Any bowl makers here?

[BillinOregon]

I have fooled with making a pole lathe and have a set of good plans to make a treadle lathe, but I am wondering if any of the talented folk here are making bowls with adze and gouge. How are you holding your work? What wood species are you using, and which do you avoid?
We are just swimming in western juniper around here, but I don't know how it would behave green or dry.
I am building a bowl horse loosely based on this talented Aussie chap's design: http://davidffisher.com/a_horse_of_a_different_sort

 

[Black Hand]

I've made various cups/trenchers/serving spoons using gouges/chisels/axe/knife. The wood I use is cottonwood, it is light and tough, but can split if carved thin.

I establish parallel top and bottom surfaces and clamp my piece to a bench using bar clamps or a vice to carve the interior. Then the exterior is shaped while "restrained" as needed (usually held in the hand and worked with rasps).

 

[Rifleman1776]

We are just swimming in western juniper

I don't know what "western juniper" is like.
But, I am familiar with our local juniper. It is nearly identical to eastern red cedar. And, that, IMHO, would not be a good choice for bowl carving. Splits if you look at it cross-eyed and can be very brittle despite being soft.
Check out Roy Underhill. He has articles and vids on bowl making. The carving involves the use of special curved adzes. Expensive unless you plan to make a lot of bowls.

 

[BillinOregon]

Black Hand, sounds like your method would work fine. Cottonwood is traditional as well. I often see large cottonwood dough bowls in antique shops here in Oregon.
Rifleman: here you go. As a matter of fact, I am currently thinning juniper with Earl, the guy in the opening frames.
http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segment/juniper-control/

 

[zimmerstutzen]

In colonial PA, walnut burl bowls were valued highly and are usually listed by themselves in estate inventories, instead of being lumped with household goods.

I've never tried hacking one out with a adz, but I have cut a burl to mount on a wood lathe, to make a bowl. I often look for areas on wild cherry where the tree grew over a cut off limb. The grain is usually cup shaped already at those spots.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Black Hand, sounds like your method would work fine. Cottonwood is traditional as well. I often see large cottonwood dough bowls in antique shops here in Oregon.
Rifleman: here you go. As a matter of fact, I am currently thinning juniper with Earl, the guy in the opening frames.
http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segment/juniper-control/[/quote]


It appeared they were cutting both bushes and trees. And, I believe, the term "western juniper" is a local thing. They looked just like our eastern red cedar trees and juniper bushes. Both are pretty much considered scrub but they do grow in areas with limited top soil and help prevent erosion.
I do wood turning and, personally, do not like using red cedar because it is so brittle. But, because it is soft others do like turning it.
If you get a good split it might make a decent bowl. No way of knowing without trying.

 

[Stickman]

Hi. I don't carve bowls myself. But I am learning to use the pole lathe I made.

Check out these guys. http://www.bodgers.org.uk/bb/phpBB2/

I have found them to be very helpful when it comes to green woodworking projects.

 

[BillinOregon]

Stickman, that bodgers' site is addictive. The guy cutting those apple wood bowls with his heavy pole lathe is simply inspirational.
Rifleman, our juniper is Juniperis occidentalis and we also have some mountain juniper, J. scopulorum.
Yours is likely Juniperis virginiana.

 

[Woodyrock]

I did a couple a few years ago. I cut a 'chair' into a stump to put the bowl stock, and held it there with a couple of dogs. After they were hollowed out, I worked the outsides. Easier than working the outside first.
Woody

 

[longshot47]

I have turned some juniper bowls on a powered lathe and tho the wood finishes nicely, the numerous little 'eye' knots in the local species are prone to tear out, especially if worked with scrapers. My preference is lightly spalted maple.
For carved bowls I find that walnut is about the friendliest and, in my opinion, consistently best looking of the woods tried.
To secure the bowl blank for carving I usually manage with a modified setup which relies on a double row of benchdogs and the tail vise on my bench. Learning to sharpen and use a hook knife goes a long way in this craft.
~Longshot

 

[user 922]

I have not tried carving bowls (yet) but have turned a couple from old chestnut. They finished well but I wouldn't put any liquid in them.

 

[BillinOregon]

Good to hear your different approaches to the problem, gentlemen. Bucks, that is a mighty handsome bowl you turned. Really like the character of that chestnut. Did you finish with mineral oil?

 

[BillinOregon]

Longshot, I need to take a course on sharpening stuff, from crooked knives to drawknives to plane blades, et al.

 

[user 922]

Bill: I finished it (carefully) with friction polish after sealing it with shellac sealer.