Fell off the deep end!

Re: Fell off the deep end!

Ric Erkes

>So far you have made all the right moves...Got a lathe, good tools and joined a club.

To maximize a flat rimmed bowl the pith is usually near the rim, while a natural edge bowl is just the opposite. But the long answer is it just don't matter, if the log is big enough for the size bowl you want, you can mount it at any angle.

Keep it fun,

Ric

growth rings pattern

Pascal Oudet

>the orientation (pith at the rim or at the bottom) will change the grain pattern you will get (the way the growth rings will show in your bowl): concentric circles or "bow tie". IIRC, it's described in Michael O'Donnell book "turning green wood". Or you might just try both to see what you get.

Pascal

Re: Fell off the deep end!

Doug Trembath

>Well, Doug, In a computer fit, I lost a reply to a bowl gouge question, so I'll kill two birds with one stone. The best thing you can do is to contact a local turning club, and take full advantage of the tape and video library. You can learn more about turning in those few minutes, than you can in lots of blood, sweat and tears on the lathe. Personal instruction is my main recommendation, but then again I teach, so that may be a double-edged sword. There's no debate about the benefits of having someone show you how, though. It's too easy to screw up and have a large piece of wood flying around hitting things, maybe you. Happened to me. A number of times, for different reasons.

While you're doing that, look up a couple of the regulars here that host woodturning info and methods on their websites. Darrel Feltmate and Russ Fairfield come to mind. A lot of good starting tips and general knowledge in a compact form, and it's free and readily available.

Stick around and let us know how it's going.

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods