, no wax. Any finish could rub off and damage the yarn.

5

Chip & Dip Tray

Purple heart and quilted maple.  This one is a 12 inch by 12 inch by 7 1/2 inch. Finished with 3 coats of canalized lacquer. 

6

Poplar Stave Box

The box is 14 inches high by 7 inches in diameter. The top and base are mahogany. The finial is ebony alowood. Finished with 30 coats of wipe on poly.

7

Purple Heart Cookie Platter

The platter is 10" in diameter and 7" tall. The finial is ebony alowood. Finished with about 10 coats of wipe on poly.

8

Cherry & Maple HF

The top is spalted maple, bottom is cherry The base and finial are Cherry alowood. Finished with wipe on poly.

9

Spalted Maple & Walnut HF

This is and 11" diameter by 8" tall .I blew it up 3 times and glued it back together. The 1st time was when my live center froze and broke. The 2nd time when I got a bad catch while hollowing and the 3rd time was while I was buffing it out. I have at least 1 whole bottle of CA stabilizing the soft spots and putting all of the pieces back together. The final results were worth the frustrations.

10

Lidded Box

This lidded box is 2 1/2" in diameter by 4 1/" high.  it is made up of burn box scrape. The finial is maple, the top is zebra wood and silver alowood, and the bottom is spalted maple. Finished with wipe on poly.

11

Plumb Hollow Vessel

with an ebony alowood top. It is 9" tall and 6 1/2" in diameter. This on got an OH! MY! GOODNESS! From my lady love.  This is a very dense wood, even hollowed to 1/4" side wall, it is very heavy. The cracks are filled with brass that I got from my local locksmith. It was sanded to 1000 and just buffed and waxed.

12

Inspired HF

This hollow form is 16 inches high by 7 inches wide. The top is ebony alowood, the next section is curly maple with 2 different types of mahogany to form the waves. The wave pattern is created by a variation of by George's OATS procedure. The center band is maple; the staves are ebony alowood and pine separated by ebony alowood accents. The base is Santos mahogany. Finished with a lot of coats of wipe on poly.