DIY Network

Natural Edge Bowl From "Woodturning Techniques" episode DWTT-107

Figure A

Master turner Dave Hout creates a tribute to the versatile texture of trees with a natural edge bowl that combines the smooth surface of turned wood with the rough texture of a live tree. Dave is passionate about turning and has been working with a lathe for more than 25 years; now he's teaching Lucy Scott, who is new to the lathe. The current turning challenge is to turn a bowl that has what's called a natural edge, a bowl lip that follows the bark line of a rough wood blank (figure A).

Even mounting this type of blank on the lathe requires a different approach; because of the natural edge of the bowl, the rough, bark side of the blank, normally mounted to turn as the bottom of a bowl, is mounted in reverse, becoming the top of the bowl.

advertisement

Tools:

1/2" Bowl gouge
1/4" Shop-made spindle gouge
parting tool
bowl blank with bark intact

Steps:

1. The bark side of the blank is higher on one side than the other, so it is mounted off-center to accommodate the uneven bark edges more smoothly; this leaves the base of the blank off-center, but it can be turned into balance (figure B) (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

2. Because the blank is uneven, the bowl gouge must be lined up off the piece, with the bevel lined up where the tool needs to start cutting, allowing the off-center blank to come in contact with it intermittently at first (figure D). As the wood is turned, the tool should move slightly forward with each pass.

3. When the bark line is reached, the turning direction is changed, to prevent the tool from possible lifting the bark off the blank. It is important to remember with a natural edge, even when part of the blank is completely round, you will alternate touching the tool to the blank in spots while touching air in other sections of the blank (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Consider when turning a natural edge bowl:

• Keep the bark on the bowl when the wood is being cut. If the tree is cut in the middle of winter, the bark stands a much greater chance of staying on. With the tree sap being down during the winter, the bark is tighter and will stay on the edge better.

• Remember once you begin to turn the inside of the bowl, to go down in steps. Turn in 1" to 1-1/2" and cut the wall thickness you desire for the whole bowl and then do another step about the same depth. After you have turned in past the first step, do not go back and turn the top edge. It will be too fragile and may break off.