>I think we all have that piece of wood we look at for a year before we get the courage to turn it. Well, this was that piece. A nice large Big Leaf Maple Burl. I finally decided to just turn a bowl, and core out the middle for two additional bowls.
All was going well, I turned the three bowls except for the bottoms. I mounted my vacuum chuck and proceeded to turn the bottoms. I did the two smaller ones (plus two others) and then started finishing off the bottom of the biggest bowl I have ever turned. I was a minute away from sanding the bottom, when it happened. The vacuum seal broke and the bowl went flying. It bounced across the shop and ended up as two large pieces.
I discovered the vacuum adapter had come slightly unscrewed as it enters the back of the headstock and this allowed for some movement and loss of the vacuum. I never thought to check it during the five bowls that I did.
In any case, it was just too nice to toss in the trash, so I thought about fixing it. The process is on my web site if you care to follow along. Scroll down to Broken Bowl.
Here is the end result. It is almost 15 inches wide and 5 inches tall of (now) Maple burl and Walnut.
