How To Make A Wooden Bowl On A Lathe?

Woodworking is one of the most interesting projects if you get used to the processes and the handling of the machinery. You can show-off your level of creativity and try your hand at new projects while creating useful instruments. But to do that, you will need a lathe. One of the most common items to turn on a lathe spindle is a wooden bowl.

So, how about we discuss the process of preparing a wooden bowl using a lathe? If you like the sound of that, let’s get to it:

Preparations

Like any other project you have completed, working with a lathe also needs some preparation. If you have everything you need right near your hand, it will be quicker and easier. Before everything, you should complete these steps-

• Get yourself a wood lathe in case you do not have one yet.
• You should know every part of a wood lathe and what are their purposes.
• You need to have some experience in handling a wood lathe. At least, practice how to control the machine.
• Get a drilling machine. Some lathe comes with a drill combo. So, you can go for them. You will need it to drill minor holes on your workpieces.
• Prepare the other items that you need in this project. These items will include-
  • A chisel set.
  • Finishing.
  • Soft cloth.
  • Sandpaper.
• Getting a suitable wooden block.

See this diagram for a quick view of different parts of a wood lathe-

Prepare the Wooden Block

There are two ways you can prepare a wooden block for your turning project. But whichever way you choose, if the way how you handle them will affect the outcome. We advise you to get a wood that is not that hard to cut, turn, or drill. Softwoods are a good example here. You can undergo one of these two ways to prepare the wooden block-

Gluing Different Wooden Blocks

If you want to have a much reliable way, then go for this one. The process is simple. Get some wooden pieces of the same size. Then glue them together to make the block. Wait for the glue to dry up. Now it is ready for cutting. Cut the corners of it to make it round shaped.

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Taking an Actual Stump

You can prepare the block from a tree stump too. In this way, you will get a much genuine result with even the tree barks left on the piece. But it can prove problematic if there is some sap left in the piece. Cut the stump to the right size to make the block.

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Once you have made your block, drill a hole right at the center of it. It must be accurate to the middle.

Attach the Block to the Lathe

Choose one of these two methods-

Follow these links for a better understanding of the process-

Woodwork Screw connection

Spindle Connection

Turning the Wooden Block

Now, this is where the main process begins. By turning a block for the first few times, you may not get the desired outcome. But your skill will improve gradually. Make sure to follow these steps to make a fine block-turning-

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Once the whole chiseling is done and your block completely shapes up like a bowl, you are almost done. What is left is a finishing touch.

Finishing

To make the surfaces more precise, you may need to follow these simple finishing steps-

• Apply sand to the bowl.
• Rub it with sandpaper with the sand on it.
• Clean the dust once you are done.
• Apply any finish if you desire.

Final Note

Keep the RPM of the machine low while working to avoid damaging the bowl in case of a loose set-up. It is highly advised to avoid loose clothing as it is risky while working with a machine.

As you can see, there are various methods in every step. You can try them all to find a comfortable way. Make sure to practice it many times to master the turning.