Christmas Stocking Router Bowl

Excellent work. Stair treads are often an excelllent choice when you need thicker wood.

-- jstegall

wow this is nice work. and makes for a great gift.

Looks really good – you you did not need to purchase the kit.. ;-)

Question about your plywood pattern (more about the plywood you used). I have been using 1/2” MDF for patterns, but plywood would be more stable. I was considering going to 1/4” or 1/2 Baltic Birch, if I got smooth enough edges… What thickness and type plywood did you use?

Thanks for sharing

-- Scotty - aka... SgtSnafu - Randleman NC

That looks great!!! Very well done, and great gift. Do you mind if I steal your idea?
MrsN

-- ----- www.KNWoodworking.com ----- --

SgtSnafu,
I used some cheap 1/4 plywood for the template. I have a router bushing kit that I used to ride along the inside of the template.

MrsN,
Steal away, I stole it too. It was pretty easy to do. But I don’t have a bowl bit, so no round/cove/curvy part in the bottom of the dish.

Everyone,
Any thoughts on recessing the back of the dish slightly. I was thinking that since I removed that much wood, the dish might warp. My thought is that a slight recess, maybe 1/4”, would help to maintain stability. Any suggestions from all the bowl turners out there?

Good looking bowl and design!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

Hey Rooster. nicely done dish. Keeping an even wall/bottom thickness usually prevents warping, but it’s no guarantee if there are stresses in the wood due to funny grain.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Great idea. It could easily be expanded to Xmas tree designs or even a sleigh.
If the wood was dry and you put a finish on it I doubt there will be a problem with warping unless the wood had some wild grain pattern

I usually use 1/4” masonite for template patterns. Be sure to make the template big enough to clamp and still get the router in or you can use double contact carpet tape to secure it to the blank.

Also using two (or more) board layers like you did you could band saw, saber saw, or jig saw the top board (or two) to create the hollow area then glue it to a bottom board. and then cut the outside to shape; again with the band or jig saw. The bottom board could be cut of planed to 1/2” or /14”.

-- Les B, Oregon

Nicely done. I too may have to borrow this one for a some gifts next year.
Thanks much for posting.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

Must a missed this one… Fantastic…could be adapted for all sorts of holidays… .

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...