So I figured I would try out a shape that can’t be done on a lathe (after all, we do have CNC machines) and flesh out a design that is not axially symmetric (but is still symmetric across a plane).
My process was much the same as my last shift knob (still did it vertically - but built a much more secure nesting fixture this time for cutting the top side).
In all its unfinished walnut glory, here it is, only finished with sandpaper and Scotch Brite pads:
And here it is finished only with a quick coat of almond oil, side-by-side with a much chunkier V1 (which was made out of unknown scrap):
I’m really happy with how it came out - so happy, in fact, that I can’t really envision engraving or laser etching anything onto it! (Shame, just got my laser set up!)
This was also a fun experiment in fixturing - I took an off-cut chunk of cedar 2x6 and made a fixturing area on the machine bed, and made up a nesting fixture. I might write up the process of doing that if others find it interesting.
Next go-round for a part like this (who knows, maybe shift knobs for every day of the week) I will try a two-sided fixture, where I cut with it laying on its side (left and right), as opposed to an up/down setup.