Oak Lamp Turned in the Robins AFB Woodshop

While serving in the U.S. Air Force at Robins AFG, Georgia, in the early 1980s, I took advantage of the base woodworking shop to make a set of stereo speaker enclosures, turn a couple lamps on the wood lathe, and a few other projects. Most have been sold or given away over the many household moves that have transpired since then. One of the oak lamps has survived, probably because I had given it to Melanie as a present before we were married. It is made from some 3" thick blocks that were found in the wood shop's scrap bin. I laminated three of them together and then turned an ad hoc design (no preplanned shape) that can be seen in these couple photos. A couple grooves were added and then brass tubing was bent to fit. Even with a couple coats of lacquer on them, they have turned from bright and shiny to dark and shiny. The laminated joints have become uneven in places so you can feel a slight edge. My guess is that the oak blocks were not fully dried before I used them.

Posted August 11, 2018