Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Ambrosia maple from the log dump. About 12" wide, nothing fancy in the design, sanded to a very high grit and left unfinished. I just couldn't bear to put a finish on this, it looks so nice and shiny on its own. Base was left a tad wide on purpose/stability on the dinner table. Comments welcomed.
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Thomas Saunders
>Nice job Mike,
I really like the simple lines. I also like the shape of the lip.
I have never worked with that kind of wood. Are the dark spots inherent to the wood?
Tom in Red Deer (the wood wasteland)
Why do you always say
Dustmaker Mike
>Simple or? I try to do work like that and the cutting boards you make, and lets just say I have a good looking pile of firewood. Another beautiful job.
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Phil Lieberman
>Nice Mike, I had to post these, i just roughed this bowl out a few weeks ago and its been in a plastic bag! Its about 11.5 wide. Dont you just love the Ambrosia Maple
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Phil Lieberman
>
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
e
>very nice piece, mike!
almost too nice to use but i love using a simple beewax/mineral oil compound i cook up in the microwave on this type of object -- it leaves the wood very natural but protects it. after a while a very rich patina builds up.
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Tom Mullane, Hagerstown, MD
>Could you give a little more info on the beeswax/mineral oil combo you cook up... sounds like something for my rolling pins
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
e
>simple compound:
in a microwaveable coverable container, i nuke a ~50% beewax/~50% mineral oil. you can modify the percentages to taste.
this produces a soft beewax compound that i use on all cutting boards, wood countertops, bowls, platters, etc. after washing the item, apply wax and then wipe off with dry cloth.
over time, the wood develops a very nice patina and the wood stays in great condition.
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Thanks Tom. That is ordinary old silver maple which has had an infestation of the "Ambrosia beetle". The beetle tunnels in, and introduces a fungus to the wood that discolors it thusly. Around here most maples that are cut into show ambrosia marks, some are dramatic. This one is a little more than average.
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Glenn Hodges
>Mike, I have been admiring your work, and this is another piece I think is great. I wish I had a dump like yours. Question, do you glue up the holes the beetles make so the salad dressing will not leak out? What type of glue do you use? Thanks for the picture.
Nashville, GA
Filled with black epoxy! (and thanks)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>Mike,
First, hopefully without sounding cowardly, I want to say that I am a big fan of the work you have been doing lately.
That said, on this one, I like the simple, unadorned form - it lets the beauty of the wood shine though. And I like the decision not to add a finish that might detract from the original color of the wood.
But....(you knew it was coming), from the picture the wall thickness looks a little thick for this size bowl. I think that it might look a little less heavey of the wall thickness was about 2/3 of what it is now. I am no fan of super thin, so that is certainly not it. It was just my very first thought when I saw the picture. I am not even sure it is a correct perception, just what I though when I first saw it.
BUT what is more important, is how does it feel for it's size? In my opinion, that is what really counts. I hate it when I turn a hollow form, I think the thickness is about right, but when part it off, it feels too heavy for it's size and shape.
Just my opinion, thanks for posting it.
Mark
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Mark, thanks for putting the thinking cap on. I can only guess that you're seeing additional rim thickness in the sloped rim, which is _longer_ than if it were horizontal and may look like the piece is thicker. I picked it up a few times since reading your piece, and can't come to the conclusion that it is too thick. Eye of the beholder, right?
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>No Mike, you are probably right. One of the problems, like Russ says, of doing a critique via photo. I am posting a pic in a few minutes of a Box Elder bowl I just finished, and the rim looks thicker because of the rim angle as well. In fact it when I measured it, it was only 1/4". Surprised me.
Mark
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Is that DUST on your tablesaw? Are you nuts man?
Re: Simple salad bowl (PICs)
Phil Lieberman
>Yeap Dust, what makes a guy nuts