Like the potter’s wheel, the wood lathe is a simple mechanism which can generate a variety of forms.
The Process
Kevin gathers the logs and cuts them is sections about 20” long, then splits the log in half. This will make two bowls. The halved sections is rounded up to make a bowl blank. The bowl blank gets it’s first turn into the rough form. Bowl making is a two turn process. The first turning of the bowl is put into a paper bag with the wet wood shavings to slow the evaporation rate of the wood to prevent cracking. After three months these bowls are put into the dryer for another three months. Once the bowls are completely dried, they go through the second and final turning. No stains are used so the natural beauty of the wood shines through.
Log cut in half will produce one bowl.
Cutting sycamore logs at the Indian Creek Nature Center Trail.
Bowl blank
Lathe tools
Making the circle to cut the bowl blank.
Dry for first turned bowls. After they have dried in the here for three months, they are ready for the final turning and finishing.
Starting to first turn on lathe.
First turned bowl will need to dry for three months in the bowl shavings then three months in the dry before it is ready for the final turning and finishing.
Large paper bags containing first turned bowls and wood shaving to dry out slowly for the first three months.