Tree to Bowl

[Kent Reisdorph]

This isn't exactly a project, but I figured I'd take you on my Sunday journey. I found a tree behind the house that Picture This identified as a butternut. Picture This has a hard time differentiating walnut and butternut, but I decided to cut it down and see.

The tree is 20" diameter at the base. My chainsaw is 16". It was a lot of work.



Step 1, Fell a Tree


No comments on my chainsaw skills, please.

That last picture sure looks like walnut.

 

[Gene Pitstick]

Kent it looks like you opened a gold mine. Congrats

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Step 2, Make a Bowl Blank.

As is my tradition, when I cut down a tree, I turn something from it right away. I found a couple of smaller crotches that would have been about 20' up in the tree.

Taking advice from someone here (sorry, don't remember who), I cut one side thicker than the other. I decided to turn the smaller (skinnier?) side first. It's the one on the left.

Make it round and mount it.


I use the spur center a lot.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Step 3, Turn a Bowl

I forgot to get a picture after I completed the outside. I subscribe to the "leave a mass in the center" philosophy when turning the interior. Why? Less wing flex, among other things.



A lighting artifact makes the outside look like a different color. I think the light on that side is set to a warmer tone.

Ready to start drying. It's very wet, of course, so it will take a bit. I microwave dry most of the time. Should be dry in the next couple of days, though. Starting weight right off the lathe is 303 grams.


An that's where I'm at! Stay tuned.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I had a small crack develop. I sprayed the surface with spray lacquer. It looks like I got a little CA staining anyway.

The last weigh was 242g. Should be able to start sanding this afternoon.

 

[Vincent Vogel]

Looks like a very nice walnut tree. Have fun, You have a lot of wood to use up.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Come on down and take some home.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Tried and True applied. This is a good bowl, but not a great bowl. I knew the small crack would show, given the wood color, grain, etc. I also have some spider cracks on the outside that weren't apparent until the oil went on. I dried this bowl just a little too aggressively.

Note the bad toolmarks on the foot. I didn't pay enough attention when I turned the outside. Once I got it back on the lathe, I was tempted to take a gouge to it. I've done that before after drying a once-turned bowl and the results are usually poor. MUST pay attention to those things early on. Still learning.

I lost some bark but most folks wouldn't care about that. I give my bowls to friends and relatives at this point in my "career".


The timestamp on the photo where I started cutting the tree down was 12:01 PM Sunday. The timestamp on these photos is 8:00 PM on Monday. 32 hours from live tree to bowl. I don't recommend that, but it's my tradition.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Done. Bad photos, sorry.

 

[Cody Litster]

Looks great to me. Good character and color contrast from the wood to the bark. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

pretty bowl and story.

 

[Norm Marentette]

Looks good to me also. Enjoyed the process, my favourite part.