| Project by Daren Nelson | posted 184 days ago | 330 views | 0 times favorited | 12 comments | ![]() |
This project was the first thing I ever carved (made it this week). I have had a set of carving tools forever, but never had the inclination to use them. Carving is a skill I don’t really think I can master for whatever reason. This is also the first thing I ever named, I know many name their pieces so I decided to name this. “Weird little bowl that will really not hold very much, was way more work than I thought going in, but gave me something to do on rainy days” (catchy ? I am open for other name suggestions, I’m flexible)
This is almost a blog/project..bloject, sorry but I have to explain it. It started out last week when the city street dept. dropped off a couple burl redbud logs. Here is one outside the shop door, notice the missing burl ?
I went after it with the carving tools and a bunch of elbow grease and sand paper.


I know it is a little on the “chunky” side, but that was by design not laziness. Even though I am not a carver I tried to take appearance into account inside and out. If I took too much off I would have ruined it. There was some cool stuff going on outside too. I wanted to save the sapwood with the neat bark inclusions and the little birdseyes showing. Too much work on the inside I would have carved away the great color/figure of the heartwood. So thick walls were the only answer for me.


I guess I could glue it back on the log ?
I know some people may wonder, how did he get a finished bowl from a fresh log in just a couple days ? Microwave. I have had this debate with people before, whatever. Some species can be dried in the nuker without much (if any) degrade. Long story, I could go into it if anyone is interested that is not what this project is about. But yea, I cut the burl off/roughed the bowl/nuked it (2 minutes on 5 minutes off repeat,repeat) then finished carving and sanding.
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
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12 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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9104 posts in 308 days
posted 184 days ago
Hi Daren,
This is an interesting bowl. It has a unique coloring and grain patter. Very innovative idea with respect to drying. Good job.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
trifern
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4065 posts in 253 days
posted 184 days ago
I think you could rename it “Gorgeous Hunk of Dropped Off Burl”. But that might be too long even for a rainy day. Great job showcasing the hidden beauty from within.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
GMoney
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90 posts in 289 days
posted 184 days ago
Perhaps “My name is burl.” It’s between that and “The office”, but I think I like the first…
Another thought, this is getting dangerous! “Burl’s Anatomy.”
-- Greg, CT
Douglas Bordner
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2555 posts in 550 days
posted 184 days ago
I was going to suggest “Alien Autopsy: Cranial Section”. Great hunk of timber you’ve turned into art.
As for nuking, works for me with Maple.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
RobS
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1107 posts in 792 days
posted 183 days ago
Nice bowl, first thing I said when I saw the picture was, “Oh cool, a leopard bowl”!
Even the backside has some leopard coloring.
Very cool.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Blake
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2016 posts in 360 days
posted 183 days ago
Nice job on the carving. I like how you left it thick enough to show the two different colors. Great story too.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
Les Hastings
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461 posts in 259 days
posted 183 days ago
You should do more carving Daren,,,,,,,,,excellent project!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
frank
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1389 posts in 692 days
posted 182 days ago
Hello Daren;
—-truly a great piece of ‘wood art’ here, in a very finely ‘hand-tuned’ burl bowl….!
Your style in the medium of wood here, is very unique and one-of-a-kind and ‘me thinks’ you might explore this type of wood workin’ some more….also great contrast between the sapwood and heartwood. I am all-ways amazed to remember that what some call ‘weird’, other’s will see as ‘exotic’....’bonzer’. Hmmm, pardon my thinking out loud here, but you did ask….the three B’s.....” Burled Bonzer Bowl ”....
Now if I may ask, what is the type of finish you have used….?
Thank you for sharing this one….and;
GODSPEED,
Frank
-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/
Daren Nelson
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332 posts in 391 days
posted 182 days ago
Frank, so far I have just put several liberal applications of pure Tung oil on it. I am going to keep oiling and buffing it, I may do nothing more in the way of finish I have not decided. For Les and Frank about me doing more carving. I did enjoy my first attempt and am pleased with the unusual end result…but a little torn. I was mortified by the pile of beautiful shavings on the floor. I know it is all part of working with wood, it just bothered me for some reason ?
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
Daren Nelson
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332 posts in 391 days
posted 182 days ago
And from my experience with redbud burl (and redbud wood in general) The heartwood is going to age into more red and the sap an off white/yellow…so in several months it is going to be really much different looking. Which is cool, there is tons of figure in the sapwood that will show better with age/color changes in the grain.
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
SteveKorz
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1335 posts in 200 days
posted 180 days ago
Very nice… I’m amazed, as usual. I think you need to rename the bowl, “Daren has more talent than he gives himself credit for”... This is a little work of art, great job.
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
DAN
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3218 posts in 469 days
posted 176 days ago
would make a cool plant bowl. maybe a bonzai tree
-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com