This box with threaded lid started with African Blackwood. The two pieces were first hollowed inside. Next, matching pieces of hard maple were turned to an exact fit, glued, and hollowed leaving only a thin layer of maple remaining. This was repeated with a piece of brown ivory wood, glued, and turned so that only a thin layer remained. The interior pattern was cut with an ornamental lathe (that I built myself). The cuts went completely through the thin layers and into the outer shell of blackwood to create the contrasting colors in the interior pattern.
Bill Ooms
Studio of Bill Ooms in Prescott, AZ.
Wood has always been a part of Bill's life. As a second generation wood-turner, he learned basic woodworking techniques from his father. Even as a young man, his desire was to envision and create new things. This led him to his first career in engineering, and now he has returned to his roots as a full time woodworker. Much of Bill's early wood work was turning hollow vases inspired by the pottery of Native Americans in the Southwest. Later, he combined his wood-turning skills with his math and engineering background to create unique wood sculptures. Most recently, Bill has designed and built a complex and unique ornamental lathe to create highly decorated objects of wood art.
Contest Entries
2017 Entries
Black Egg
Note Box
By Bill Ooms at Studio of Bill Ooms in Prescott, AZ.
Winning Category
This box with threaded lid started with African Blackwood. Then a thin layer of Holly was wrapped around the exterior, glued, and turned down to a thickness of 0.030”. A cylinder of African Blackwood was hollowed to fit over the Holly, glued, and turned down to a thickness of 0.020”. The keyboard pattern was cut through the exterior black layer and into the holly on an ornamental lathe (that I built myself). Additional ornamentation was cut on the top of the box and inside the box with the ornamental lathe.
Butterfly Pot
By Bill Ooms at Studio of Bill Ooms in Prescott, AZ.
Winning Category
The wood is hard maple that is turned and hollowed. The exterior is sealed with 2 coats of de-waxed shellac. Java Gel Stain is dabbed onto the surface with a piece of cotton cloth. The pattern is cut into the wood using an ornamental lathe (which I built myself). The biggest challenge was making a custom chuck to hold the vase at various angles when cutting the butterfly patterns at the various locations on the surface. The final finish is sprayed on (Deft Semi-Gloss Clear Wood Finish). Size is 2.25” tall x 3” diameter.
Weed Vase
By Bill Ooms at Studio of Bill Ooms in Prescott, AZ.
Winning Category
This hollow vase is perfect for those “flowers” my grand-daughter brings me. The wood is hard maple that has been hollowed from the bottom and then plugged with a matching piece of wood. The small hole in the top is drilled to connect with the hollow interior. The wood is sealed with 2 coats of de-waxed shellac. Java Gel Stain is dabbed onto the surface at an angle with a piece of ribbed T-shirt to give a subtle spiraling effect in the surface stain. The pattern is cut into the wood using an ornamental lathe (which I built myself).
Black Pen
By Bill Ooms at Studio of Bill Ooms in Prescott, AZ.
Winning Category
The metal components are made by hand from brass on a metal lathe (they are not kit components). The wood is African Blackwood and pieces of sterling silver wire are inserted into both ends. The pattern was cut into the wood of the pen using an ornamental lathe which I built myself. The finish is an oil finish I mix myself from 1/3 Pure Tung Oil, 1/3 Pure Boiled Linseed Oil, and 1/3 Behlen Rock Hard Table Varnish. Size is 5” long x 0.6” diameter.
