Exercising my Bowl Gouge

[ChrisNeilan]

Had an urge to make a bowl today- Roughed turned at 19 inches, so not made on my Shopsmith! I'll let it sit in the shavings for a couple of months so the moisture level (20%) can come down, then I will remount it and turn to final dimensions. Now I have quite a mess to clean up!

[Dansmith]

Looks like you had a lot of fun . Must be nice to turn with the power of the Powermatic that I assume you are using based on the color of the leg.

[Hobbyman2]

nice!!

[RobertTaylor]

Very nice

[rcplaneguy]

Looks good! What moisture meter do you use?

[ChrisNeilan]

Looks good! What moisture meter do you use?

I use a Delmhorst J-Lite. I like it.

[terrydowning]

If you don't have a moisture meter, you can also use a scale.

put the first turned green bowl in a paper bag with some of the shavings and weigh it.

then weigh it once a month. When the weight stays the same, the moisture content has stabilized and you can do the second finish turning. (Make sure you leave enough meat on the first turning to account for warp (Approximately 10% of the diameter. so a ten inch bowl should have a 1 inch wall thickness.)

Another option is to turn the green wood to finished dimensions and let it warp naturally.

[dgreen810]

Nice!

I turned this bowl from Apple wet to the final dimensions and let it dry naturally (Not ins a paper bag). It warped in a strange way but pleasing!

Don G

[ChrisNeilan]

Nice, I love turning Apple. I have some large chucks I have been saving...

[terrydowning]

Looks good!

You can flatten the bottom using hand planes or sanding. The 12 inch sanding disc does wonders at this as is flat.

Remember in the future to leave enough of a foot for leveling. A wobbly bowl does not present as nicely.