This is my first natural edge bowl. I cut a burl off a Black gum or sourwood tree week ago Sunday and turned it on the next day. I had it down to about 1/8" bottom to top using a light on the outside to tell when to stop cutting. I sanded it smooth as glass and put it in a paper grocery bag. I knew it would destort during the drying, put this bowl did some neat stuff. The burled grain has dried in such a way that the smooth bowl now looks like a cantaloupe texture wise. It has ridges like that of a cantaloupe but keep the smooth finish.
Jack
Jack