I had made Lidded Boxes and Scroll Saw Bowls. So how about a Bowl turned on the Lathe. Not as easy as I thought. I am struggling getting the correct grind on my Bowl Gouges using a Jig. I guess Practise makes perfect. So far I have burned away a lot of good steel in the attempt. My first attempt on very hard wood was a mistake.....crash bang wallop...lucky I always wear eye and face protection. Well it wasn't quite that dramatic... but it did illustrate the importance of the correct presentation of the Tool to prevent a catch. Plus I was trying to turn a bowl end grain on very hard close grain wood....NEVER AGAIN.....LESSON LEARNED!!!!
I had a block of very soft wood, just big enough to make small Bowl the correct way. SIDE GRAIN. On the Bandsaw I cut a chunk and slightly rounded the edges and with the help of one of those centre finders was able to get a reasonably accurate drive and tail stock centre mark.
congrats on your first. mine went about the same,flew across the room, nerves shaken but i finished it ! for me, and this is my preference, i use mostly carbide turning tools. much less chance of a catch. and in very hard dry woods i think it's much easier to turn. just my preference though, and many will disagree !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
pottz Thank you and don't they take off into orbit when they let fly...I could hear it thumping around the shop.. but it was fun and I am very keen to try another Bowl soon. Regards......Cliff
RyanGi Thanks Ryan....Yes its amazing how much we learn each time.......Regards......Cliff.
I've never really got the turning bug, however, this is the first fruit bowl I bought made 13 years ago in a moment of weakness at our local wood shows after I got my JET Mini lathe... and as you can see, it works just as efficiently now as it did back then.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
LIttleBlackDuck Thank You very Much, very encouraging. Great Fruit Bowl Mr Duck. The fruit encased in plastic containers is a nice touch. But seriously it looks a nice block of wood. I'm sure you could turn a very nice bowl from it. Regards......CO
Well done Cliff, the spalting in the grain looks great. We have all been there with objects flying off the lathe, I try to take shallow cuts to prevent that. As for clearing out the inside, I take a fostner bit chucked up into a Jacob's chuck, works well for the end-grain.
I've never really got the turning bug, however, this is the first fruit bowl I bought made 13 years ago in a moment of weakness at our local wood shows after I got my JET Mini lathe...
damn duckie youve got all those tools and lathe maybe you ought to try using it ? just a crazy thought !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Nice job Cliff. I've been using my lathe quite a bit lately and I found that using the traditional turning tools prevents a lot of sanding, but seem much safer and easier on the outside of a bowl. The inside seems easier with carbide to me because there seems to be less chance of a catch. I have a hard time with certain angles on the inside with chisels.
My biggest problem is I have a hard time finding chunks of wood large enough to turn a bowl.
For you first bowl you did OK. It appears to be maple that is starting to spalt (rot). That can be difficult to get a smooth finish on because of the end grain tear out, especially around the center of the growth rings. You can usually "grind" it down by sanding starting with 80 grit paper and working your way un the grit ladder to 320 or 400. Another way to remove (most) tear out is if you can reverse you lathe direction and take light cuts with a sharp round nosed scraper. That way you are pulling the grain from the opposite direction. p
mel52 Hi Mike thank you. Yes the grain is interesting and it was a very soft wood....Just right to learn on. Regards......Cliff.
crowie Thank you Peter....Thank you for your kind words......Cliff
Eric-the "Loft" Yes the Spalting in very interesting....The UFO'S flying around the Shop were a bit scary. Yes I like Forstner Bits on end grain when making lidded Boxes or Vases. Regards......Cliff.
hairy.....Thank you . I am very pleased that you like it.
Regards......Cliff.
SplinterGroup Full Dining Set...... Now that is a good idea.... Regards......Cliff.
awsum55 Hi awsum55.... I agree. Traditional Gouges are well worth the effort in learning and developing skills as they are a great tool. At the moment I am struggling with the correct Tool presentation and getting the sharpening grind Degree. But with practise hopefully I will improve.
I understand what you are saying about finding chunks of wood big enough to turn side grain. I have some short logs which are large enough for Spindle Turning, but if cut down the centre only small Bowls are possible. I don't buy wood, most of my stock is from fallen branches or wood a Neighbour or friend gives me.
I am attempting to glue wood together to create a larger Bowl....I have done this with Platters, so hopefully it will work with Bowls. Regards......Cliff.
LesB Hi Les. Thank you!!!! Great Tips...I will remember That!!!!!! Regards......Cliff.
Jim Jakosh. Hi Jim. That is very kind of you to say that!!!! Heaps more Bowls coming!!! Numbering each one in order of Creation. Aiming for around 12 numbered Bowls to keep for future reference.
