DIY Network

Turning a Dry Elliptical Bowl Round Turning a Dry Elliptical Bowl Round From "Woodturning Techniques" episode DWTT-111

It takes about three months for a wet, turned bowl to completely dry. If you live in a really dry climate, the bowl may need to be dried in a grocery store paper bag to slow down the drying process; if it dries too quickly, fibers can split from the wood and it will shrink unevenly.

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Note: When the bowl is rough turned and set aside to dry, care should be taken to slow the drying process. If the bowl blank dries too quickly it will crack. Place the bowl blank in a cool place away from direct heat. If a good space is not available, put the blank in a paper bag to slow the drying.

	Figure A
	Figure B

Steps:

1. The dry bowl is mounted on the lathe and turned, starting with the outside, from the bottom to the top, turning away just enough wood to make the bowl true (figure A).

2. The tool will jump because the wood isn't true. While turning, watch the horizon, not the tool to see where the tool is cutting (figure B).

3. To smooth the rim, and prevent splitting the fibers, change the direction of the bowl on the lathe and trim from the rim downward; the bowl is thinner now and because the wood is dry, lighter cuts are required.

4. When both the outside and rim are true, very light cuts are used to hollow the inside of the bowl. Contact with the bevel of the tool is important at this stage (figure C). It guides the tool as it goes down about two-thirds of the way, then the handle swings quickly around for the tool to move only a short distance inside the bowl.

5. When the bowl is smooth and concentric, it is sanded with the lathe running, using a drill and 100, 150 and 220 grit sanding pads. Care must be given not to let the drill stand still in the bottom of the bowl; this part of the bowl is turning slower and the pads could leave a depression in the wood (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

6. The bowl is removed from the lathe, and a padded PVC fitting, which won't mar the inside of the bowl, is fitted to the lathe (figure E).

7. The tail stock secures the bowl in place as the final shaping of the bottom is finished and a concave foot, which will prevent the bowl from rocking, is turned (figure F).

8. The button of wood on the bottom of the bowl is carved off and the bowl is ready for display (figure G).

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G