Woodturning Yard Waste Into Functional Art

My neighbors tree drops these seed pods in my backyard every year. I decided I would try to make something with them instead of just throwing them in the waste bin. I used zebra wood for the end caps and part of the lid. The eye candy Komainu ultracolor shift pigment powder looks absolutely amazing combined with the superclear deep pour epoxy resin. I chose to use Waterlox original for the finish. I had a few firsts in this video. This was my first attempt at making segmented pieces to turn. Also, this is the first time I’ve made a lid for a piece. While overall I am happy with how this piece came out I am not thrilled with the lid. It feels good in the hand but just isn’t as pleasing to the eye. I may go back to this one and make some adjustments to the lid at a later date if something better comes to me. ( I left the tenon on the lid for this reason). I thought I had an original idea with this piece, but after further research I found Sprague woodturning had made a video a while back using these spiky seed pods as well. I’ve had mixed responses about this piece. Some people think it looks amazing and some say creepy. What do you think? Please let me know in the comments below. Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great day! Special thanks to ​⁠ glennmartinphotography for helping me out with setting up my new camera and giving me the quick and dirty rundown of how to use it. Much appreciated mate! Please see description for affiliate links of products and tools used in this video.

Flashback to childhood of finding those pods with bare feet. Very cool looking even if it is made with such an evil seed pod.

If I was a genie, this is the container I would want to live in. I can't help but imagine ot as a lantern with light from within. Beautiful!

You are welcome to come to my yard and take all of the sweetgum seed pods. You may even take the trees as well!

My toddler (3 almost 4 years old) and I recently found your channel. We love watching you as part of our wind down time and talking about the colors and shapes you use.

Well that turned out absolutely beautiful! There is nothing like watching a skilled master at his craft. Just a wonderful work of art.

My husband was riding his bike to work (long time ago) and saw the road directly ahead was full of these. He looked back to see if he could go around, but a big truck was coming. He had no choice and rode right into them, there was no time to stop. His front wheel hit the patch and he went down. Every inch of his uncovered body, and some that was covered, looked like he had been attacked by a pack of kittens. I'd love to have this piece to give to him, he'd get a good laugh from it 😂

More than fancy tools, more than the experience and talent to use them, more than your creative imagination even, you have the patience of a saint. This is a priceless work of art. Incredible!!!

I've used those pods to fill holes in the driveway, but this is so beautiful that im going to show my dad. He works with a lot of wood crafting.

Such a unique and beautiful jar! I love the warm metallic look to it. This is the best use of sweet gum pods I've ever seen! Thank you for sharing your creative process.

Excuse me Mr. S&L but I have to say this is one of my favorite pieces I've seen made before my eyes. I know it is not an urn but I've been searching for a urn for my father for a few years now and haven't been able to find anything I feel is worthy enough to call home for his ashes, but this my friend would be it - lid and all! (wink wink) My Daddio was a craftsman, a man who made everything and took pride in doing so and teaching his daughters to use the tools as well. I'm proud to be my dad's daughter who sat under cars or in the work shop alongside him learning anything and everything he would teach me. And feel like he would be happy in something of that caliber to find his eternal slumber in. Now that you have opened my eyes to this project I know what I am finally looking for. If only I knew how to make one myself, one day maybe I will have my own workshop and be able to make greater things than I do now.... THANK YOU. ✌💜🙃🙏

That color would make a beautiful bowl by itself. The way you made it is gorgeous. Masterful work

Stunning piece!! Was a joy to watch 😊

So Beautiful! My Mom would absolutely want this. It reminds me of the when my sister was little and Mom would take us all over the neighborhood to find these in different yards so we could do Summer projects while out of school to keep us busy. We made all kids of things with them. WOW! If only we could have done something like this! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

I remember I used to love these growing up in Tennessee, used to throw them at my brother. Miss em since I moved up north

Thanks to the creator for the talent he gave you and to get us excited about this result! Congratulations! BCN

I haven't seen sweet gum balls in years! So wonderful and nostalgic!

It's beautifully done. Love the way it turned out. That pigment for the resin is superb. From the shape and size of the container it would make a very nice urn for cremation ashes. I like it!

I have literally thousands of these in my yard! I'm going to have to try this. Thank you.

Absolutely Stunning! Absolutely Beautiful! Amazing Shop, Amazing Work! Avalon got it right, a True Skilled Master!