Asymmetric Lidded Vase

I started out like most segmenters, with the accepted ‘brick wall’ format. Over the past few years I have explored various forms of segmenting, including the use of curved joints, and have played with using veneer in the joints to highlight the various timbers. The current system moves away from cutting the usual wedge-shaped segments and fitting them together. I still have a few ideas about where to take the method – time will tell.

I started the project by determining how big it was to be – even the development of the size and shape for the finished article was a conundrum. I tried six sections first, but the cutting of the shape of the pieces seemed too complex. With eight sections a common angle of 45° seemed much easier to handle.

Then the planning started. It appeared obvious that cutting 16 pieces was the way to go, but that involved wasting a portion of the 16 pieces when the bevel was cut. Then came the problem of what face to veneer to get the effect I was after. In the end I cut some scrap to the shapes on the plan and quickly it became obvious where the veneer should go.

I made a full-size drawing of the profile, showing the wall thickness. This drawing will show the size of timber needed to develop a shape that I thought looked good. From these two drawings I was able to get a timber list