Robert's oil vessels

["Patricia Lawson" <patlawson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert,
Do you have photos of your small alabaster oil vessels online, or that you
could upload to the Stone group files? I Would love to see your surviving
ones. Did you turn them on a lathe or carve/sculpt them?

Regarding drilling on the lathe; Yes, it works well, but I prefer the drill
press for convenience and to save time. Using the drill press, I don't have
to set up the lathe for drilling, then change it for turning.

For mounting alabaster on the lathe faceplate for bowls, I use CA glue or
double-sided turner's tape.
With penmaking though, putting alabaster barrel pieces on the lathe wouldn't
require any glue or tape, (as long you can drill a hole through them),
because pen barrels have a brass tube glued into them and then go onto a
mandrel (rod) on the lathe.

You mentioned that heat destroys alabaster. I have heard that heat can cause
it to become opaque. Is this what you meant, or are there other problems
besides this? Also, I've been reluctant to use much water for any reason on
the alabaster, because I have heard that alabaster dissolves in water, or
becomes etched.

Pat L.

Pens By Patricia