All,
I have only turned a few bowls. The bowls are looking better and I can get them thinner now. Mostly I am turning green wood.
Unfortunately, the last two came apart on the lathe. The last one broke with a clunk when something broke and the scraper caught in some defect. I actually glued the pieces together- but the seams look dreadful. The one before that broke as I was pushing on the side wall with the scraper.
Are there any tips for things you should avoid doing when you get toward the end? I really don’t want to leave them thick as I think it looks bad that way.
Thanks
Frank
Replies
Keep a hand against the outside as you are turning to dampen vibrations, if it gets too hot you are pushing to hard. The thinner it gets the lighter the touch and keep a good edge on the scraper, grind often. And just remember, you are going to trash a lot of them before you get good at it, I must have run hundreds through the wood stove in the process...
When I turn Green bowls, I normally stop at 1/2" wall thickness, and then let the bowl dry out. (normally a month, with the bowl wrapped in a brown paper bag. to slow down the drying. so the bowl doesn't warp to badly.)
After the bowl is dry then I do the finish cutting .
I find Green wood, has way to much movement to get a bowl to anything near finished thickness.
Good Luck, I hope this tip helps you?
Curtis,
Thanks for the advice. I did the same thing- just used a box full of wet shavingsi a 35% RH basement.
Is elm a badwood to turn?
Frank
I've only turned Elm as a spindle. But I have had no problems turning it.
Good luck on the project.
How about posting some of your works once they are done?
C.A.G.
Frank,
When turning green, I usually aim for a wall thickness of about 1/8". I sand them, then let them dry, resulting in a oval bowl.
When using a scraper, raise the tool rest so that it is higher than the center of the axis. I have a rule when turning bowls too. Once you finish the rim, NEVER GO BACK - only bad things will happen.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
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