Locating the blank within a log is the first step to dealing with warp. Warp can sometimes create a nice visual affect, but if you want to create a perfectly round bowl, Mahoney shows you how. He recommends rough turning the workpiece and then letting it sit to cure before bringing it to its final shape.

Begin by turning the green-wood blank so that the wall thickness is 10 percent of the total diameter of the piece: A 10-in.-dia. piece will have 1-in.-thick walls for example. Then mop the piece with a green-wood sealer and store it until the moisture has dissipated.

Use a moisture meter to determine when the wood is cured or weigh it using a sensitive scale. If you notice that the weight stays the same over a long period of time, it means that the wood is dried and the blank is ready to be turned to its final shape.

Mike Mahoney
Orem, Utah
Teacher, author, and wood turner Mike Mahoney answers 8 reader questions about tools and techniques for turning bowls.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS

1		Why are there so many different gouges? PLAY 1
2		What’s the difference between shear scraping, scraping, and cutting? PLAY 2
3		What’s the right way to position a gouge?  PLAY 3
4		How can I avoid tearout when turning end-grain fiber? PLAY 4
5		What’s the best way to handle difficult grain? PLAY 5
6		How can I prevent green wood from cracking? PLAY 6
7		What’s the best way to cut a tenon for a scroll chuck? NOW PLAYING
8		What’s the proper lathe speed? PLAY 8