by: lindsay myers. gather wood (cherry, walnut, maple) plane wood (walnut – 1/8 in, all else –...
TRANSCRIPT
HOW TO MAKE A WOODEN BOWL
By: Lindsay Myers
Preparation
Gather wood (cherry, walnut, maple)
Plane wood (walnut – 1/8 in, all else – ¾ in)
Joint one side of each board
Cut boards to width w/ table saw (6 in)
Cut boards to length w/ radial arm saw (6 in)
Now we’re ready to start…
Glueing
Lay down a board Apply glue to one side Place another board on top of glued side if
the original board (make sure the grain of the boards runs in the same direction)
Continue until all boards are glued together (the boards should be layered as follows: cherry, walnut, cherry, walnut, maple)
Use bar clamps to hold the boards together as they dry
Glueing Pictures
Attaching the Face-plate
Draw two diagonal lines that connect the opposite corners on the bottom of the layered block (where they cross is the center)
Measure the diameter of the faceplate and divide by 2
Measure the resulting distance out from center on the block in 4 directions
Center the face-plate between the 4 marks surrounding the center
Attaching the Face-plate Pictures
Attaching the Face-plate Part 2
While holding the faceplate in place, drill 3 holes into the block about ½ in deep
Run wide ¾ in screws into the previously drilled holes, thereby securing the face-plate firmly to the wooden block
Attaching the Face-plate Part 2 Pictures
Cutting Corners
Use a coffee can or cylinder of similar size to trace a circle onto the block around the face-plate
Following the circular pattern, use the bandsaw to cut off the edges of the block
The resulting block should be relatively round
Cutting Corners Pictures
Attaching to the Lathe
Screw the face-late onto the threaded end of the lathe until tight
Adjust the tool-rest to the proper height for shaping the outside of the bowl
Maneuver the tool-rest into position to cut the outside of the bowl, ensuring that as the wood spins, it does not, at any time, hit the tool-rest
Attaching to the Lathe Pictures
Balancing the Block
Use either of the two tools indicated to smooth out the block until it is a perfect cylinder (this ought to get rid of any wobble you may experience when you first start the lathe)
Balancing the Block Pictures
Shaping the Bowl
Use the indicated tool to begin to shape the bowl
Cut deeper closer to the face-plate so that the profile begins to curve (you may need to angle the tool-rest to make shaping easier)
Shaping The Bowl Pictures
Hollowing the Bowl
Move the tool-rest so that it is parallel to the end of the bowl
Working only on the left-hand side of the bowl, begin carving out the center (be sure to curve the inside so that you do not carve through to the outside)
Hollowing the Bowl Pictures
Hollowing the Bowl Pictures cont.
Sanding
With the lathe turning, begin by using 80 grit sandpaper to sand out all the imperfections
Continue this process until the whole bowl is smooth
Once complete, start the process again with 100 grit sandpaper, then 150, finally followed by 220
Sanding Pictures
Detaching the Bowl
Unscrew the bowl from the lathe
Place the bowl facedown on a table and use a cordless drill to remove all the screws attaching the face-plate to the bowl
Remove the face-plate from the bowl so that the bowl can stand freely
Detaching the Bowl Pictures
Applying Finish
Wipe off the bowl with a soft cloth Stir the Polyurethane Finish Holding the inside of the bowl, apply
finish to the outside with a soft brush Flip the bowl over and place it on a piece
of wood smaller than the bottom of the bowl
Apply finish to the top and inside of the bowl
Repeat
Applying Finish Pictures
Once the finish has dried, it’s time to enjoy your bowl. Use it as a candy dish, a
paperclip holder, or gift for a close friend. Whatever you use it for, you can take pride
in knowing you just made an amazing project with your own two hands.
Photo of lathe tools from: http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H5978-pc-Lathe-Chisel/dp/B0007D2C7E%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAI2AB5UK26NR7YHTQ%26tag%3Dwoodlathe-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0007D2C7E