Anyone that, still remember, the very first time they used a wood lathe and turned anything, they may recall the self sense of satisfaction and surprised as the piece of wood started to change shape, while the lathe was turning, you don't forget that in a hurry...!
The very majority of people that started using a wood lathe, the very first piece they turned was, a round type ball with some hollowing but, with thick walls, even if was a small piece, mine was an ashtray turned from a green piece of some sort of Eucalyptus, its was about 4"+ round and about 1"1/2 tall, it was heavy..!:biggrin:
I gave it a countless number of varnish coats, to prevent it for cracking however, within a couple of weeks from done, the damn thing would no longer seat flat on the table, where I put it for display. From there on, I watch that thing, change shape, crack an buckle like a kicking mule until it reached a point ( a couple of years later) where, it shrunk considerable to a mere 3" round and 1" tall, the shape become round again, the base as flat as when I turned it and, most puzzling at the time, all the cracks close so tight you can't see them.
I still got that piece, and is just a few meters from me, that's a treasure to me...! (I may a couple of pics to show it to you, peoples...!:wink::biggrin:
Those will be a lot more precious to you, if you make sure you keep them in a place where you can see them for reference, as you go. One day you may think that you couldn't have done/made/turned them, that day, you can pet yourself in the back and consider yourself a, bowl turner...!:wink::biggrin:
Best of luck...!
Cheers
George
