Turn A Wood Bowl channel is all about turning wood bowls on the lathe. My name is Kent, and I'm an artist, graphic designer, photographer, and all-around lover of trees. I live in Florida in the United States and every few years I'm able to salvage and harvest timber after hurricanes pass through, along with other trees that come down naturally.
I love the whole process of turning found wood into functional beautiful bowls. If you want to learn more about my love for turning wooden bowls, please read this article - turnawoodbowl.com/why-make-turn-wood-bowls/
I've been fortunate to learn and turn around many other turners. As I watch others, I'm reminded of all the various steps and skills we must develop to make the bowls we dream about. This is why I developed my website www.TurnAWoodBowl.com to thoroughly document and illustrate all the aspects of turning wood bowls and help others along this journey.
My goal is to help YOU make the bowls you DREAM possible!!!
One wall that I’ve hit is capacity. I started with a smaller lathe, so the biggest bowl I could turn was probably 6-7” diameter. Also, the lathe I got came with the mini carbide tools and that’s all I had. I knew I couldn’t turn a larger bowl, so I just basically stuck to spindle turnings. Pens, bottle stoppers and handles. I finally upgraded my lathe and have started turning some bigger bowls and have loved it!
Better than one 20"x20" filter is to attach 4 filters in a cubic fashion. The fan and the bottom are the other two sides of the cube. This arrangement is comparable to the folds that you see in a single filter. Four filters have a greater surface area and allow the air to go through the combination of filters more easily, while filtering just as well. I have a dust meter in my shop and I can clean up the air with two of these in five minutes.
Surely you need to up the speed of the lathe to achieve a decent cut? It looks like a reasonably well ground gouge but it's leaving a horrible finish. I understand you're demonstrating on softwood, but showing what finish people should be achieving is key to them learning how to turn and not rely on sub 100 grit abrasives as some do.
I'm constantly looking foe something to do after "retirement" age, have the lathe and tools but haven't started yet. Your channel is a wealth of info mate. Much appreciated.
You have the best videos on the net! Your examples and discussion of the difference in spindle vs. bowl diameter have good variety for folks who "get it" differently. For me, a math/physics trained engineer, I think in tangential velocity so your comment about 11 MPH vs. 60 MPH tangential speed is how I get it. That's the speed the tool sees when cutting or scraping which, after safety, is what I see as important and your demonstration of the bowl gouge on a slow turning push cut really brought that out!
Another great video. I like to think about having a conversation with the blank. The blank shows me what's on it's surface. I see what things suggest a shape, like you did with the bark inclusion. I'll "suggest" a shape that works with those features, and start on that. I'm turning wood that i've harvested (Thanks so much for the course and videos about Tree to Bowl) and many of the pieces have irregularities you might not get buying a $30 blank at a store. I'm exploring 3 different, pretty simple, shapes. So the wood has some say in which of those i make. With the help of your videos and some good instruction i'm past the days of having the blank and the tool tell me what shape they are making. That does not make nice bowls. ;-)
My experience is often a lot like @chezlerq4478. Not to mention the other day when one bowl turned into a big bangle, a funnel, and a coaster. 3 Separate pieces 😀
Woodturning clubs often hold annual events where bowls are sold. Donating bowls to your club gets them properly priced and benefits the group you have learned so much from.
Great video, thanks. I enjoy the mix of short and longer 'start to finish' videos as provides a full learning experience. I was initially a little hesitant at the length of the video, until I started watching as it was full of relevant content.
Hello Kent! I’m new too turning too, I see like many others here, and I really enjoy your well prepared and presented videos. I have just barely started setting up and using a shop smith clone Total Shop and just got Ron Brown’s sharpening system with the 40/40 grind option. I was given a set of 12 old craftsman spindle tools, and have picked up some nice Crown Tools tools including 1/2” bowl gouge, 3/8” detail gouge, a large roughing gouge and scraper. I’ve been woodworking for 50 years and am super surprised at how much there is to learn with turning! It is very very specialized and I am beginning to see why so many people turn to turning. Yet having said that, compared to woodworking generally, wood turning is rather limited? I mean, the options are basically spindles and bowls? Yes they can get very decorative, and can be totally beautiful works of art. But it is not so easy to justify spending say $5k for a decent lathe and initial tools … assuming I upgrade from the Total Shop which I must say it not such a great lathe. I am probably getting ahead of myself to think about getting a decent lathe, but as I have not quite retired yet now is the time to spend this sort of money. Which brings me to why I’m writing here … any thoughts on the various lathes? I see you have a Robust, I’ve been considering Powermatic 3520C and Oneway 1640, but am leaning towards the Laguna 18/36, as I think it is all I would need, an I like the fact that a dull tool is quickly alerted by the motor bogging down a bit. I’m not afraid to spend the money, but don’t want to waste it either. Like I said it’s early days yet, and I need to make lots of shavings first.
Welcome to the party, Gary. Thinking of woodworking as “additive” (putting pieces together), and woodturning as “subtractive” (taking away more like carving). Two totally different worlds. As for the tools, yes, always sharp is best and the lathe needs as much power as you can afford. When you get into larger bowl blanks you will appreciate a larger motor. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I like tried and true finish as well. Do you only put I coat of finish on? I like to put 3 on but it ties up the lathe for a few days. I got your sharpening course a while ago and was wondering when you make changes do you make notes of what was changed or added so I don't have to go through the whole course to find the new material.
Well, wouldn't apply to me as I get my wood for free as there is plenty of it on my property and I have a big, big family I can give them away to :) At my age I don't think I will have ever made too many to have around. I'm 56 and turned my first bowl last week.
Thanks Kent. Great content. I’m always wondering what goes on in the mind of folks that really take the time to think about and design a piece before the gouge touches the wood. Thank you for your insight. Cheers.
Im thankful you told us how to make the bowl instead of using a bowl whisperer "hippy" video for entertainment. Many of us watch to learn how rather than entertainment only
I have some bowl blanks speak to me. "Better move outta the way". I ll be glad to get to where your talking about. But thats probably will years of experience.
Kent - Another wonderful example of your turning skillsets. I love the spalting in that piece. I was going to ask, What Grind do you have on your spindle detail gouge? Let The Chips Fly Lowell
I did just buy one a month ago. I would be more than happy to answer questions or send picts etc, I’m no lathe expert but it seemed to be comparable at a much cheaper price. It runs pretty much silent which was unexpected.
I love your videos and have learned a lot here. This is a Great video on how to turn the perfect blank. Unfortunately, I rarely get such nice, even blanks; and I have to let the wood dictate how it will be turned ; so I can get the best looking piece of art, I can get the largest bowl possible, so I don't turn away all the best looking features and end up with a bowl so small I give it to my granddaughter for her doll house, etc, etc. I can count on one hand all the bowls I've turned that I "Planned out" ahead of time. That doesn't happen in my shop. I try to figure out how "Best" to mount the wood, and sometimes, I get that right. One nice thing about a lathe is that plans can change in the middle of a project. Usually not by my choice. I have to "Listen" to the wood. You make it sound like most of us actually think the wood is really talking to us. Really, we don't. (at least, most of us don't, I think).?? We use that as a "Figure-of-speech". What we Do know is that sometimes the wood WILL dictate how it can and can't be worked. I could be wrong, so I'm going to start listening a little closer to see if I can hear the wood talking. ;-) Keep up the good work. I love your channel. Charlie
