Created on a Lathe: Old-fashioned Wooden Bowls

Back when I raised Australian Bearded Dragons and had several green iguana pets, I needed a mortar & pestle for grinding vitamin and calcium tablets for my pets, and dad made one for me from a piece of hardwood white oak. I have long since gotten out of the reptile business but I still have the mortar & pestle.

Here are some images of what can be made using a wood-lathe and some skill.

Tree Burl Knot, Unworked

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Searching for images of lathe-built bowls to build a story around, I found this related series of images that shows a natural tree burl being worked into a bowl, step-by-step. The burl, -a natural ‘knot’ usually of a fair size, turned out to be defective as it had a ‘sap ball’ in it, rendering the bowl less than optimal. The finished result as we shall see, was still quite beautiful.

Sapball Burl Being Turned

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Here, the burl is attached to the lathe, and has been extensively turned. You can see the 'sap ball' void. This is going to prove to be a problem. It is just a matter or removing the outside layers to create shape of the bowl. It is not uncommon to begin the process and have the entire burl just ‘fall apart,’ according to my brother. And some of the most horrid-looking, unattractive tree burls turn out to produce some of the most amazing finished bowls that you have ever seen! You just never know what you’re going to get.

Turning the Sapball Bowl on the Lathe

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Here, the bowl is being hollowed out. The gouge is a sharp tool which rests upon a stable guide and as the bowl is spun, the gouges removes the material. You can begin to see woodworking forming. Even a rough, ugly edge is attractive in the homey, folksy way.

Turned Lathed Burl Bowl, Sanded and Finished

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While the bowl is still attached to the lathe, sand paper can be used to 'speed smooth' the bowl inside and out. The finished bowl, showing the ‘sap ball’ defect, is still attractive. It could still be used to hold items as if this were a cherished heirloom antique. This would still look very appealing sitting upon a mantle or high shelf, maybe with a few dried flowers or something in the bowl to suggest its former usefulness.

Bowl on Treestump

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Here is another view of different burl bowl with no sap ball defects. This one turned out quite well too. It is amazing that such beauty comes from such an unattractive feature as natural burl. Generally, woodlot management involves culling trees with such defeats as large burls because this is a weakness, prone to rot, insect infestation, and malformed branches that pose a risk of breaking off in high winds. If this were a woodlot intended for the lumber industry, this tree would be marked for removal as this could affect the 'main trunk' from having decent straight, clean lumber. Anything that invites decay or pests into the tree is removed for the health of the woodlot. Same for city planners; trees like this are deemed unattractive as they could host unwelcome guests like squirrels, raccoons, starlings, and all manner of bee swarms. Not the kind of thing you would want in a public park or other municipal or residential area.

Spalted Maple Tornado Bowl

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Spalting is a process of natural tree-rot due to mold , rain, decay by fungus and insect excrement. It is the early sign of wood-rot. If temperatures and humidity are just right, different colors and patterns are created. The colors can include green, pink, gray, purple and other colors. Lighter colored softwood such as maple, birch are great for spalting as the lighter color background works well with the mild pastels of the spalt.

Working spalted wood is slightly risky as this is decay; there are probably microorganisms and certainly molds and fungi involved. It would be advisable to wear a filter respirator when working spalted wood. When when the work is crafted and completed (be it a bowl, carving/sculptures, wooden planks, whatever,) the wood needs to be ‘kiln dried’ to kill the bacteria and molds and halt the progression of decay. Otherwise, the process will continue, -even if greatly slowed down, after the object is made and in use! The bowl might ‘sprout rot’ (or live, hungry insects!) weeks or months later when in the home! Termites, wood bugs, mold & mildew, etc. -Not welcome!

Freeform Lathe-Turned Wooden Bowls

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Here are excellent examples of lathe-turned bowls. Note the irregular edges. This is all part of the folksy charm of these unique, one-of-a-kind creations.

Japanese Yewroot Bowls

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Site at Magic Woodworks These are created from Japanese Yewroot. The colors are just amazing!

Walnut Bowl

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A traditional, shallow candy or knick-knacks bowl made from dark walnut wood.

Weasel Bowl

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I like this bowl with the weasel handle on it. Note that this has a little tail as well, but the head of the weasel with those penetrating eyes are what catches my attention.