HOW TO MAKE A WOODEN BOWL

By: Lindsay Myers

Preparation

Gather wood (cherry, walnut, maple)

Plane wood (walnut – 1/8 in, all else – ¾ in)

Joint one side of each board

Cut boards to width w/ table saw (6 in)

Cut boards to length w/ radial arm saw (6 in)

Now we’re ready to start…

Glueing

Lay down a board Apply glue to one side Place another board on top of glued side if

the original board (make sure the grain of the boards runs in the same direction)

Continue until all boards are glued together (the boards should be layered as follows: cherry, walnut, cherry, walnut, maple)

Use bar clamps to hold the boards together as they dry

Glueing Pictures

Attaching the Face-plate

Draw two diagonal lines that connect the opposite corners on the bottom of the layered block (where they cross is the center)

Measure the diameter of the faceplate and divide by 2

Measure the resulting distance out from center on the block in 4 directions

Center the face-plate between the 4 marks surrounding the center

Attaching the Face-plate Pictures

Attaching the Face-plate Part 2

While holding the faceplate in place, drill 3 holes into the block about ½ in deep

Run wide ¾ in screws into the previously drilled holes, thereby securing the face-plate firmly to the wooden block

Attaching the Face-plate Part 2 Pictures

Cutting Corners

Use a coffee can or cylinder of similar size to trace a circle onto the block around the face-plate

Following the circular pattern, use the bandsaw to cut off the edges of the block

The resulting block should be relatively round

Cutting Corners Pictures

Attaching to the Lathe

Screw the face-late onto the threaded end of the lathe until tight

Adjust the tool-rest to the proper height for shaping the outside of the bowl

Maneuver the tool-rest into position to cut the outside of the bowl, ensuring that as the wood spins, it does not, at any time, hit the tool-rest

Attaching to the Lathe Pictures

Balancing the Block

Use either of the two tools indicated to smooth out the block until it is a perfect cylinder (this ought to get rid of any wobble you may experience when you first start the lathe)

Balancing the Block Pictures

Shaping the Bowl

Use the indicated tool to begin to shape the bowl

Cut deeper closer to the face-plate so that the profile begins to curve (you may need to angle the tool-rest to make shaping easier)

Shaping The Bowl Pictures

Hollowing the Bowl

Move the tool-rest so that it is parallel to the end of the bowl

Working only on the left-hand side of the bowl, begin carving out the center (be sure to curve the inside so that you do not carve through to the outside)

Hollowing the Bowl Pictures

Hollowing the Bowl Pictures cont.

Sanding

With the lathe turning, begin by using 80 grit sandpaper to sand out all the imperfections

Continue this process until the whole bowl is smooth

Once complete, start the process again with 100 grit sandpaper, then 150, finally followed by 220

Sanding Pictures

Detaching the Bowl

Unscrew the bowl from the lathe

Place the bowl facedown on a table and use a cordless drill to remove all the screws attaching the face-plate to the bowl

Remove the face-plate from the bowl so that the bowl can stand freely

Detaching the Bowl Pictures

Applying Finish

Wipe off the bowl with a soft cloth Stir the Polyurethane Finish Holding the inside of the bowl, apply

finish to the outside with a soft brush Flip the bowl over and place it on a piece

of wood smaller than the bottom of the bowl

Apply finish to the top and inside of the bowl

Repeat

Applying Finish Pictures

Once the finish has dried, it’s time to enjoy your bowl. Use it as a candy dish, a

paperclip holder, or gift for a close friend. Whatever you use it for, you can take pride

in knowing you just made an amazing project with your own two hands.

Photo of lathe tools from: http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H5978-pc-Lathe-Chisel/dp/B0007D2C7E%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAI2AB5UK26NR7YHTQ%26tag%3Dwoodlathe-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0007D2C7E