New bowl turner

Re: New bowl turner

RevDoug

>You are opening up a can of worms here, but I'll put in my .o2 worth here before the others jump in and tell you I'm all washed up.

I don't mind a bit of warpness. Therefore, I turn green to finished size, sand completely, then boil the bowl in a pot of water for an hour or so. I will then take the bowl out and allow it to cool and dry for a day before hand sanding.

This final sanding goes quickly and can be used to begin the finishing process as well by going back to 400 or so grit and what ever finish you are going to use. The resulting slury will fill the pores and accelerate the smooth texture most of us are striving for in our finish.

You may still get some warp, but I have never lost a bowl using this process.

If you want/desire/need a perfectly round bowl, you will need to turn your blank to a thickness of 10% of the final diameter. For example, a 10 inch bowl will need to be 1 inch thic for drying. The entire bowl should be as close to the same thickness as possible. Take off the lathe and coat with endgrain sealer. Place in a paper bag. After drying for 6 months to a year, return the blank to the lathe and finish the turning, sanding, and finishing process.

Others will rough turn the blank as above and then boil, seal, and dry in a bag for 2-3 months before returning to the lathe.

You should get lots of info on this one. The final verdict is that you are going to do a bit of experimentation and decide how you like to do it the best. Enjoy the journey. You'll never regret taking the time to learn all you can.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug

Re: New bowl turner

John Lucas

>Joel Nice work. I think selling a piece is about as good a compliment as you can get.

Then there is the moonshine method...

BubbaBob

>...where you turn it to final thickness, soak for 2-24 hrs in moonshine (denatured alcohol), dry 10-14 days with outside wrapped in brown kraft paper, then sand and finish.

Actually it is a LITTLE more complicated than that, but not much. Do a search for "denatured alcohol" or messages by Dave Smith in last 30 days and you will find the details, or maybe Dave will re=post.

It works.

BubbaBob

Using moonshine externally in the mountains of N Georgia

Here is the thread Bubba was referring to. *LINK*

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi Pete,

I would love to hear Bubba's explanation the Theory of Relativity. Go to the article and look under turning for a condensed version of an article that was published in More Woodturning last month. Try the alcohol method of bowl drying I have outlined not Bubba's recollection and you will be a happy camper. You can email me if you have further questions but posting the questions on the forum helps everybody.

Welcome to the center of the universe. Lathes are like black holes. They spin and suck money in which never returns. We are powerless to stop the process. So hang on and enjoy the ride.

Dave Smith

There wasn't a cat in the box, dead or alive, IMHO in Longview, WA.


Alcohol bowl drying thread.

Hey Dave, did you want...

BubbaBob

>...the Special Theory of Relativity or the General Theory of Relativity. I'll translate either into GA Redneckeese, but ya gotta give me a starting point.

BubbaBob

I solved one of the problems.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi Bubba,

According to Heisenberg you can't who you are and where you are at the same time. I solved that problem when we travel. It is my job to remember where we are going. It is Sandy's job to remember who we are. Those smarty pants Phoenician don't know every thing.

I = Me in Longview, WA.