December 2025 Contest

[Michael Mathews]

For December show us pics of your turnings. This can be any kind turning; spindles, bowls, plates, vessels, ornaments, etc!

This contest will end December 29. Voting will run December 30-31.

Rules:
- Must be created within the last 60 months. That's 5 years
- One submission per creator/artist per category (month). Pick one piece. If you have a set and want to show how it matches okay but you are only entering one piece. Hi-light that one piece.
- Members vote for winners so your submittal 'marketing' post should reflect quality. Limited to 3 photos and 500 words. One post per submittal.
- Any Q&A regarding a submittal should be handled by separate post, or DM/PM. Expect questions to be deleted. Separate posts do not clutter the contest thread, avoids vote biasing, and everyone can share How's It Made (Resources forum content).
- Each creator can win a contest no more than once every six months.
- In case of a tie, a judge panel will make the selection. Judges' decision is final. Judges will remain anonymous.
- Each monthly contest will have two winners, novice and experienced/journeyman/veteran/pro. Novice is defined as <3 years woodworking, cumulative. "Experienced" is all others. Submitters must indicate if they are novice; honor system applies. If you don't declare, you're an experienced woodworker.

 

[CharlieGator]

Segmented vase
Paduak, maple and walnut

 

[JRedding]

This is a segmented vessel I designed and finished today that was influenced by a form of Grecian urn. It’s made from koa and ebony (my personal favorite combination), the rows are 18 segments and 3/4” thick, except the ebony rows which are 3/8” thick, and the bottom is a solid piece of koa. The piece is 5.75” tall and 6.25” wide at the top and widest part of the body. Finish is semi-gloss wipe on poly, then “sanded” with a brown paper bag, and finally buffed at high speed with carnauba wax.

 

[Dee2]

Simple bowl, not. Sweet sixteen (inches dia.) cherry burl, ~9" ht. Mahoney oil finish.

This one was a bit of a challenge due to the bad mounting covered in another post.

C&C welcome.

Thanks for looking.

And, not qualified as novice.

 

[Charlie]

10"D x 23"H - Sapele, Maple, Peruvian Walnut - 601 Pcs.
All comments welcome. Thanks for looking.

 

[Michael Mathews]

Spalted Maple bowl, 10" dia. x 3-1/2" tall. Finished with Ack's sanding and polishing compounds.

 

[Mike R]

Dogwood bowl with an integrated pedestal. The wood came from a dying tree I took out of my yard a few years ago. I lost track of how much time I spent sanding and cleaning out bug tracks.

This is the first time I’ve done a pedestal this way. The piece is just under eight inches at its widest. It’s finished with Danish oil.

 

[karlkoch]

Spalted and wormy maple shouldered bowl. About 14” Dia. When I started I was concered about the wood holding together in the hollowing but it surprised me. I took my time and wet sanded with linseed oil, let it dry, and then finished with multiple coats of Waterlox - sanding between coats. Thanks for looking. Comments are welcome. (click on the pictures to see full frame).

 

[Hmerkle]

Not being able to vote for them all is a REAL problem!

 

[ErnieM]

10"D x 23"H - Sapele, Maple, Peruvian Walnut - 601 Pcs.
All comments welcome. Thanks for looking.
View attachment 241669

Charlie - this is one of my favorites. You never cease to amaze!!

 

[Charlie]

Charlie - this is one of my favorites. You never cease to amaze!!

Thanks Ernie.
Great to hear from you.
Happy New Year!

 

[Michael Mathews]

10"D x 23"H - Sapele, Maple, Peruvian Walnut - 601 Pcs.
All comments welcome. Thanks for looking.
View attachment 241669

Congratulations to Charlie! You won the December Turning contest! Great job! Look for a DM from me with more details.

 

[JNCarr]

Congrats Charlie!

 

[JRedding]

Congratulations, Charlie - that’s a beautiful piece!