The following series of pictures show a maple burl taken from it’s rough state to a finished bowl. Here the blank has been rounded on a bandsaw and mounted on the lathe with a chuck. A piece like this has to be started slowly because it’s out of balance, as more wood is removed the speed can be increased. Face protection is crucial as bark chunks fly everywhere!
The bark has been removed and an assessment of the piece is now taken. This shows the outside of the bowl where the foot will be, and the depression which is the void.
This view shows the chucking recess that held the piece while the outside was formed. At this stage you’ll notice that the big void is not visible. You’re looking at the top of the bowl.
The outside shape roughly formed with some final cuts to be taken prior to starting the hollowing process.
Hollowing the bowl in stages to ensure the rim is completed while there is still mass in the piece to provide satbility.
Here’s a closer look at the void. Originally this was covered in bark and until you start to remove material, you never know for sure what’s there. With the lathe rotating as fast as you consider safe, coupled with appropriate safety practices, the void rotates past the gouge quickly allowing for a smoother cut. A face shield is mandatory in this situation.
Another view with just a few more light cuts to be taken.
The inside finished except for careful sanding by hand without the lathe rotating. Power sanding doesn’t work with a void in the piece. And sanding by hand with the lathe running is dangerous as your fingers can get caught. It will be reversed and held by vacuum for the bottom to be finished in the same way.
This is Jill my woodturning helper, she’s a border collie. Looks like a cosy bed to me!
Here’s a selection of bowls that are ready for finish. The woods include: madrone, maple burl, figured maple, red maple, osage orange, white oak, walnut, myrtlewood. These bowls were all rough turned and allowed to dry before being returned to the lathe. Sizes are from 12’ in diameter down to 4”
