Yesterday I decided I wanted to make a bowl, so I went digging through the wood horde and found a chunk of elm that looked as though it might want to be a bowl.
I rough-turned it yesterday and soaked it pretty well with linseed oil. This morning, the oil had firmed up the spots in the grain that were giving me trouble (likely because I haven’t sharpened my bowl gouges in a while) and I got the bowl cleaned up and finished. I really like the way ulmiform grain looks when everything goes right.
I think it came out fairly well. Finished by sanding to 400 grit, then a coat of linseed oil, a couple coats of shellac, and finally a coat of paste wax.
Dave, This is a nice bowl, well turned. I do have one question though, sort of a learning experience for me: what do you mean when you say; "the oil had firmed up the spots in the grain that were giving me trouble". What did you mean by this?, I have a need to learn, still a novice at turning. Thanks
Splint, that’s a texturing tool that made that, then I sanded 90% of it away, just leaving a small hint it had been there, but it feels smooth now. Thanks!
Thanks Tom, there were a few spots where the grain was soft and I was getting a little tear-out (near the end grain, which is problematic anyhow). Happens a lot in the elm I’ve had because most of it was from big-killed trees. But also happens with full tools. Normally I’d hit it with a little CA glue and carry on, but that darkens it more than the oil will, and a soaking with linseed oil plus overnight to cure will harden up the wood enough that I can get a clean finish with a sharp scraper. And then the first thing I did this morning was sharpen my tools so they would cut cleanly.
Thanks for the tip Dave. I have a wood that seems to be soft, and I get catches. I ordered it a few years back and forgot what it was called, but the grain looked nice.
Ugh. Autocorrupt really “helped me” on the previous one.
Bug-killed trees. Dull tools.
You’re welcome Eric! Sharp tools will pretty much cure everything, but I find oiling helps with elm too.
Thanks, Barb! This actually wasn’t one of the prettiest bits of elm I have. But the other pieces need stabilization before I try turning them. They’re really soft in spots.
Glad to help, Ryan! Thanks! And tung oil will also work, as will CA glue, or stabilizing. I copied a blog series on wood stabilizing from the old site if you’re interested in more on that.
Thanks, Steve! I find it relaxing sometimes, too. Knocking out a bowl when I’m feeling stuck on another project will sometimes help clear the mental clog.
