Three-corner bowls from a cube

[John K Jordan]

Here's an old tip about turning a 3-corner bowl from a cube. Many may already know of this technique but if not, maybe give it a try!

Many moons ago someone in our Knoxville club did a demo on starting with a cube and making a bowl-like thing with three corners. I had some fun playing with the idea, turning a couple for practice, one off-axis, then this piece where I joined two, inverting the smaller one to make "feet".

I used some type of spalted wood for the top and I think maybe African Mahogany for the base. The plan was for the smaller, darker base to lift the top off the table without, I hope, visually detracting from the upper part. I think the small bevel part way down the upper section echos the upper rim and helps to draw the eye to the spalting. If I'd thought of it at the time I might have made the angle of that bevel a little different and added a sloped groove at the top of the bevel to make it look a bit like a 3-corner bowl resting in a shallow round bowl on a 3-corner base! Maybe next time...

A kind gentleman brought me the antique glass fishing net float from one of his trips to Indonesia.
(I think the color combination is nice!)



Then, just today I was searching my email for something else and found a note from over 10 years ago with a link to the video below, an excellent tutorial for turning 3-cornered things from a cube. You may recognize the wizard who made the video.

I don't use the table saw to start but otherwise mostly use the same techniques. I think I held the opposing corners of the cubes between cup centers to turn a tenon for the chuck, turned another tenon in the top to allow shaping the base, then reversed and turned the inside of the bowl.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VITQnHJnhFs


(I see the wizard uses the same trick I often use when crosscutting blocks on the bandsaw - I wonder how many others have independently come up with this method! It assumes the table is perpendicular to the blade, of course.)

JKJ

 

[robo hippy]

I did figure out another method, well I saw it some where. Mount one end in the headstock spindle, and put the tailstock on the other end or if you have a cone type of revolving tail stock thing, and then spin it slowly by hand first to see how the points line up, adjust as necessary, and then start turning.

robo hippy

 

[David A Morris]

I think the first three practice pieces I ever tried were 4x4 cubes. They all ended up on the fireplace.

 

[John K Jordan]

I think the first three practice pieces I ever tried were 4x4 cubes. They all ended up on the fireplace.

Yikes, did you start woodturning by practicing on three 3-corner bowls held between opposing corners?
Tell me it's not so! That would be kind of like jumping on a bucking bronco for your first trail ride!

JKJ

 

[David A Morris]

Yikes, did you start woodturning by practicing on three 3-corner bowls held between opposing corners?
Tell me it's not so! That would be kind of like jumping on a bucking bronco for your first trail ride!

JKJ

Yeah, that's what I ran.

 

[David A Morris]

The first one I ran between centers without flattening the corners. The second one I flattened the corners, but it was such crappy wood, that when I made a tenon, it was only about an inch thick. When I put it in the old metal turning chuck it crushed the tenon. Straight to the firewood box. The third one I managed to get a decent tenon, and when I turned it around, the chuck held it pretty good. At that point I had no idea what to do so I cut and cut untill there was not much left. That's when I decided to try spindles and very small bowls. I think I posted those here somewhere.

 

[Dave Fritz]

Very nice John, thanks for showing Reed's video and bringing up the topic. Reed's video are always enjoyable. Thanks to you both for taking the time and contribute to this forum.

 

[Jamie Straw]

I did figure out another method, well I saw it some where. Mount one end in the headstock spindle, and put the tailstock on the other end or if you have a cone type of revolving tail stock thing, and then spin it slowly by hand first to see how the points line up, adjust as necessary, and then start turning.

robo hippy

In your video, when you switched to a different tool on the outside to get a better cut: would you tell us about the profile and bevel angle of that tool? I couldn't get a very good view, but it looked like it might be cut straight across like a bottom feeder but with a shallower grind. Switch was made at 11 minutes. Thanks.

 

[John Torchick]

Jamie has a good question. From watching lots of videos, I wish the turners would quickly describe the tool: "3/8 bowl gouge, 55 degree bevel." Seen some where the tool is hidden due to camera position. JMO.

 

[John K Jordan]

Jamie has a good question. From watching lots of videos, I wish the turners would quickly describe the tool: "3/8 bowl gouge, 55 degree bevel." Seen some where the tool is hidden due to camera position. JMO.

One thing a shop visitor recently taught me about demos - since there may be many people in the audience or on zoom with extensive turning experience don't assume anything. When introducing a new tool ALWAYS hold it up, turn it around, name it, describe any details such as the size and the grind. ("This is a 1/2" wide skew chisel, 30-deg grind, I'll use it to to taper this spindle. This is a Thompson skew but any brand would work.")

They guy said he wished all demonstrators would do this and I immediately thought "duh!", should have been obvious.

If you have more than one similar tool, maybe pass the other around the room in a demo.

 

[John Torchick]

JKJ, thanks for your input.
May be off topic a bit but I find the DIY YouTube videos to do the same. Found a great video for repairing the steering on my lawn tractor. Now to guess what size wrenches and sockets are used.