A friend asked me to make a couple of bowls for a fundraiser to benefit a good cause. I agreed. I had just acquired some 8 1/4” x 8 1/4” x 3 1/4” Walnut and so I decided to make both bowls out of one blank. I re-sawed it into 1 7/8” pieces and then marked a center and circle and trimmed them to be mostly round.
I put a 2 1/4” x 3/16” recess in the flattest side of each blank and chucked the first one on the lathe. I also used the tail-stock and live center for support. I trued up the blank so it was round and then I shaped the bottom of the bowl. For this one I wanted to experiment with reverse curve under the rim of the bowl and I managed to get a nicely proportioned curve and flare under the rim.
I also wanted to have a matching undercut under the rim on the inside. I figured out how to do it and I really like how it came out.
The second bowl I wanted to have it be a more modern profile with two different curves from the top edge to the shoulder and then from the shoulder to the bottom. This one would also have an undercut on the inside.
I finished these the way that I have been doing sanding up to 320 grit then putting on a shellac based sanding sealer and once that is dry sanding through 600, 800, 1000, 2000 grit and then applying a beeswax and mineral oil final finish. It comes out nice and is food safe.
I learned a lot on these two getting better at the work holding, doing better at hollowing, creating an undercut, using various tools to manage rough areas that would develop because of the very open grain of walnut. All in all I really enjoyed this project.