Shopsmith Forums

Made these three bowls for an Auction as a fundraiser for my daughters Softball team. Two are OLD locust that a friend gave me, he tried to split it for firewood, but couldn't, so he ask me if I wanted it. Very cracked and weather worn, had probably laid out for at least 5 years. The light one is maple. All three cracked when I was turning them (or even before). I roughed them out, then mixed epoxy and oil paint pigment to darken. The cracks in the bottom of the one are fill. Thought I would pass this on, as I was ready to toss them when a friend told me about the epoxy trick.
By the way the large maple brought $64, the smaller locust, $31. Other one was between, but don't remember exactly how much.

Here are a couple of more. They are out of a slab of walnut a friend gave me. There is a knot that run threw, in one side and out the other, As i turned it the know opened up and parts flew out. Again I used some colored epoxy, turned out OK.[ATTACH]24025[/ATTACH][ATTACH]24026[/ATTACH]

Very nice, Im sure the softball team will enjoy the donation. I like the epoxy trick, I'd never thought to use paint pigment, I have used various sawdusts with good sucess.

Very nicely done the cracks give them character and make them unique.

As a preventative measure you can also use thin and/or medium CA in cracks to fill the voids before finish turning.

Nice saves!!

Nice bowls and saves. I'm turning several pieces now that have similar problems that you had. What kind of epoxy did you use? I like the idea of adding color. Thanks.

Dwight

I am using Penn State Industries, PSI Mid-cure Epoxy. My shop is down around 40 so I set it in the heat register before I use it. I think I used another epoxy early on, but have had good results with this. The more transparent the better.