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Bowl question

Mike Crescenzo

Mike Crescenzo

Joined
Sep 3, 2018
Messages
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Location
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Hope everyone is safe, healthy and staying as positive as possible during this virus crisis. Like most (I imagine) I have turned to the lathe as a creative distraction from the news coming at us from every direction.

My question, I have been given two small lengths of freshly cut cherry, which yielded five nice sized bowl blanks. Is it best to turn to finished or rough turn them and let them season before finishing? I love turning cherry, normally I can only find maple locally.

Thanks for considering what may be a silly question given the current state of affairs.
 
Don't know that there is a best. I've done both with cherry with equal results. Do some both ways and see for yourself. Cherry will crack and check quickly, so make sure you get things sealed quickly where applicable.
 
# 1 don't try to dry it first
This winter I have turned several black cherry bowls by the once turned method which presents some challenges for finish sanding on the inside. The walls need to be uniformly thin usually 1/8th inch or less. The one pictured is my first attempt at bowl bending.
20011Bowla.JPG
The rough or twice turned method requires enough wall thickness to account for the shrinkage that will cause the piece to go oval and the wall thickness must be uniform as possible. If the wall gets thicker from the edge to the center it has been my experience to get cracks near the base.
 
Thanks guys. I jumped in today thinking I would take one blank to finish...discovered a nail buried half way in. Pulled the nail, wrapped in in newspaper and put it away for another day
 
What about the bowl blank?
Why would you wrap a nail in newspaper?
Seriously don't leave the blanks to long or they will begin to dry and crack.
Note: The so called sealers such as AnkorSeal are not true sealers but will control or slow down the drying process to prevent end grain checking.
 
Fresh cherry has a dramatic white sap ring..
It will not be so nice in a week.

I would rough 2-3 bowls to dry and return.
Ii would turn the others as Ne bowls 3/16 wall thickness. Dry for a couple of days, sand, and finish

a mix of instant gratification and some longer worl
 
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