The process used to produce these works has evolved over the past five years. While I sought help and input from other woodturners, I found no one with solutions to crucial challenges like finding tools large and strong enough to shape the objects inside and out, and preventing the splitting and checking of end-grain. Too often, the workshop echoed with the crack of a finished piece as a two-inch rift opened up one side.
Over time, I adapted auto-body and other heavy-duty tools. I also adopted two time-tested solutions for cracking—lubricating the wood to slow drying and using shellac as the final finish. Combined with one high-tech innovation—microwave drying—I have greatly reduced spoilage.