Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A Mallee burr centrepiece, turned off-centre so the grain leads and the shape follows.
Mallee root burr is dense, interlocked and full of reversals, and mounting it off its natural axis means the form comes out asymmetric on purpose.
Textured with an Arbotech, graded with airbrushed colour, finished in Danish oil, then off to a gallery in Farnham.
What does it mean to turn a piece off-centre on the lathe — and why would you do it?
Off-centre turning means the piece isn't mounted through its natural axis, so it moves eccentrically as it spins. The result is a form that isn't symmetrical — and in the case of a burr like this one, that's actually the point. The Mallee Burr has such strong natural character that a conventional centred approach would have fought the material. Turning it off-centre lets the grain lead, and the shape follows.
What is Mallee Burr, and is it difficult to work with on the lathe?
Mallee is an Australian shrub whose root burrs produce some of the most dramatic interlocking grain you'll find on a lathe. Dense, unpredictable, and full of reversals throughout — it's challenging material even on a centred mount. Add the off-centre dynamic and you're constantly adjusting your approach as the piece moves through each rotation.
How big is this piece, and what is it actually designed for?
It's a large centrepiece — not a bowl, not a vessel, but a decorative object designed to sit and command space. Scale is part of what makes it work; the burr's natural character needs room to breathe.
What technique was used to create the surface texture?
The wave texture was cut using an Arbotech rotary carver. The aim was to add movement that echoes the grain itself — so the texturing feels like it grew there rather than being imposed on top.
What finish brings the piece together?
An airbrush colour gradient was applied first, allowing a controlled shift in tone across the surface that brushwork can't achieve at this scale. Danish oil followed, sealing the piece and drawing out the grain without adding an artificial shine.
Where does this piece end up?
It goes to a gallery in Farnham for sale — turned work made for the decorative craft market, at the point where craftsmanship meets gallery-ready art.
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Choosing the deepest point of the burr for the ring faceplate
0:46 Pre-drilling and mounting with wax-lubricated screws
1:16 Turning off-centre: safety and the eccentric motion
2:06 Cutting the recess for reverse mounting
3:26 Shaping the rim with freshly sharpened gouges
4:07 The hard-going outside cut
6:02 Using the Arbotech to texture over chainsaw marks
7:53 Airbrush colour gradient
8:55 Danish oil finish
9:43 The finished centrepiece
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school 🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning 📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop 📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park. 🌐 msabansmith.com Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
A Mallee burr centrepiece, turned off-centre so the grain leads and the shape follows.
Mallee root burr is dense, interlocked and full of reversals, and mounting it off its natural axis means the form comes out asymmetric on purpose.
Textured with an Arbotech, graded with airbrushed colour, finished in Danish oil, then off to a gallery in Farnham.
What does it mean to turn a piece off-centre on the lathe — and why would you do it?
Off-centre turning means the piece isn't mounted through its natural axis, so it moves eccentrically as it spins. The result is a form that isn't symmetrical — and in the case of a burr like this one, that's actually the point. The Mallee Burr has such strong natural character that a conventional centred approach would have fought the material. Turning it off-centre lets the grain lead, and the shape follows.
What is Mallee Burr, and is it difficult to work with on the lathe?
Mallee is an Australian shrub whose root burrs produce some of the most dramatic interlocking grain you'll find on a lathe. Dense, unpredictable, and full of reversals throughout — it's challenging material even on a centred mount. Add the off-centre dynamic and you're constantly adjusting your approach as the piece moves through each rotation.
How big is this piece, and what is it actually designed for?
It's a large centrepiece — not a bowl, not a vessel, but a decorative object designed to sit and command space. Scale is part of what makes it work; the burr's natural character needs room to breathe.
What technique was used to create the surface texture?
The wave texture was cut using an Arbotech rotary carver. The aim was to add movement that echoes the grain itself — so the texturing feels like it grew there rather than being imposed on top.
What finish brings the piece together?
An airbrush colour gradient was applied first, allowing a controlled shift in tone across the surface that brushwork can't achieve at this scale. Danish oil followed, sealing the piece and drawing out the grain without adding an artificial shine.
Where does this piece end up?
It goes to a gallery in Farnham for sale — turned work made for the decorative craft market, at the point where craftsmanship meets gallery-ready art.
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Choosing the deepest point of the burr for the ring faceplate
0:46 Pre-drilling and mounting with wax-lubricated screws
1:16 Turning off-centre: safety and the eccentric motion
2:06 Cutting the recess for reverse mounting
3:26 Shaping the rim with freshly sharpened gouges
4:07 The hard-going outside cut
6:02 Using the Arbotech to texture over chainsaw marks
7:53 Airbrush colour gradient
8:55 Danish oil finish
9:43 The finished centrepiece
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school 🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning 📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop 📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park. 🌐 msabansmith.com Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
