MAKING A MAZANITA BURL WOOD BOWL

I have just secured a large premium Manzanita piece of wood.  This wood measures 10x9 and is about 8 inches deep.  I have never worked a burl piece like this, so it should be very interesting.   I plan to keep as much of the outside of the piece intact.  This should make for a very interesting and unusable bowl.  If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.  If you are interested in seeing my work, please check out my website at www.jaybees-crafts.com. 

I will post this project as it is being done.  I hope someone will point out the mistakes before I make them.......

 

 This piece has very rough surface, and I am anxious to see what is inside.

How to make a Winged Bowl

Sorry for the delay in getting the photos uploaded.  This is the finish bowl, but will start posting the projects as they are being completed.  Thanks for the advise and will continue to improve and hope we can get this right one day!

With each project, I am going to start posting as we go pictures.  This will help in understanding what I am doing, and hopefully you can give me some tips on improving my work and different techniques. Thanks again for the emails and comments.

.One of the most popular bowls made are the winged or bark rimmed bowl.  It is not as hard as you may think.  First you need to pick a log suitable for turning. This log can be green, and not dried to the point you need to finish a bowl.  Many turners use green timber as it is easier to turn and cheaper to find.  You can find logs from wind-downed trees, or trees removed in your area.  Make sure that the bark is firm, and not easily removed.  If necessary with turning, you can use CA glue to hold the bark in place.

Take a log, twice as deep you are looking for.  Cut the log from one end to the other.  This will give you the grain of the bowl going along the length of the bowl.  If the log is 6 inches you want to cut the length 10 to 12 inches.  This will give you an oblong type winged bowl.

Lay the log down with the bark side up, and find the center.  This will become the top of the bowl.  I like using a screw chuck to hold the bowl for roughing. I use the Barracuda chuck, but there are many different chucks you can use.  Place the block on the lathe, and center the block on the lathe using the tail-stock to hold the piece in place.  I use a 1642 Jet lathe, but many of the other lathes are suitable.  It may take several tries to center, but take your time.

Turn the lathe up to the point that it starts a small vibration and then reduce the speed.  Start roughing and start with the bottom of the bowl.  From the outside to the inside, you will make the foot of the bowl.  After that is done, you will start shaping the bowl.  From the center outward, start shaping for the desired curvature.  Be very careful at the end, as being too aggressive will result in bark removal.

Next start turning on the front side of the bowl.  Do not remove yet.  You can remove the majority of the topside of the bowl to balance the project.  After that is done, you can turn the bowl around and secure from the foot you made on the bottom of the bowl.

I recommend that you take a drill bit and drill a hole to the depth of the bowl.  This will prevent you from making a very nice funnel.  Once that is done, start roughing the bowl from the inside to the outside of the bowl.  Cut the bowl down to about ¼ inch from the bottom of the bowl.  At this point, if you do not have a vacuum chuck, you may want to cut a reverse foot for the chuck.  Cut this so that you can hold the bowl with the chuck when the bottom of the bowl is finished.  If you are using green wood, this is the point you want to stop and use anchorseal or a sealer to prevent cracking as the piece dries.

Place it in a brown paper bag and place it in a closet or a dark and damp place if possible. Leave it for about 4 to 5 weeks, or until the moisture level is around 19% or less.  I will post finishing techniques in a later blog.  However please give use your comments on finishing techniques you use.

Please take a look at the finished cherry bowl on my website at www.jaybees-crafts.com