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Two Finished Practice Bowls

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Hello turners, as I wade my way through this wonderful hobby of turning bowls I'm learning a lot. I've been turning(learning how to) bowls now for about three weeks and love every minute behind the lathe. Thought I'd give you and update on my progress. I have been turning green maple bowls and I thought to myself lets try to turn a kiln dried wood bowl.....

last weekend I was at WC store and they have a box of kiln dried hardwood cut offs for sale so much a pound. I bought some Desert Ironwood 3"x3" x18" and a piece of dark wood 3"x3"x9".(Could not identify the dark wood)

Anyway, I cut and glued the wood to make two bowl blanks 3"x6" square. Had to mix the two pieces on the 2nd bowl to make the blank....

I made a few mistakes but this is a learning process, kind of self teaching like it was with my penturning. ...

Any comments my friends will be welcome and also things you see that I need to work on will be very helpful.

Happy turning. PS, excuse the photos, I can do better than this. When I develop my skills in bowl turning, I have a photo tent all set up for showing in a gallery setting.....IMG_0153.JPG IMG_0154.JPG IMG_0153.JPG IMG_0157.JPG
 

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Good job on turning bowls. I'm trying to get up enough nerve to try it myself. The odds-n-ends bin at WC is a gold mine for wood! Got some nice wood for pens there.
 
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Lamar

These are not practice. They are beautiful. I like the shape. What finish did you use. You must have been a turner in your previous life.

Thanks William, I was a pen turner/maker for about four years and decided to start turning other things so though I'd give bowls a try and I really enjoy it. The finish was sanded to 600 grit and on coat of Danish oil then friction polish. Thanks so much for your comments and Happy turning!
 
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Thanks William, I was a pen turner/maker for about four years and decided to start turning other things so though I'd give bowls a try and I really enjoy it. The finish was sanded to 600 grit and on coat of Danish oil then friction polish. Thanks so much for your comments and Happy turning!

Lamar, I also started doing pens about 6-7 years ago. Then a move, broken shoulder and finally started turning bowl, lidded boxes, small HF about 2 years ago. I was nowhere as accomplished in three week as you are. Great Skills.
 
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Lamar, I also started doing pens about 6-7 years ago. Then a move, broken shoulder and finally started turning bowl, lidded boxes, small HF about 2 years ago. I was nowhere as accomplished in three week as you are. Great Skills.
Thanks William so much for the kind words of encouragement. Happy turning my friend!
 

odie

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Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
and a piece of dark wood 3"x3"x9".(Could not identify the dark wood)
index.php


The light streaks throw me a little there.......but, my guess is Wenge. (Then again, maybe not!)

-----odie-----
 

Bill Boehme

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.... and a piece of dark wood 3"x3"x9".(Could not identify the dark wood)

.... The light streaks throw me a little there.......but, my guess is Wenge. (Then again, maybe not!)

It's hard to try to guess the species when looking at side grain, but it looks a bit similar to some pieces of bokote that I have.
 
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Hi Odie, the dark wood does favor Wenge wood a lot. It is a very hard wood and had to take small lite cuts.
I agree with Wenge, not a friendly wood for turning, splintery in my experience years ago, and I never tried any after, you did well IMO nice finish too.
Hi Leo, you are right on, the dark wood was very hard and splintery. Had to take very lite small cuts forming both bowls. I agree with you and Odie, must be Wenge wood. Thanks so much for your comments.
 
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It's hard to try to guess the species when looking at side grain, but it looks a bit similar to some pieces of bokote that I have.
Hi Bill, yes the wood is similar to Bokote but Bokote has a little lighter long wood grain but end grain very similar. This wood is very hard and like Leo said, it is very splintery.
 
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I’m impressed!! Great job! Could it be what we call here Silky Oak? Hmmm
Hi Emiliano, thank you for your comment very much. The dark wood has oak-like qualities but is much darker than the Silky Oak that I've seen. The silky oak that I've seen is more reddish brown. I can say this about the wood Emiliano, it is very hard wood and I had to make several trips to my grinder with the bowl gouge! lol.
 

Emiliano Achaval

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Hi Emiliano, thank you for your comment very much. The dark wood has oak-like qualities but is much darker than the Silky Oak that I've seen. The silky oak that I've seen is more reddish brown. I can say this about the wood Emiliano, it is very hard wood and I had to make several trips to my grinder with the bowl gouge! lol.
We have a lot of silky oak here, unlimited. But, hard to sell compared to Koa, I hardly ever turn it... It is a nice wood... Aloha
 
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