Maple Bowl

Foot too small? Hmmm.

Mike Schwing from Md

>First - nice job. Nice profile, good flowing curve. The curve appears to flatten out a bit toward the bottom, which affects the appearance of the bottom to a slight detriment, but would have been barely detectable if there was no foot at all.

In fact, thats where I disagree with the person who suggested a bigger foot, I would have not made one at all. Without one, you'd have a nice shadow at the bottom making the bowl disappear into the table.

The thickness of the bowl at the rim detracts a little bit from the overall form, but not terribly. I'm being picky here though.

Very nice job, from a fellow new turner.

Don't take my criticisms too seriously, I'm new, too. I like your work and look forward to seeing more. What gouge(s) are you using?

Re: Maple Bowl

John Lucas

>Ryan

If it's a functional bowl I would leave the foot that big or bigger. If it's an art bowl I would make it shorter and smaller. Of course that's just my personal taste.

Re: Maple Bowl

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Ryan, The form is a simple but good one. The curve from rim to foot is very good. Continuous, with no apparent flats. It's sometimes difficult to tell from a photo what the actual proportions are. Using the "rule" that the foot should be 1/3 the widest diameter, if the bowl is 7 inches, the foot should be 2 1/3 inches. Not everyone agrees with that rule but generally speaking, I do. With some art form pieces the foot can be even smaller. It's all a matter of balance.

Wally

Re: Foot too small? Hmmm.

Ryan McMullen

>Well when I getting ready to finish the bottom my second thought was to turn off the foot and just have it transition to a flat bottom, but I stuck with my first thought of having the foot. I've got 2 more spalted maple blanks, guess I get to do some experimenting.

Thanks for the comments

Ryan

I wasn't clear

Chuck Ludwigsen

>Either I wasn't clear or Ryan's coffee hadn't set in... ;-)

I think the foot on his is the size (diameter) that it should be. I was telling him that other folks are always telling ME to make mine smaller. His is nice and small. I agree with Mike that, on his next one, maybe make it shorter (in height).

But here is the real kicker... Ryan is my best friend and has only been turning since I got my Jet 1236 and moved the older Bufallo lathe to his place. That is less than 2 months. I've been very impressed with what he has done so quickly.

He even has a request from someone to buy an item already... No fair ;-)

Anyway, congrats my friend on an excellent piece.

Chuck

Re: Maple Bowl

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>I like the bowl; you have a good flowing curve and a well finished luster. The base is not too small to my eye but I think the foot is what is disturbing your friend. The bowl is a lovely curve sitting atop a short straight-sided pillar. The shapes don't match (curved verses straight) and the elevation makes the bowl look unsteady (top heavy). Try the same type of bowl without the foot on your next piece of maple, set them next to each other and see which one like after a week or so.

Excellent accomplishment.

John

Feet?

Russ Fairfield

>Is the foot too big, too small, too high, or should there be none at all?? These are the perceptions of the viewer, and whether the viewer is a woodturner or not. If they are a woodturner, their preference is often a reflection of the current trend that is being advocated by the "masters" of woodturning.

My personal preference will depend on what the bowl will be used for. While the "artistic" bowl can have a smaller foot (1/3 the diameter?) or a taller foot, a bowl that will be used for serving a salad may need a larger and possibly a lower foot for better stability while it is being used.

Sometimes the height of the foot is determined by what we have done with the curvature inside the bowl. Sometimes a tall foot is necessary to keep from having a hole in the bottom.

If we are selling bowls, we have to make all kinds, to serve all preferences. For what its worth, the buying public that I have seen preferrs a bowl with a definite foot by about 4 to 1.

For our own use, we can make it whatever we want.

Re: Feet?

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>Russ

I agree !

The buyers set the trend of what we make and how it is finished. Most of my work is utility type bowls etc. I almost never put a foot on so there is no question of to large, to tall or to small. In my area of sales there seems to be no difference foot or not.

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Re: Feet?

Bill Howatt

>Darn! I'm in the minority again since I usually prefer a rounded bump rather than a definite foot.

I think another factor is how the bowl will be displayed. To see the bowl as presented in the picture if it were on my coffee table I'd have to lay on the floor. Of course, if it is higher up then one might see it as in the picture.

Bill

Re: Maple Bowl

Brett Sherwood - Richmond, IN

>Nice Bowl Ryan!