Uff Da! Used to express bafflement, surprise, relief, exhaustion, or dismay, a placeholder for many common obscenities. Of Norwegian origin, the phrase was brought by Scandinavian Americans to the Upper Midwest, New England, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States during the 19th century.
I was born and raised in Northern Minnesota. My Great-Great-Grandfather came to Minnesota from Sweden with his Norwegian wife and their seven young children and settled in Minnesota. My father was an industrial arts university professor and that is where I got my desire to work with my hands. I first started turning wood in high school and bought my first lathe a few years after I graduated.
Most of the wood I use is local from NW Florida. Oak (various species), Hickory, Chestnut, Pecan, Cedar, and some (very few) exotic woods from elsewhere. I have also used epoxies (with color) to enhance certain aspects of various pieces, and sometimes to fix an imperfection (cracks, holes, etc.) that may cause instability in the piece. From start to finish it can take years to complete one of these pieces. Slow initial drying after a log is cut is crucial to prevent catastrophic cracks, however, I have epoxy filed some of these cracks and it sometimes adds an interesting accent to the piece.
Most of these pieces have been finished with Tung Oil. Tung oil or China wood oil is a drying oil obtained by pressing the seed from the nut of the tung tree. Tung oil hardens upon exposure to air (through a process called polymerization), and the resulting coating is transparent and has a deep, almost wet look. The oil and its use are believed to have originated in ancient China and appear in the writings of Confucius from about 400 BC.
This finish is not necessarily 100% waterproof (pours in the wood can still absorb water/moisture), and the piece should not be subjected to water, to be on the safe side. Tung oils are considered “food safe” by some, however, I consider these pieces to be art and were not intended to be used for food service (note: my honey dippers are unfinished natural wood).
Every piece is one-of-a-kind as no two pieces of wood are exactly the same in design or shape. Any knot, discoloration, hole, crack, etc. are naturally found in the wood, giving it character and originality.
Whether you find some woodturning art that you would like to purchase, or you are just looking, I hope that you enjoy seeing some of my turned art as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
Wood is a natural product that responds to temperature and humidity fluctuations by expansion and contraction. Sometimes these changes may be noticeable in the physical appearance of the piece. Although every care is taken to ensure my items can handle temperature and humidity changes, the conditions of your home or office can affect the wooden products you buy from me.
I suggest that you to keep your purchase in a consistent, stable condition (as much as possible) to minimize the effects of temperature and moisture changes in the atmosphere. For example, avoid placing close to a heat source such as a radiator, oven, or direct sunlight; this will go a long way to ensuring the longevity of your purchase.
Cracks, bug holes, knots, or other “abnormalities” may already exist (I sometimes chose to leave them in the piece) or may appear over time. These are not “defects”, but rather a natural effect of the environment on the wood. I personally prefer the look of these “abnormalities” because they add distinctive character to the piece.
