Catalpa Bowl

[barbsiddiqui]

A yard tree taken down gave me lots of wood to air dry, and this is the first bowl made from our home Catalpa. Seven one-half inches in diameter, and about four and one-half inches deep.

 

[Breck Whitworth]

I have never seen anything made from catalpa the wood is very beautiful! Nice bowl

 

[barbsiddiqui]

I have never seen anything made from catalpa the wood is very beautiful! Nice bowl

Thank you; it's a fibrous wood (compares to butternut and carvers like it) and takes some extra sanding, but it polished up well.

 

[BobCoates]

If you have more, try turning down the center of the a log section. I have one that I did and it is about 16" dia and about 8" deep, and has been stable for at least 2 years. The wood is very stable. A 1/2 " thick slice was cut from a limb and it never cracked.

 

[barbsiddiqui]

If you have more, try turning down the center of the a log section. I have one that I did and it is about 16" dia and about 8" deep, and has been stable for at least 2 years. The wood is very stable. A 1/2 " thick slice was cut from a limb and it never cracked.

I don't have any whole logs left; cut the pith out of all I saved, but I do have some rather big slabs I can't fit under my 12" band saw. Most of it is drying really well. I'll have to get the chainsaw back into them to even up the faces for turning, if I can.

 

[Gary Chapman]

I don't have any whole logs left; cut the pith out of all I saved, but I do have some rather big slabs I can't fit under my 12" band saw. Most of it is drying really well. I'll have to get the chainsaw back into them to even up the faces for turning, if I can.

Barb,
I love your catalpa bowl. I have turned a lot of it and really like the color and grain . If you turn end grain you can get some really nice grain patterns and it is pretty easy to work.

 

[Gary Chapman]

Barb,
Sorry for the multiples, I am just getting used to this setup. Sorry Gary

 

[Richard Coers]

Do you have a power sander? If not, you should get one. It makes sanding the inside a lot easier and will let you sand out that tear out and roughness. What tool are you using on the inside? You can't beat a freshly sharpened bowl gouge with a super light cut for removing chip out. I love to color fill catalpa. I final sand, then paint with acrylic paint. Sand off all the paint and you end up with the course grain filled with color.

 

[barbsiddiqui]

Barb,
I love your catalpa bowl. I have turned a lot of it and really like the color and grain . If you turn end grain you can get some really nice grain patterns and it is pretty easy to work.View attachment 7127
View attachment 7127View attachment 7127

That's beautiful, Gary, and deep hollowing! I do like the grain of catalpa. It's an under-used wood, I think.

 

[barbsiddiqui]

Do you have a power sander? If not, you should get one. It makes sanding the inside a lot easier and will let you sand out that tear out and roughness. What tool are you using on the inside? You can't beat a freshly sharpened bowl gouge with a super light cut for removing chip out. I love to color fill catalpa. I final sand, then paint with acrylic paint. Sand off all the paint and you end up with the course grain filled with color.

Richard, that's an interesting idea. I do have a power sander, but didn't use it on this piece. I can also reverse-turn, which I didn't bother to do. Hand sanded while turning, and Hand Sanded a lot off the lathe, but still had a little tear out on the inside. I mostly used a curved carbide cutting tool on the inside, and am new at using it. I like the acrylic paint idea. Thanks.

 

[Richard Coers]

Here is a postcard I had made. The catalpa vessels are on the right, one black, one red.

 

[barbsiddiqui]

Here is a postcard I had made. The catalpa vessels are on the right, one black, one red.

Interesting. All those pieces are very nice. The painted surfaces may work well with a dark walnut stain instead of acrylic paint, too. Lots of possibilities there. Thank you for the suggestion!