My Second Bowl

[rd_ab_penman]

Tiger Maple finished with 6 coats of Minwax Satin Wipe-On-Poly and polished with Hut Ultra Gloss. Measures 6-1/2" X 2-1/4" with 1/4" wall thickness through out.

Still don't have the correct chisels for bowl turning. Used my 3/4" roughing gouge and 1/4" round nose scraper. Will have to get the proper chisels for bowl turning on my next visit to LV.

As always comments and or suggestions appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

 

[rjwolfe3]

Wow that is amazing. I wish I could turn and finish like that.

 

[talbot]

Nice looking bowls Les, and nicely turned.
Please be very careful using a roughing gouge for bowl turning. It's not designed for that purpose.The tang on these is quite thin and a catch from a large bowl blank will easily bend or snap it.
While I love a high gloss on pens I prefer to finish bowls and platters etc with an oil, I think it brings out the best in large pieces. regards, Bill

 

[scotirish]

Fantastic looking bowl's! I echo Rob, I also wish I could do the good.

 

[JimB]

That's a really nice bowl. Great work but... you should really wait to get the proper tools before doing any more.

 

[W.Y.]

Very Nice Les.
Your usual excellent work

 

[TellicoTurning]

Les,
Beautiful bowls... I turned the first 4 or 5 bowls I did with the same tools.. it's easier with a bowl gouge, but the right tool is the one that works and accomplishes what you're aiming for. I really like your finish. I use the wipe on poly a lot, but never thought about the Hut Ultra Gloss as an over coat.. good job.:highfive:

 

[JimB]

Les,
Beautiful bowls... I turned the first 4 or 5 bowls I did with the same tools.. it's easier with a bowl gouge, but the right tool is the one that works and accomplishes what you're aiming for. I really like your finish. I use the wipe on poly a lot, but never thought about the Hut Ultra Gloss as an over coat.. good job.:highfive:

Not in this case. Using a spindle tool (roughing gouge) for a bowl is dangerous. In any basic bowl turning class they will tell you NEVER to do this.

 

[TellicoTurning]

Not in this case. Using a spindle tool (roughing gouge) for a bowl is dangerous. In any basic bowl turning class they will tell you NEVER to do this.

There you go, that's the reason for my ignorance:redface::redface:... I've never taken a turning class... a dozen or so videos and as many books, and a watching a few demos :biggrin: and time doing trial and error..... a roughing gouge is used to make a spindle blank round.. a roughing gouge can also make a bowl blank round, after that you can hollow it with a round nose scraper... bowl gouges are more efficient and smarter, but you can do shallow depth bowls with a scraper... it's a matter of paying attention and watching what you are doing.
When I started turning, I didn't have bowl gouges and being from a long long line of people who have had to "make do" with what we had, I made do.....
You are right, the right tool makes the job easier and safer.
I now have bowl gouges and only use them for bowls.

 

[mobrackett]

I love turning anything I can to become better and become a well rounded wood turning and I just love how your bowl turned out!! Great job!!

 

[ahoiberg]

dang les, that is purdy. how do you apply finish to the bowl? i always have trouble getting an even poly finish on bowls.

 

[JimB]

There you go, that's the reason for my ignorance:redface::redface:... I've never taken a turning class... a dozen or so videos and as many books, and a watching a few demos :biggrin: and time doing trial and error..... a roughing gouge is used to make a spindle blank round.. a roughing gouge can also make a bowl blank round, after that you can hollow it with a round nose scraper... bowl gouges are more efficient and smarter, but you can do shallow depth bowls with a scraper... it's a matter of paying attention and watching what you are doing.
When I started turning, I didn't have bowl gouges and being from a long long line of people who have had to "make do" with what we had, I made do.....
You are right, the right tool makes the job easier and safer.
I now have bowl gouges and only use them for bowls.

I did the same thing. I learned spindles first. Then, one day, I had a chunk of wood that I thought I would try some face plate turning with. I turned it into a dish ( wasn't deep enough to call it a bowl) using my roughing gouge and scraper. Of course, after I did it, I mhearing not to.

I then took a bowl turning class. It was through the Adult Continuing Education at the High School. It was 8 Mondays for 3 hours each day. It was only $95 for the full 24 hours of instruction in a class of 8 adults. Since it was at the High School they had enough lathes for everyone to have their own. Although the class was bowl turning the instructor would work one-on-one with you on anything so I took advantage of that as much as i could. One day I took my tools in and he showed me how to sharpen everything free hand.

There's nothing like having someone stand next to you to improve your technique and learn new things. I've watched some viseo as well. They do help but they are not the same as "live' learning.

 

[jackrichington]

wow

just think what you could do with tools!!!!

 

[rd_ab_penman]

dang les, that is purdy. how do you apply finish to the bowl? i always have trouble getting an even poly finish on bowls.

Thanks Andrew

1. I apply my Minwax Wipe-On-Poly while bowl is still on the lathe @ 500 RPM
2. Fold up a piece of Blue Shop Towel to a 2" X 2" pad
3. Dip the pad into the Poly
4. Make one pass from tenon the bowl edge
5. Stop the lathe and rotate by hand for a few minuets.
6. Start the lathe
7. Dip the pad into the Poly
8. Make one pass inside from bowl center to bowl edge
9. Stop the lathe and rotate by hand for a few minuets.
10. Remove the chuck with bowl attached and set aside to dry 4 hours.

11. Reinstall on lathe and rub down with Super Fine Steel Wool
12. Wipe down bowl with Tack Cloth
13. Repeat steps 1 through 10
14. I apply 4 coats of poly and rub down with steel wool between coats
and the last 2 coats without any steel wool rub down.
15. Polish bottom and inside of bowl with Hut Ultra Gloss
16. Remove tenon, make foot, apply poly and polish.

 

[Rcd567]

I think I hate you. Just kidding. I've made like 4 bowls so far and none look that good. The last one is getting close...but still a long way to go. Thanks for the tips on finishing.