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File under the time-worn craft category: New Zealand-based woodturner Sören Berger knows his way around a lathe, and—inasmuch as his son Rikki knows his way around a camera—he's pleased to offer "a small glimpse into making one of my [lamp] shades."
It's cool to see the shavings stream from the bit like tickertape, but it seems like an awful lot of scrap for want of a hollow cylinder, beautiful though it may be...
As for Berger's story? For starters, he's spent just under three and a half decades in the business and, as a proponent of the ancient art, he's embraced modern tools and technologies that facilitate the craft.
Per Berger's website:Modern woodturning has some new materials and technologies which make the processes quicker and more pleasant. But when it comes to the way to get the best results from our tools and raw material then there are very few skills and disciplines that have not already been developed by the masters of many cultures hundreds of years ago.
My interest over the last eight years has been focused on teaching wood turners to understand in detail the actual turning process. This develops the ability to make sensitive and beautiful objects.
I have over many years had a fascination with the simplicity with which the Japanese woodturners work, they do with out many of the rather tight rigid tools and processes. On my first trip to the USA in 1993, I came in contact with John Fox who introduced me to the gentle ways of Japanese woodturning. They use free moving tool rests sliding on a flat table rather than a restrictive fixed bed, this freedom of movement can teach us new skills. The simplicity of both the way they work and the things they make, have had a strong influence on my work and teaching.
Ray is a writer, editor, and researcher
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Webinar
As the Wood Turns: Watch Soren Berger Make a Wooden Lampshade
For lampshades you can achieve the same effect using veneers made from planks instead hollowing out a whole stump.
Carpenters like the Shakers or Japanese woodworkers would never waste so much, it's not a tree hugger thing, it's an appreciation of that which you make your livelihood from.
Are you kidding me? This is a GROSS misuse of material and a horrible production method. "beautiful though it may be". It's ugly, and not just because it's wasteful.
I have seen bamboo strips being pasted together to yield a similar result. Bamboo grows very fast but why cut a tree.
I am worried about how the ring would fair in the long term. I have a great table, but it wasn't kiln dried, and it develops new cracks every winter. That log looks pretty green, and now it's being exposed to the heat of a light bulb. I wonder how many are lost to checking...
As far as wood waste goes, I am reminded of this classic Simpsons moment...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pkHmVGjpvc&feature=player_detailpage#t=9s
Also, kudos on the video pace while leaving the sound intact.
Yeah there would be a seam. But I'd rather have 10 lampshades with a small seam than one seamless lampshade. Maybe that's just me.