LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

...a turner makes a fruit bowl.

This project started out as a new salad bowl for Mimi but a nasty catch, with the gouge, instantly transformed the design into a fruit bowl. This was also my first attempt at microwave drying. Although the process works, I think I was too impatient and didn't continue the drying process long enough as some checking appeared during the final turning phase.

The bowl measures about 11" in diameter and 3" deep. Made from a Sugar Maple tree we had taken down last fall. Finished with several applications of MinWax semi-gloss poly and buffed with furniture wax.

Thanks for looking. Comments and criticisms always welcome.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
35 Posts
no mater what it started out to be it ended up a great looking piece .
 

· Registered
Joined
·
25 Posts
Lew…..It's a beautiful a bowl. Sorry about the checking. *&$^ happens. I've used Instant CVA glue somethmes
With some success. Make a shallower bowl out of the last try

Good luck ,
ED
 

· Registered
Joined
·
608 Posts
Lew,

That is a bummer about the catch, but I am glad you were able to save it!

Nate
 

· Registered
Joined
·
732 Posts
Looks good, and the grain gives it a nice character. Interesting piece to view as well as being practical. Glad that there was no damage to you when that piece took flight.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,185 Posts
Nice save Lew.
Wow, I shutter when I look at that piece that flew off. Hope it was not too dramatic.

Steve
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,584 Posts
Still a nice looking bowl Lew. Much better than firewood. Saving a project is a sign of a good turner. The Maple has nice grain and the knots give it a name.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,212 Posts
good save…turned out great!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,567 Posts
Great recovery ,but that block looked like trouble with all these cracks in it..especially that one going up to the rim. Did the cracks happen before or after you microwaved it?

I have had that happen before even after I filled the cracks with epoxy. You are flexible enough to make it to completion although it is a little shorter. I think we all have had that happen at one time or another, but that tests your creativity!!

Nice job and thanks for posting!!.................Jim
 

· Registered
Joined
·
706 Posts
Persistence pays off ! A handsome bowl. I think the drying process always has a few surprises - I have had pieces crack that I thought would be fine and vice versa.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
60 Posts
Nice save. It looks great. On the microwave drying I have found out you can't rush it and I only use the defrost setting and for two minutes. Take it out of the microwave until it cools down and just keep repeating this process, weighting each time I take it out until I see no more weight change. This works for me but I have tried to keep it in the microwave longer than 2 minutes and higher temp and I always have problems when I do that.
Just expressing my opinion.
Tom
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,680 Posts
Any time you turn a chunk of wood with the center of the tree in the middle like that you are looking for problems. There is just too much shrinkage stress as the wood dries around the center point. I'm surprised the work didn't go out of round on you….it may still do that as the wood stabilizes.
Next time try filling those cracks with thick super glue and repeat the application as you find more during the turning. Same with the microwave drying process….fill any cracks with super glue early and you can often prevent them from getting worse. Be careful using super glue on warm wood. It can vaporize and you could inhale it. Vaporizing super glue is a hi tech method used by forensic technicians to find finger prints on objects. Not good for your nose or lungs. By the time you smell it there could be some injury to tissue.

Did you put the piece in a brown paper bag during the microwave drying process? That acts like a steam kiln and helps control the balance of moisture from the surface to the inside. Even after drying by microwave it is a good idea to let it rest for 24 to 48 yours.
Regardless, you made a nice save.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
244 Posts
Lew
Nice looking bowl, attractive hunk of wood along with a pleasing design. Well done!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
479 Posts
Very nice. I like it
 

· Registered
Joined
·
841 Posts
Looks very nice to me-great recovery/save!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
9,145 Posts
Lew Great recovery.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
7,502 Posts
You did well. Still an awesome turning.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
27 Posts
I really like the bowl as it is! It's a beautiful designs are about opposite , and the design on the bowl will take more meaning ! The old adage that You cannot fool Mother nature holds true! But it may be to Your favor!
 
Top