ZIPPER VASE

I can't help but laugh every time I see this vase.

This is how I normally stack my segments when preparing a turning.

I can rotate the stack as I add segments, checking each ring, to make sure it is centered.

This is my version of a glue press, on my workbench.

All ready to turn on the lathe.

After the vase is turned, sanded and finished with several coats of wax, I drilled the inside, a ways, with a hole saw. I used a hole saw to start the hole because with the fine teeth on the hole saw, it doesn't bite the wood hard, when starting a fresh hole.

After I had a good circle started, I switched out to a forstner bit. I drilled the hole size for a glass vase to fit in it. This way the vase can be used with real flowers.

Using a rotary tool, with a little circular saw blade on it, I cut out the section for the open top.

Just a little sanding was necessary to clean up the cut.

I used some quick drying super glue to adhere the zipper on, a little bit at a time. The zipper is a standard 7" long zipper.

I love the looks of the figured maple, that this is made of. All the segments came from one section of a tree. It amazes me how much variety of color is in one area of a tree trunk. This ranks up there with some of my favorite projects. I think it's just funny to see it.