14:00 As an artist myself (I mostly work with textiles or clay) I feel it needs to be said: what you're doing here on this channel IS art. You're taking a piece of wood, coming up with a creative vision for it, and transforming it. You're creating unique pieces of work using your skill, experience, and ingenuity. Woodworking most certainly IS art, just the same as sculpting or painting or writing. You should feel close to being an artist, because you ARE one! Don't sell your hard work and artistry short! EDIT: I forgot to mention that making videos is also a form of art! So not only are you an artist, but doubly so! Also, hopefully this isn't impolite but if I may offer a suggestion on the video-making end: I like the sanding timelapses in the video, but the sped-up noise of the sander is a little hard on the ears. Maybe in the future you could lower/mute the sound somewhat when editing the video? I really enjoy your vids and how relaxed and comfortable they feel, and it's fun to hear your process of coming up with ideas and what you want to do with a project. Hope you're having a good one!
Thanks so much for your message. I know what you are saying and I really appreciate it, I'm still new to the hobby, been turning for about 30 months so still a lot to learn. There are so many amazing turners out there I do find it hard to think of myself as being one of them. I love what I do, I love to experiment and I love to keep out of my comfort zone. With regards to the suggestion, I completely agree and will look into it and find a way to improve, I have been thinking about this for a while. Many thanks once again, all the best, Mike
I’ve never seen a piece of wood that grew with symmetric limbs like that. What an awesome piece of wood. And what an amazing piece you made from it. You truly impress me.
@@MikeHolton I’ve been experiencing some of that myself. You know my friend, you truly do inspire me. You make me want to get out and turn more. I don’t have much desire to do any videos (what I lack in looks, I also lack in personality lol) but I have been thinking about finding a place to share some pictures of some of my projects with others.
@@k9insomniac783 Haha, why do you think I never show my face 😁. When I first started I joined loads of woodturning groups on Facebook, these are great places to show off your work and ask for feedback. When I got better I started an Instagram account which is also good but not as much feedback as Facebook.
As a retired, disabled Senior Master of Art I feel, as I have said before, you tend to sell yourself very short on your artistic abilities. In simple t4erme alone, you are creating 'something' every time you turn a piece of wood on a lathe. In your case Mike this rings very true, you have quite an artistic flare & approach to your work. You are working with the wood trying to show its inner beauty. If that is not an artistic approach leading to artistic outcomes, then I was never an Art Teacher. Cheers, Don from South Australia.
Haha thanks Gary, I was very tempted just to drill the base add the light fittings and have an early finish and saved myself 2 hours of sanding 😆, all the best, Mike
Very well done. So glad you were able to keep your hands away from the branch ends. It looked scary as you were turning, likely even more so for you. The next challenge is finding a lamp shade which goes with this unusual piece. In the US we have an equivalent tree called Norfolk Island Pine, which produces a similar ring of branches. The branch ends are a nice red colour when freshly turned/sanded. Sadly this goes brown with exposure to UV. I have a piece of Norfolk Island Pine awaiting a future spindle turned project. Mine has the branch ends already cut off. I would not want to try turning my piece with the ends protruding. Dave.
Thanks Dave, I came close to catching my fingers but the wind was a great reminder! I've have heard about Norfolk Island Pine and it really is very similar, we don't have any over here but we do have this stuff so it's all good. As for a lampshade, if we are to keep it then that is my wife's department 😂
I shall be commenting more fully on Mike's excellent video but in the meantime may I say I've been a woodturner for about ten years and of average ability. I'm fanatical about wood and know that the Monkey Puzzle tree, which is native to South America, became very fashionable with house owners in Britain, around the year 1900, the last year of Queen Victoria's rule. Many people planted it in front of their houses and it looked splendid until it reached about fifty years of age,when it began to overgrow its surroundings. It has since been regularly taken down and I am the recipient of a wide piece of seasoned Monkey Puzzle. Its main attraction is the fact that the branches grow out in an almost perfect circle and as far as I know it's the only tree that does that. I'm looking forward to getting my specimen on the lathe.
Thanks Alan for destroying a bit of trivia I thought I knew 😂. The UK's north east coastline is famous for a black gem called Jet. We were all told as children that this jet was fossilised monkey puzzle tree from the Jurassic period. After reading your post, I quickly got on my high horse and jumped on the internet to find relevant information to reply with. But after a quick search I got off my high horse and am now happily eating humble pie. Thanks so much Alan, I am always happy and grateful to be taught something new. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton Mike, I'm totally absorbed with fossils too and am familiar with Jet. My wife and I had great friends (sadly now both deceased) and they lived on a main road out of a large town where most of the houses had been built around the year 1900, give or take a few years either way. They had a massive Monkey Puzzle in their front garden and when ordering something they added that their house would be easily found due to the large Monkey Puzzle tree. This reply should not be taken as a denial of fossilised Monkey Puzzle wood but it's still a vibrant tree growing in many gardens. It's very ornamental and attractive until it grows twice the size of an average house. If you ever get the chance to buy some more Monkey Puzzle wood I recommend you seize the opportunity. Happy turning.
@@alansimpson596 I most certainly will, I missed on a 16" piece last year that (at the time) was too big for my old lathe, I wish I had chased it a bit harder now . Next time though it will be mine :)
Would it not be easyer to file the wood down before starting to sand? Also, 14:00 "the closest i come beeing an Artist", come on, your work is extremely creative and beautyfull! You are an Artist!
Another great project Mike and i just remembered i have some monkey puzzle somewhere in my wood store 🤔 again great video, Kind regards From William 👍 😊
Hi Mike i have cut monkey puzzle quite a bit over the years and it always has a hole in the center of the pith for what reason I don't know 🤔 again great video.
@@William_Kenny thanks, sounds like something to with transportation of water. Elder is the same, that has a stalk with a hole in the centre that was used for bellows long ago.
I’ve always thought that monkey puzzle trees were rather ugly and boring. You have just changed my mind. This is a really unusual piece, functional and classy too. Well done!
@@Angela-en6oh You too Angela, I have another video coming out today (you may not like it 🤪) I had to bring it forward due to us potentially hitting the 10,000 subscriber mark 2 months earlier than expected. Next weeks video will be the give away bowl, which I have still to make lol. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton I am really pleased that you are nearly up to the 10,000 mark - and definitely warranted! I see you have set me a challenge about liking - or not - your next “offering”. Challenge accepted. And I promise to be totally honest.
Really enjoyed the processes involved in making a truly unique piece.. but the artist in me was thinking how pretty it was in it's 'raw' state... then later, how would it look with it's knobs off? An enthralling video, well done 😊
You are most definitely an artist of a legitimate kind. You are plying your developed skills, improving them, to create, emphasis on create, something that you feel looks beautiful. That taste to see a potential work and desire to execute it, to bring it out of an unworked piece, is the core of artistry. The joy you experience in the process is evidence to the passion you have, and passion of any size is what it takes to create art. Forgive me if I'm projecting too deeply into the sentiment but someone who gives me great inspiration is Adam Savage, and he has often spoken on what is easily summarized as Imposter Syndrome which comes in many forms per individual. He expressed on multiple inquiries for his wisdom on the subject that it's part of the creative process to feel it and something best acknowledged and accepted as such and nothing more so that one can quickly move past it. It's something all genuine creators experience and if I can hope to do one thing to help another creator it's to better handle that unfair sentiment we can hold to ourselves to, that we aren't good enough for what we enjoy and that is just not true. I've seen enough of your passion and joy to create beautiful works from just a handful of your videos and I would proudly know you as an artist from those alone. I have enjoyed many more since and that sentiment has only grown. May you continue to create wonderful things!
Good Morning! it's a little early in the morning here to be reading words of wisdom but I do get what you are saying and I do thank you very much for the heart felt way it is put across. I am aware of imposter syndrome and I do know that I had/have it at numerous parts of my life. It is not easily overcome but gradually fades away as you get used to the environment it stems from. I am also a huge fan of Adam, I'm even considering getting the ruler tattoo as it looks really useful and cool!! What is your name by the way? All the best and many thanks, Mike
Fascinating Mike even more so as it was me who you advised as to the link between Monkey Puzzle and Norfolk Island Pine the other week. Love your videos.
What a nice project, how did the hole get there in the frst place? You do use some 'off the wall' types of wood, where on earth do you find them? Good looking lamp and a wonderfully natural finish. Like watching the vids, keep 'em coming.
Hi Colin, I think it naturally in the wood, a few species has it like elderberry. I get my pieces from all over, this one was from eBay 😃, thanks and all the best, Mike
You are right it does look like a mask, this one has a fair amount of character. Learning how to sharpen Forstner bits was a revelation for me, I thought it would be really complicated but it's easy even I can di it😂
I wonder what it would look like if you cut off the branches and made it smooth with just the wood grain showing the branch outline???? But still love it❤❤❤
Really interesting process. I don’t think that I could have imagined the final product based on the initial piece. I really enjoy the creative process in your videos.
Great piece. It deserves a good quality lamp shade. That rustic look would be perfect in a ranch house here in Montana. I turned a few lamps in my early day but gave up on them because between the lamp and the shades they were a pain to transport to, and sometimes back from, shows. But maybe I should do some more.
I have done a few before but not that many. I do love making them but I don't really try to sell my work so storage is s little tricky lol, all the best, Mike
At the start of the video my 1rst thought was, "Mike, what the f%:+ are you going to do with that". But once again, stunning. You really are an inspiration to me. My tiny wee workshop is being powered up as we speak, the sparkys are sorting it out right now. I can't wait to get in & set up my lathe & start playing. With the forstner bits I was surprised to see the teeth not being sharpened. Yet another tip & piece of advise you've passed on. Thanks Mike 👍
Thanks my friend, good luck with your workshop, exciting times 😁. I was a little surprised to see the bit not cutting, endgrain is harder to cut through naturally. The bit gets used a lot so really did need a share. All the best, Mike
Interesting project. I am glad to see you managed to keep your knuckles intact, no evidence of bandages anyway! I bet the price of lamps in charity shops will now rise in response to an increased demand from watchers of this video 🙂
Hi David, yes all fingers and knuckles are intact 😀, good point about lamps in charity shops, I should have gone and bought a few before releasing this 😂, all the best, Mike
I was thinking about what it would look like if you had put iron rings top and bottom because my first thought was that naturally, it looked like a wagon wheel hub.
I am of the opinion that a sand o flex would be preferable to a small rotary tool.but I understand that we work with what we have in the chest. I'm watching intently.
I've seen the sand o flex but I think it has only just become available in the UK and it is VERY expensive here about £75. I had to remove a fair amount of material to blend it in so I think the rotary tool was the best call in this instance. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton it's about $65 in the US I think. That's quite a difference in price though. I'm going to check it out again and I can send a link to the website.
Very cool lamp 👍 I love the uniqueness. I’m not sure how you could’ve accomplished it with this particular piece…but having worked with a similar species, there’s some awesome color within those branches. The heartwood of the uniform branches is much harder than the softer wood as well. If you find another piece of monkey pod, look at doing a cross section at the branches. The end grain sucks, and it is a ton of sanding, but in the end it’s worth it. The colors of the uniform branch heartwood are truly beautiful.
Hi John, I know about the colours and I initially intended to expose it by turning a vase from this. But when it came the piece had so much charm I could not bring myself to do it. I will be getting more. All the best, Mike
There is something of an alien (Star Wars) look about that face with the two eyes, now to choose a lampshade that will compliment it. Glad you kept your knuckles intact. 😅
Sorry Mike but I don’t like the branches sticking out, I’d have to turn them off and give the lamp base a different shape. Your finish is great, the danish oil, however I would have used shellac first then sanded and finished off with walnut oil or Tung oil or raw linseed oil. Probably given a similar finish but I would have known what was totally in the finish, unlike danish oil. What a great tutorial though, your voice is easy to listen to as well. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your work and sharing.
You are more than welcome Don, thanks for watching 🙏
I love the natural outside! Much better than many high gloss, polished, coloured pieces!
Thanks, I wanted it to feel as natural as possible
When you chose which branches should face the room, I suddenly saw the character from The Goonies movie! “Hey you guuuyyss!” 😂😜
Haha, I did as well 😀
Now that is a Lot of work. Can't wait to see it finished. Bound to be magnificent!
Haha thanks Nana 😃
Great looking piece! My wife loves the natural, so of course I’d get points for doing something similar.
Haha, likewise although my wife has run out of room to put them now 😂
You sir are an artist never doubt it 😄
Haha I prefer to class myself as an enthusiastic amateur 😂
14:00 As an artist myself (I mostly work with textiles or clay) I feel it needs to be said: what you're doing here on this channel IS art. You're taking a piece of wood, coming up with a creative vision for it, and transforming it. You're creating unique pieces of work using your skill, experience, and ingenuity. Woodworking most certainly IS art, just the same as sculpting or painting or writing.
You should feel close to being an artist, because you ARE one! Don't sell your hard work and artistry short!
EDIT: I forgot to mention that making videos is also a form of art! So not only are you an artist, but doubly so!
Also, hopefully this isn't impolite but if I may offer a suggestion on the video-making end: I like the sanding timelapses in the video, but the sped-up noise of the sander is a little hard on the ears. Maybe in the future you could lower/mute the sound somewhat when editing the video?
I really enjoy your vids and how relaxed and comfortable they feel, and it's fun to hear your process of coming up with ideas and what you want to do with a project. Hope you're having a good one!
Thanks so much for your message. I know what you are saying and I really appreciate it, I'm still new to the hobby, been turning for about 30 months so still a lot to learn. There are so many amazing turners out there I do find it hard to think of myself as being one of them. I love what I do, I love to experiment and I love to keep out of my comfort zone.
With regards to the suggestion, I completely agree and will look into it and find a way to improve, I have been thinking about this for a while.
Many thanks once again, all the best, Mike
Wow this is a wonderful idea. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BUILD. 😀😀
Hope you enjoy it! 😀
Fantastic, who'd have thought it. Looks great.
Thanks Andrew, I was planning a vase but when it turned up with a hole all the way through I know it needed to be a lamp 😃
Way gorgeous and unique, nice job!
Thanks Kim 😃
Looking great. Glad that you didn't over-work it.
Thanks John, I very nearly just drilled it our a bit more and then just a light sanding, it looked nearly perfect when it came out the box 😀
Working my way through your videos. You are an artist. This is gorgeous. ❤❤
I do like this one, I have some more monkey puzzle coming soon 😀
Very unique project. Great job!
Thank you very much Jason ☺️
That is nice! Good Demonstration.
Thanks Gerald 😀
A very different kind of lamp👌. Love that arty piece of wood..
Hi Wendy, thanks, it's got quite a bit of character 😀
I love the phrase "financially careful", but I think I adore this lamp more. Great job!!
Haha thanks, all the best, Mike
It looks quite amazing!
Thanks Paul 😁
Thanks again for something a little different and interesting
Glad you enjoyed it, all the best, Mike 😀
Once in a lifetime piece of wood! One of a kind fabulous lamp.
Very true Robin, thanks very much, I do like this one 😀
Charming little lamp. Lots of the nature of it improved and preserved! Good job 😊
Thank you! 😊
As a lamp builder, I Love It. Great job!!👍👍👍
Thank you! Cheers William, I still have this and use it every day 😊
I love it! You have a great eye for the unusual and the artistic skill to bring your creations to life. Well done 👏 ✔️
Thank you so much Kirsti 😀
Monstrously beautiful!
Haha thanks Anne 😃
Very interesting piece. Everyone sees something different, I love what you saw in it.
Thank you very much! 😀
Really cool piece of wood. Excellent idea of making it a lamp.
Cheers Ted, the hole all the way through really sealed the deal 😂
@@MikeHolton ha! I suppose you didn’t have much of a choice.
@@Ted_P I guess I could have got my hollowing tools out and made it into a lampshade 😄
@@MikeHolton now THAT would be something! Next time.
A very interesting piece, well explained
Thanks Brent, lamps are fun to make as long as you do things in the right order 😀
Very nice project. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, I will do my best 😀
I like it, and want to do it ,
What a unique piece of wood,
That good job and thank for sharing
Thanks David, they are fun to make 😀
Very interesting piece of wood.
It really is! quite a lot of character 😀
I’ve never seen a piece of wood that grew with symmetric limbs like that. What an awesome piece of wood. And what an amazing piece you made from it. You truly impress me.
Cheers mate, the tree is amazing but really slow growing. It's technically a softwood so horrible to sand lol.
@@MikeHolton I’ve been experiencing some of that myself. You know my friend, you truly do inspire me. You make me want to get out and turn more. I don’t have much desire to do any videos (what I lack in looks, I also lack in personality lol) but I have been thinking about finding a place to share some pictures of some of my projects with others.
@@k9insomniac783 Haha, why do you think I never show my face 😁. When I first started I joined loads of woodturning groups on Facebook, these are great places to show off your work and ask for feedback. When I got better I started an Instagram account which is also good but not as much feedback as Facebook.
As a retired, disabled Senior Master of Art I feel, as I have said before, you tend to sell yourself very short on your artistic abilities. In simple t4erme alone, you are creating 'something' every time you turn a piece of wood on a lathe. In your case Mike this rings very true, you have quite an artistic flare & approach to your work. You are working with the wood trying to show its inner beauty. If that is not an artistic approach leading to artistic outcomes, then I was never an Art Teacher. Cheers, Don from South Australia.
Thanks so much Don, I'm starting to believe but I find it hard to see myself in that way 😀
Even unturned it is a very cool looking piece of wood. After it was turned you ended up with a real beautify of a lamp.
Haha thanks Gary, I was very tempted just to drill the base add the light fittings and have an early finish and saved myself 2 hours of sanding 😆, all the best, Mike
A very unique piece of Art Mike really enjoyed yor Video
Thanks so much Tim, this one was a whole lot of fun 😊
What a unique piece of wood, never seen perfectly sized & semitrical branch growth, great job on turning that lamp 😊
Thank you very much Karen, that is one of the many amazing features of the Monkey Puzzle tree.
Wow, that's a great piece mike
Thanks Steven 😀
Thanks 👍
No problem 👍
Interesting piece of wood.
I'm glad I found it, it has all sorts of charm
@@MikeHolton those symmetrical branches are amazing. Keep up the good work. Inspiring me to try new stuff of the lathe
@@cavelarry6736 Thanks Cave, I can only promise to try my best 😀
Very cool Mike great idea for a weird shaped piece of Monkey Puzzle
Cheers Colin, this was a lot of fun and a lot of sanding
Very nice. I have to make a lamp now. But I don’t think I will find wood like that
Haha, not much like this about. Just find the strangest piece you can and start there. All the best, Mike
What an interesting piece. Great project and loved the final product. Great job
Thanks so much 😀
when you started, I was thinking "mistake", but this is a great piece .. came out very well. Can't wait till next one :)
Thanks so much 😀
Ok...not only is this really cool 😎 and a beautiful piece of wood...
But that bulb 💡 just turned it into a "Steampunk" sculpture...lolol 😂😂😂😂
Haha thanks, I do like it 😀
Another great piece Mike, such a great piece of wood, it didn’t puzzle you at all!
Haha, congratulation on the first pun 😆, and man thanks Mike , all the best, Mike
Very interesting piece.
I think so too Rex 😃
Such an interesting wood, and a fun finished piece.
Thanks Susan, it's the sort of piece that makes people smile 😀
Very well done.
So glad you were able to keep your hands away from the branch ends. It looked scary as you were turning, likely even more so for you.
The next challenge is finding a lamp shade which goes with this unusual piece.
In the US we have an equivalent tree called Norfolk Island Pine, which produces a similar ring of branches. The branch ends are a nice red colour when freshly turned/sanded. Sadly this goes brown with exposure to UV.
I have a piece of Norfolk Island Pine awaiting a future spindle turned project. Mine has the branch ends already cut off. I would not want to try turning my piece with the ends protruding.
Dave.
Thanks Dave, I came close to catching my fingers but the wind was a great reminder! I've have heard about Norfolk Island Pine and it really is very similar, we don't have any over here but we do have this stuff so it's all good. As for a lampshade, if we are to keep it then that is my wife's department 😂
Very unique piece Mike. What spiecies of wood is that?
Thanks Brian, it Monkeys Puzzle tree.
Very different piece Very nice 😊
Thanks 😀
Beautiful.
Thank you!😀
You ARE an artist. A very good one at that! You should believe it. I hope you will continue for a long time. J Shadoff
Thanks Jaquith, I will continue for as long as I am able 😊
I shall be commenting more fully on Mike's excellent video but in the meantime may I say I've been a woodturner for about ten years and of average ability. I'm fanatical about wood and know that the Monkey Puzzle tree, which is native to South America, became very fashionable with house owners in Britain, around the year 1900, the last year of Queen Victoria's rule. Many people planted it in front of their houses and it looked splendid until it reached about fifty years of age,when it began to overgrow its surroundings. It has since been regularly taken down and I am the recipient of a wide piece of seasoned Monkey Puzzle. Its main attraction is the fact that the branches grow out in an almost perfect circle and as far as I know it's the only tree that does that. I'm looking forward to getting my specimen on the lathe.
Thanks Alan for destroying a bit of trivia I thought I knew 😂. The UK's north east coastline is famous for a black gem called Jet. We were all told as children that this jet was fossilised monkey puzzle tree from the Jurassic period. After reading your post, I quickly got on my high horse and jumped on the internet to find relevant information to reply with. But after a quick search I got off my high horse and am now happily eating humble pie. Thanks so much Alan, I am always happy and grateful to be taught something new. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton Mike, I'm totally absorbed with fossils too and am familiar with Jet. My wife and I had great friends (sadly now both deceased) and they lived on a main road out of a large town where most of the houses had been built around the year 1900, give or take a few years either way. They had a massive Monkey Puzzle in their front garden and when ordering something they added that their house would be easily found due to the large Monkey Puzzle tree. This reply should not be taken as a denial of fossilised Monkey Puzzle wood but it's still a vibrant tree growing in many gardens. It's very ornamental and attractive until it grows twice the size of an average house. If you ever get the chance to buy some more Monkey Puzzle wood I recommend you seize the opportunity. Happy turning.
@@alansimpson596 I most certainly will, I missed on a 16" piece last year that (at the time) was too big for my old lathe, I wish I had chased it a bit harder now . Next time though it will be mine :)
That is an interesting piece of wood, Mike! Great job!
Thank you very much, it is a real character piece 😃
Quite an enlightening video. I'm a big fan of Norfolk Island Pine and Monkey Puzzle. Well done.
Glad you enjoyed it! There is not a lot of softwoods worth turning with of course the exception being these two 😃
Very unique piece. Great job, Mike!
many thanks Mary 😄
Would it not be easyer to file the wood down before starting to sand? Also, 14:00 "the closest i come beeing an Artist", come on, your work is extremely creative and beautyfull! You are an Artist!
Thanks Hans, yes filing would have been easier lol, and thanks for your comment about creativity, I really do appreciate it, all the best, Mike
Great vid production. and you have quite a unique eye. 👍
Thank you kindly 😁
Great project!
Thank you! 😀
Once again you have knocked it out of the park. 🎉. Beautiful can’t wait to get me a lathe. Loved woodworking when I was in high school
Thanks Scott, very exciting times, I started at school and then again a few years ago. Completely addicted.
It looks like some bizarre alien sea creature. It’s different and I like different 🌞
@@raydriver7300 🤣 Thanks Ray
Another great project Mike and i just remembered i have some monkey puzzle somewhere in my wood store 🤔 again great video,
Kind regards
From William 👍 😊
Thanks Willie, when you get a sec take a look at it and let me know if it developing a hole through the middle please. All the best, Mike
Hi Mike i have cut monkey puzzle quite a bit over the years and it always has a hole in the center of the pith for what reason I don't know 🤔 again great video.
@@William_Kenny thanks, sounds like something to with transportation of water. Elder is the same, that has a stalk with a hole in the centre that was used for bellows long ago.
Nice job with the monkey puzzle lamp Mike..... impressive work and you make it look so simple..... great skills!
Glad you like it, I just wanted to have a bit of fun with this one, all the best, Mike
👌 love your work.
Thank you so much 😀
A ery clever use of your material and a very pretty result.Terry downunder
Cheers Terry, I'm pretty happy with the way this one came out 😃
Great! Love it.
Glad you like it!
Now That is great 👍 You are a smart fella, you know that ?
haha I'm sure some people would disagree but thanks 😃
I’ve always thought that monkey puzzle trees were rather ugly and boring. You have just changed my mind. This is a really unusual piece, functional and classy too. Well done!
Thanks Angela, if you get the wrong piece it certainly can be, but if you get the right one it can be amazing. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton Have a great week - and I look forward to the next production.
@@Angela-en6oh You too Angela, I have another video coming out today (you may not like it 🤪) I had to bring it forward due to us potentially hitting the 10,000 subscriber mark 2 months earlier than expected. Next weeks video will be the give away bowl, which I have still to make lol. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton I am really pleased that you are nearly up to the 10,000 mark - and definitely warranted! I see you have set me a challenge about liking - or not - your next “offering”. Challenge accepted. And I promise to be totally honest.
@@Angela-en6oh Thanks Angela, that is all I ever ask. All the best, Mike
Really enjoyed the processes involved in making a truly unique piece.. but the artist in me was thinking how pretty it was in it's 'raw' state... then later, how would it look with it's knobs off?
An enthralling video, well done 😊
Haha thanks Jax, I need to get another so we can see what it is like with the nobs off this time 😀
@@MikeHolton that would be really interesting... preferably one without a hole through, for a bowl or vase.. not being too fussy am I? lol
@@jaxxlawson4545 🤣 not fussy at all!
That would make an incredible centerpiece for a western style chandelier. Or maybe a tall lamp that puts the piece right in your face.
Haha, that is an amazing idea, love it, thanks 😀
You are most definitely an artist of a legitimate kind. You are plying your developed skills, improving them, to create, emphasis on create, something that you feel looks beautiful. That taste to see a potential work and desire to execute it, to bring it out of an unworked piece, is the core of artistry. The joy you experience in the process is evidence to the passion you have, and passion of any size is what it takes to create art. Forgive me if I'm projecting too deeply into the sentiment but someone who gives me great inspiration is Adam Savage, and he has often spoken on what is easily summarized as Imposter Syndrome which comes in many forms per individual. He expressed on multiple inquiries for his wisdom on the subject that it's part of the creative process to feel it and something best acknowledged and accepted as such and nothing more so that one can quickly move past it. It's something all genuine creators experience and if I can hope to do one thing to help another creator it's to better handle that unfair sentiment we can hold to ourselves to, that we aren't good enough for what we enjoy and that is just not true.
I've seen enough of your passion and joy to create beautiful works from just a handful of your videos and I would proudly know you as an artist from those alone. I have enjoyed many more since and that sentiment has only grown. May you continue to create wonderful things!
Good Morning! it's a little early in the morning here to be reading words of wisdom but I do get what you are saying and I do thank you very much for the heart felt way it is put across. I am aware of imposter syndrome and I do know that I had/have it at numerous parts of my life. It is not easily overcome but gradually fades away as you get used to the environment it stems from. I am also a huge fan of Adam, I'm even considering getting the ruler tattoo as it looks really useful and cool!! What is your name by the way? All the best and many thanks, Mike
It's beautiful, I want to see it with a lampshade on it
Haha, I'll ask my wife to choose one 😀
Fascinating Mike even more so as it was me who you advised as to the link between Monkey Puzzle and Norfolk Island Pine the other week. Love your videos.
Yes indeed I remember that so well 😃, I would love to turn some Norfolk Pine but not really any about in the UK
Loved it
Cool end lamp
Thanks so much 😀
What a nice project, how did the hole get there in the frst place? You do use some 'off the wall' types of wood, where on earth do you find them? Good looking lamp and a wonderfully natural finish. Like watching the vids, keep 'em coming.
Hi Colin, I think it naturally in the wood, a few species has it like elderberry. I get my pieces from all over, this one was from eBay 😃, thanks and all the best, Mike
Nice! That piece could host The View.
Haha 😆
Nice work.
Thank you! Cheers Loran 😌
Cute lamp!
Thanks Stephanie 🙂
Brilliant.Mike
Thanks Doug 😀
Awesome lamp, monkey puzzle is my favourite tree, but sadly here in west aus rarely available. Are you going to put some kind of a shade on it. Cheers
Very nice.
Thanks Darryl, the wife is in charge of soft furnishings, I would not dare choose something 🤣
@@MikeHolton We must be married to the same woman. Cheers
@@darrylbuckett5380 🤣😂😅
Nice job Mike.
Glad you enjoyed it🙂
Definately knobs on , a unique lamp 👍
Thanks Vini, I'm glad I left them even though I know the colours inside around the knots would be amazing as well.
Very cool piece. That lumber would have been very interesting to look at when it was growing I bet. Keep up the great work . 👽
Thanks, the 'bark' on this tree is almost like scales, very unusual. Amazing looking tree.
Really like how the rings of the grain are shown. It reminds me of an African Tribal Mask. Thanks for showing how to sharpen a Forstner Bit. 👍🏻🙂
You are right it does look like a mask, this one has a fair amount of character. Learning how to sharpen Forstner bits was a revelation for me, I thought it would be really complicated but it's easy even I can di it😂
Definately a unique lamp!
Thanks Debra, I just love it's quirkiness 😀
I wonder what it would look like if you cut off the branches and made it smooth with just the wood grain showing the branch outline???? But still love it❤❤❤
Hi Gloria, it would still look pretty nice, I may get another to try 😀
Really interesting process. I don’t think that I could have imagined the final product based on the initial piece. I really enjoy the creative process in your videos.
Thank you very much Jerimiah, all the best, Mike
Great piece. It deserves a good quality lamp shade. That rustic look would be perfect in a ranch house here in Montana. I turned a few lamps in my early day but gave up on them because between the lamp and the shades they were a pain to transport to, and sometimes back from, shows. But maybe I should do some more.
I have done a few before but not that many. I do love making them but I don't really try to sell my work so storage is s little tricky lol, all the best, Mike
Awesomeness 🎉🎉🎉
haha thanks 😀
Another project that could fit in a log cabin!
This would look great in a log cabin! 😀
At the start of the video my 1rst thought was, "Mike, what the f%:+ are you going to do with that". But once again, stunning. You really are an inspiration to me. My tiny wee workshop is being powered up as we speak, the sparkys are sorting it out right now. I can't wait to get in & set up my lathe & start playing. With the forstner bits I was surprised to see the teeth not being sharpened. Yet another tip & piece of advise you've passed on. Thanks Mike 👍
Thanks my friend, good luck with your workshop, exciting times 😁. I was a little surprised to see the bit not cutting, endgrain is harder to cut through naturally. The bit gets used a lot so really did need a share. All the best, Mike
Can a tree shape be unique like that? It's so beautiful!👍👍
The monkey puzzle trees are famous for this regular shape. All the best, Mike
Interesting project. I am glad to see you managed to keep your knuckles intact, no evidence of bandages anyway! I bet the price of lamps in charity shops will now rise in response to an increased demand from watchers of this video 🙂
Hi David, yes all fingers and knuckles are intact 😀, good point about lamps in charity shops, I should have gone and bought a few before releasing this 😂, all the best, Mike
I was thinking about what it would look like if you had put iron rings top and bottom because my first thought was that naturally, it looked like a wagon wheel hub.
Interesting idea! You are the second person to say it looks like a wagon hub 😉
The side you selected for the front makes it look like “3CPO” from Star Wars
C3PO
Wrong order but I get what you mean 🤖
I’m old
What is that, 1890 Edison bulb?
It's a copy or similar design yes 😃
I am of the opinion that a sand o flex would be preferable to a small rotary tool.but I understand that we work with what we have in the chest. I'm watching intently.
I've seen the sand o flex but I think it has only just become available in the UK and it is VERY expensive here about £75. I had to remove a fair amount of material to blend it in so I think the rotary tool was the best call in this instance. All the best, Mike
@@MikeHolton it's about $65 in the US I think. That's quite a difference in price though. I'm going to check it out again and I can send a link to the website.
@@archiehebron8944 Thanks
Very cool lamp 👍
I love the uniqueness.
I’m not sure how you could’ve accomplished it with this particular piece…but having worked with a similar species, there’s some awesome color within those branches. The heartwood of the uniform branches is much harder than the softer wood as well.
If you find another piece of monkey pod, look at doing a cross section at the branches. The end grain sucks, and it is a ton of sanding, but in the end it’s worth it. The colors of the uniform branch heartwood are truly beautiful.
Hi John, I know about the colours and I initially intended to expose it by turning a vase from this. But when it came the piece had so much charm I could not bring myself to do it. I will be getting more. All the best, Mike
Nice
Thanks 👍
There is something of an alien (Star Wars) look about that face with the two eyes, now to choose a lampshade that will compliment it. Glad you kept your knuckles intact. 😅
Haha, me too 😋. If the lamp is staying then it will be up to my wife to choose the shade, I would not be allowed to make such an important decision. 😂
Sorry Mike but I don’t like the branches sticking out, I’d have to turn them off and give the lamp base a different shape.
Your finish is great, the danish oil, however I would have used shellac first then sanded and finished off with walnut oil or Tung oil or raw linseed oil. Probably given a similar finish but I would have known what was totally in the finish, unlike danish oil.
What a great tutorial though, your voice is easy to listen to as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Your welcome Greg, thanks for sharing your thoughts, really appreciate it 😀
Very cool.lamp Mike
David Wise
Thanks David, I do like this one 😀