• It's time to cast your vote in the October 2025 Turning Challenge. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Curt Fuller for "Bell Ornaments" being selected as Turning of the Week for October 27, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

What’s on your carving/embellishing bench?

I have had a small walnut bowl on my Trent Bosch carving stand for a few days. It's sanded and has a few coats of finish on it, except for about a 1" wide, slightly raised band to carve, burn, and/or texture. I dug out my micromotor and practiced on a scrap (broken piece) but it seemed too slow. Then I fired up my burner pen and tried a few different tips and patterns, but didn't like that either. So, there it sits, staring at me every time I walk into the shop. 😒
 
I have had a small walnut bowl on my Trent Bosch carving stand for a few days. It's sanded and has a few coats of finish on it, except for about a 1" wide, slightly raised band to carve, burn, and/or texture. I dug out my micromotor and practiced on a scrap (broken piece) but it seemed too slow. Then I fired up my burner pen and tried a few different tips and patterns, but didn't like that either. So, there it sits, staring at me every time I walk into the shop. 😒
Don’t give up! Post a pic , one of us may can provide an idea for that area.
 
I have had a small walnut bowl on my Trent Bosch carving stand for a few days. It's sanded and has a few coats of finish on it, except for about a 1" wide, slightly raised band to carve, burn, and/or texture.

How about stippling? I use a it a lot, mostly with spindles and small things but sometimes with bowls. I use a small sort-of egg shaped carbide bit in dremel, touch the end to the wood to make one small dished spot, then another, then another… overlapping, randomizing, until the area is filled. Can take a bit of time. Then go over it lightly with 600 grit sandpaper and apply finish.

This is an example, Bradford Pear, carved then stippled. (After I finished it I decided I wasn’t wild about the proportions but hey, it’s done.)
IMG_0465.jpeg

This spindle has the same type of stippling.
IMG_0408.jpeg

JKJ
 
I have had a small walnut bowl on my Trent Bosch carving stand for a few days. It's sanded and has a few coats of finish on it, except for about a 1" wide, slightly raised band to carve, burn, and/or texture. I dug out my micromotor and practiced on a scrap (broken piece) but it seemed too slow. Then I fired up my burner pen and tried a few different tips and patterns, but didn't like that either. So, there it sits, staring at me every time I walk into the shop. 😒
I have four or five hollow forms sitting on a rack in the shop and trying to figure out what I want to carve or burn on them. Look at them every time I’m in the shop. I think I have it figured out and then change my mind😁
 
Here is the big brother of the Elm burl I posted earlier. I am putting 4 feet on this one mostly to distribute the weight because it is about 14" in diameter. This is a once turned bowl that was sanded to 320 green and let warp and wrinkle. I do put a bit of a curve on the tenon before removing it from the lathe. The rough carving was done with a Merlin 2 and a rough disk. I put the painters tape on to protect it from hand work with rasps and sanding.

IMG_6064.jpgIMG_6065.jpg
 
Here is the big brother of the Elm burl I posted earlier. I am putting 4 feet on this one mostly to distribute the weight because it is about 14" in diameter. This is a once turned bowl that was sanded to 320 green and let warp and wrinkle. I do put a bit of a curve on the tenon before removing it from the lathe. The rough carving was done with a Merlin 2 and a rough disk. I put the painters tape on to protect it from hand work with rasps and sanding.

View attachment 80300View attachment 80301
Thanks for the process pics. Would love to see more if you took them.
 
Thanks for the process pics. Would love to see more if you took them.
I have a couple more but they don't really show much.
I used rotary tools to cut the curve on the inside of the foot. Then rasps and sandpaper to get blended in. I know I'm getting there when it takes the edge of the tape away and as long as I'm going lightly the tape protects the rest of the bottom.
IMG_6066.jpg
After removing the tape I finish sanding, then wipe it with mineral spirits to find sanding scratches I missed.
IMG_6071.jpg
There is always a chance four legs don't sit flat and need adjusting. This one was fine.
IMG_6072.jpg
 
I have a couple more but they don't really show much.
I used rotary tools to cut the curve on the inside of the foot. Then rasps and sandpaper to get blended in. I know I'm getting there when it takes the edge of the tape away and as long as I'm going lightly the tape protects the rest of the bottom.
View attachment 80329
After removing the tape I finish sanding, then wipe it with mineral spirits to find sanding scratches I missed.
View attachment 80330
There is always a chance four legs don't sit flat and need adjusting. This one was fine.
View attachment 80331
Very helpful thank you!
 
Back
Top