Cherry Bead Rim Bowl

Looks good to me. Nice work.

Good balance on the grain, David.
Lets see some more
m

Very nice and that could be a "poster bowl" for good grain balance - something new turners usually don't consider.

I like it!
And.....I see a couple references to "grain balance".
Is it not a "you get what you get" thing depending only on the chosen piece?
Explanation please.....

Brian Roberts wrote:

I like it!
And.....I see a couple references to "grain balance".
Is it not a "you get what you get" thing depending only on the chosen piece?
Explanation please.....

You may be able to do a bit of balancing when you are cutting a blank - typically half a piece of tree trunk.
If you just screw the blank onto a faceplate and turn away then you do "get what you get". But if you start it between a spur center and the tailstock you can move the piece relative to the 2 points to balance the grain. Of course, if the grain is way out of symmetry then there is only so much you can do without ending up with a tiny bowl or having the piece so cock-eyed it is hard to deal with.
Normally, turning is started and once the bark, if any, is off and the grain starts to show better then an adjustment is made - it may not be the only adjustment at the beginning. 
Some turners grind 2 opposing spurs off the spur center so it can better handle a blank that is being started off the usual center-line. You can also buy 2 prong centers. Here is an example:
  Precision Machine 2-Prong Drive Center | Shop Supplies | Craft Supplies USA (woodturnerscatalog.com) 
The point/cup center on the tailstock is not usually a problem when moving the piece.

Hi Brian,

Attached is a link that goes into grain balance.
Simply it is starting between two centers and adjusting the wood so that the grain is symmetrical. Not only does it look more pleasing, with green wood the bowl will dry and warp more consistently with less chance of cracking.

https://turnawoodbowl.com/bowl-turning-grain-orientation-wood-blank-direction/

Thanks for the replies....
I do understand the mechanics of selecting where in the log we take a turning blank from.
I guess my point was that....given an existing blank....the only way to alter "grain balance" (other than pith up or pith down) is to reduce the size of the bowl in some manner.

That's about it. You must throw away the wood that is contributing to the off balance.