My First Attempt at Bowl Making

[fredsheldon]

Turning 8 more bowls from a log that Heath gave me when he picked up his Sawsmith a few weeks back. We don't know what type of wood it is. Can anybody provide a clue from this photo? I'm going to guess Red Oak. I know it's very hard, the first 5 bowls took all day yesterday to turn because I had to sharpen my tools more often than with the green wood from my last log. I also just ordered a set of Shopsmith Easy Wood Tools Carbide-Cutter Chisels that are on special until Tuesday. I'll let you know how they work.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/specials/7DU418.htm

[ATTACH]21863[/ATTACH]

[JPG]

If the end grain is 'porous' it is likely red oak.

I assume that is all one tree. Questionable due to color variations, but that may be caused by 'illumination'.

[fredsheldon]

Steps to produce a completed bowl.

[ATTACH]21872[/ATTACH]
First thing I do is trim the blanks round on the bandsaw.

[ATTACH]21873[/ATTACH]
Then I attach a 3" face plate, turn the blank round and cut a tenon so you can attach the blank to your chuck. I had to use 2 extensions on the live center to clear the lift assist bracket.

[ATTACH]21874[/ATTACH]
Then mount the chuck to the tenon.

[ATTACH]21875[/ATTACH]
Now mount the chuck on the spindle and remove the face plate.

[ATTACH]21876[/ATTACH]
You are now ready to turn the interior of the bowl using the live center to steady the work.

[fredsheldon]

Turning the interior of the bowl.

[ATTACH]21877[/ATTACH]
I leave a tower in the center of the work to support it.

[ATTACH]21878[/ATTACH]
I check for thickness as I get near the finished size.

[ATTACH]21879[/ATTACH]
I remove the live center and prepare to remove the supporting tower.

[ATTACH]21880[/ATTACH]
I knock out the tower with a hammer.

[ATTACH]21881[/ATTACH]
Then clean up what's left over, sand and store in a bag to dry.

[heathicus]

I must be spending too much time on Facebook, because I just spent several seconds looking for the "Like" button!

[terrydowning]

Nice brief tutorial Fred.

Good job.

[heathicus]

Any update on this round of bowls? I've been anxious to see how they turn out!

[fredsheldon]

I have removed all 18 of my bowls from their bags that I have turned from green wood and turned down to their final sizes and will now be sanding them smooth and applying a Mylands Cellulose Sanding Sealer followed by a High Build Friction Polish. I have already finished 6 bowls so far and will post pictures later today.

[ATTACH]21944[/ATTACH]
Some seem to still be round but others have taken on an oval shape. Sanding is a little shaky but getting done as long as I keep the rpm's down to 400. So far there are no cracks so I think my plan to turn the bowls down to their final size before bagging them for a few months has worked out. I guess some of them are still not completely dry, but I will deal with that if and when it happens.

[fredsheldon]

Here are the first 8 of the 18 that I needed to sand and apply finish.
[ATTACH]21952[/ATTACH]
Used Mylands Cellulose Sanding Sealer followed by High Build Friction Polish.
Heath, the one on the right front is from your Red Oak log. It came out very well.

[fredsheldon]

Here are the steps I took to apply the finish after sanding smooth starting with 80 grit and finishing with 600 grit.
[ATTACH]21955[/ATTACH]
Brush on a heavy coat of Cellulose Sanding Sealer and let dry for 15 minutes. I created a mixture of 1/2 Cellulose Sanding Sealer and 1/2 Lacquer Thinner and stored in a mason jar to prevent the lacquer thinner from evaporating.

[ATTACH]21956[/ATTACH]
Using 00 Steel Wool remove most of the sealer on the surface. Apply a 2nd coat and repeat. Wipe clean with paper towel or clean cloth.

[ATTACH]21957[/ATTACH]
Apply heavy coat of Friction Polish with folded paper towel. Using the wet folded paper towel start polishing with lathe turning at low speed.

[ATTACH]21958[/ATTACH]
After a few minutes, switch to a dry folded paper towel and increase the lathe speed and buff with heavy pressure until heat can be felt.

[ATTACH]21959[/ATTACH]
Here is a Red Oak bowl after applying the finish. This one goes to Heath as a reward for providing a Red Oak log from which I have created 8 bowls.