Turning a bowling ball

I had a piece of red camphor that I wanted to do with a small hollow area for a “bowl.” Really showing off the wood more than making a real bowl. I also had a red bowling ball that I have wanted to do something with. So I decided to put a portion of the bowling ball in the center of the red camphor “bowl.” Here is how I went about cutting apart the bowling ball.

I am not advocating this as the “correct” or even the safest method – it was just the safest way I came up with that evening.

I took a piece of monkeypod that was headed for the trash (I became allergic to that one VERY quick – just a turning or two without sufficient dust collection/respirator and now I have a coughing fit as soon as I start to turn it) mounted it in my chuck (should have gone with a face plate in retrospect) and turned a cove in that.

I then used hot melt glue to hold the ball to the chuck and a cone center in the tailstock. This assured that everything was going to run true and be centered.

I used a parting tool to start the cut and a reciprocating saw to finish the cut.

This left me with just the hard cement center to remove. Lots of trips to the sharpener but I finally got it all out. The thinning the plastic material took even more trips to the sharpener. Seemed like it wanted to catch just looking at it. Very sharp tools and VERY light cuts were paramount.

The final piece is not yet polished but I will post good pictures in the project are when it is complete.

-- David, Florida