Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
Mike Schwing from Md.
>15" wide, intended for salad use at onset but now feels and looks too delicate for food use. Walls are about 1/4" or less throughout, ('cept for the rim) sanded to 12000 and Watco'd. Not buffed yet.
The rim treatment and profile are new attempts for me. Critique appreciated.
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
Bill Hale, Woodspinner
>Looks great and it should be a little heavy for a salad bowl. 1/4" thick is just fine.
The only thing I see is the rim edge seems a little thin for use. I tend to round the edge as it makes it less likly to chip off. The edge profile is neat looking.
Good turning and be safe
Bill
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
Phil Lieberman
>Very nice piece Mike, Great form and you just have to love the wood!
AGAIN, with the Silver Maple!
Dominic Greco at home in sunny Richboro, PA
>Mike,
You're killing me here! I have several huge chunks of Silver Maple sitting in the back yard waiting to be cut up. I hope that they are half as cool looking as this turned out to be.
I actually think the shape is very graceful. The rim treatment reminds of the type Bill Grumbine turns. If you think it isn't suited for salad, here's a thought. Turn a bunch of 2" or 3" diam. spheres from different woods and place them in the bowl. It really makes a great centerpiece.
See ya around,
Dominic
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont
>Hi Mike,
Great looking turning, the rim looks perfect to me!
take care,
Jim
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
Frank Joseph Mantua NJ
>Its very nice... The out side edge is crisp and may get a nick or two ..if it is noticed just round it over a littel..
But the Bowl is very nice its on par with other things you post I wish I could do so well.
nothing like making more work for me!
Mike Schwing from Md.
>Geez, have you ever turned a bowl full of spheres! I turned a bowl full of eggs and good Lord it took a long time to fill up that bowl.
Thanks for the nice words and for the idea.
I have a love/hate with silver maple. It tears out remarkably easy, but it is super easy to fix with a freshly sharpened (and honed) tool. It sands easy, too, but that also means it is easy to leave sanding marks.
I don't find it necessary at all to wax the blanks after first turning if they've been sitting around for a few months before being roughed out. I don't think I've had even one ever crack. Some of my prepped blanks have been sitting on my shelves, unwaxed/sealed and they've dried out fine. They definitely wind up dry more quickly than any other wood I turn.
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
e
>mike:
for a utility bowl, the edges will not stand up to use ... they'll ding and split off. i have an early bowl with a similar edge treatment that looks like some creature ate the edges off (probably me). additionally, the sharper edges are more difficult to hold.
i also have another old bowl that is only 1/4" thick that is going strong, so i think that those dimension are 'ok', although people seem to like more weight for a utility bowl.
A sphere in 5 minutes
Dominic Greco in Richboro PA
>THAT ought to get Steve Antonucci's attention!
Ha! Made you look Steve!
The running joke at Bill Grumbine's 2004 5 Barn's BBQ was my claim of being able to turn a sphere in 5 to 7 minutes. That is of course, assuming that you have all the jigs you need made prior to making this rather ambitious claim.
Steve and Phil Duffy had a marvelous time gently ribbing me while I was turning! :>) To be truthful, it took 45 minutes to make the jigs (cup centers for the chuck and live center). But only 7 minutes to turn the 2 1/2" diameter sphere. So much for truth in demo-ing!
Personally, I feel that spheres are a hell of a lot easier to turn than eggs! There is hardly any thinking involved. I can pop out a bowl full (4 to 6) of spheres in about 1 1/2 hours. What takes the most time is sanding and finishing.
I've found that displaying those spheres arranged artfully in a bowl is the "hook" to sell both the spheres, and the bowl in one shot!
And I hear you about Silver maple being a fast drier. I guess it's because this is a "soft" hardwood.
See ya later,
Dominic
Re: A sphere in 5 minutes
Russ
>Dominic,
Eggs are easy to make. I try to turn a sphere, and they always come out looking like eggs.
Re: Large silver maple bowl (PIC)
RonZ
>The lip is similar to what I learned how to do from Dave Regester. While the bowl is fine you might want to consider a few things for next time.
The outer edge of the lip should be in conformity to the outer shap of the bowl and not jutting out. This will help avoid chipping. The inner edge of the lip is parallel to the outer edge, hence giving the bowl a thicker look. The concave dip between the inner and outer edges could be a bit more subtle also helping to avoid chipping. I'll try and post a pic soon.
Looking Good Mike!
Ron in Drums PA
>When are you gonna start turning that burl?
Re: Looking Good Mike!
Mike Schwing from Md.
>As soon as I get the Christmas gifts out of the way! I spent an entire weekend cutting that stuff up and sealing the blanks and every time I look at my shelves I want to get started on it. It is just like staring at one of Mrs. Schwingding's apple pies sitting on the counter cooling off. SO HARD TO RESIST.
BTW, I ebay'd just 4 platter blanks from that load and recovered half of shipping costs.
Re: Looking Good Mike!
Ron in Drums PA
>The man's a entrepreneur!
I've heard this one before :-)
steve antonucci in NW New Jersey
>