How to Make A Bowl with a Router

How to make a wooden bowl without a lathe. If you're familiar with making cutting boards, this is definitely right up your alley. In the video I walk you through all the steps for making bowls with a router and some jigs.
-⏱Timestamps⏱-
00:00 How to Make a Router Bowl
01:20 Wood Selection
03:26 Making a Bowl Blank
06:32 Segmented Wood Ring
10:18 Circle Cutting Jig
11:46 Routing Circles
15:24 Material Removal Options
16:42 Drill Press Material Removal
18:44 Making Router Plate
20:04 Flattening Bowl Bottom
21:34 Bandsaw Waste Removal
22:05 Flush Trim Bowls
23:19 Edge Profiles
24:54 Sanding Tips
27:24 Raising the Grain
28:18 Finishing Options
32:16 Final Tips
-📸Instagram🎥-
/ 6_8woodworks
-💲Armor Tool Discount💲-
Use promo code 2IOVMXAQ9W at www.armor-tool.com to save 10% on your order! Mobile workstations, clamps, pocket hole jigs, and more! (This is the mobile workbench I rolled outside and clamps I used to hold the pieces down)
-🔨Tools/Supplies I Use🔨-
Full List: www.amazon.com/shop/6_8woodworks
-As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.-
Table Saw: amzn.to/3sw2A2G
Router: amzn.to/3xdgS9W
Circle Cutting Jig: amzn.to/3iYXXe1
Spiral Upcut Bit: amzn.to/3f7ZBca
Flush Trim Bit: amzn.to/3g0RS07
Collet Extender: amzn.to/2TFHZwM
Bowl Bit: amzn.to/3j09eLg
Plexiglass Sheet: amzn.to/3f9hqI6
1/8” Brass Rod: amzn.to/3l8fRO6
Drill Press: amzn.to/3fc5hlE
2” Forster Bit: amzn.to/377d4wr
Large Chamfer Bit: amzn.to/3BR20lk
Large Roundover Bit: amzn.to/3idjLni
Drill Press Sanding Attachment: amzn.to/37cSScs
Drill Sanding Attachment: amzn.to/3zOdMLn
Arbortech Contour Sander: amzn.to/2VjOV32
Angle Grinder: amzn.to/376P24C
Circle Stencil: amzn.to/3l6hTyo
Awl: amzn.to/3id3EWC
Incra Miter Gauge: amzn.to/3eKj2bi
Incra Miter Sled: amzn.to/3bmEtNl
Hose Clamps: amzn.to/3rH3dqy
Planer: amzn.to/3sutCaF
Starbond CA Glue Kit: amzn.to/3l9fS4p
Wood Glue: amzn.to/3tYoxb8
Orbital Buffer: amzn.to/2QfjzbK
Light Scouring Pads: amzn.to/3uGW7Dj
Buffer Bonnets: amzn.to/3w9IRrh
Cutting Board Oil: amzn.to/3lfEzwl
Board Wax: amzn.to/3u0gmey
Condensed Router Bowl Bits & Accessories List: a.co/4WUVBE6
For more about woods I use, where to buy the wood, and other tips and info, check out my Wood 101 video: • Wood 101 For Woodworke...
-💻Website💻-
www.sixeightwoodworks.com
For more about my DIY router table, check out / careu4ijcli

[@user-xs5eq5cg5p]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1811">30:11</a> Young man I'm 65 and I grew up building cabinets with my Dad. I want you to know your videos are really good! You are an awesome wood worker, keep sharing your God given talent!!

[@brunoalmeida7156]

As an amateur with woodworker, i typically feel overpowered with the entire arrangement kzbin.infoUgkxrYREG3-7f1Aqk9ams3ZESRNzGnfdUtyQ . Be that as it may, this arrangements drove me through with much clarity and effortlessness woodplans. Works i now work like a genius. That is great!

[@pmorris6508]

One thing you didn't mention that a router can do that no lathe can, is to make bowls any shape. If you use a template you can create similar bowls any shape you like, not just round!

[@buildingtrades7070]

Great job.. I teach Carpentry at a high school trade school. And I love the way you use the router. I am going to make a set of bowls myself using this method, then I will teach my students. Thanks for the insight...

[@iamthewelcher]

Thank You for teaching the trade!!! Don't let it die !

[@hussaingandhi6076]

In which school do you teach

[@ConcreteLand]

A great endorsement. Thank you for passing skills on to others.

[@earlneslon7997]

@@ConcreteLand few

[@ConcreteLand]

@@earlneslon7997 ??

[@brplatten1273]

thank you I knew it could be done. you have given me some great tips. I'm a 65 yr. old great grandmother and I have been piddling with wood all my life, but I am now I'm learning more about the tools, and you are great with instructions so again thank you

[@jessem5684]

Really great job! Thanks for being so thorough with your instructions.

[@fdort3971]

That's alot of work but they turned out beautiful! Just discovered you.

[@mmarsha9]

Well done! I like how detailed your demonstrations are and how you use alternate methods to make the bowls.

[@woodsniffer]

Fantastic thanks for posting....You are a very good inovator of wood technique's.

[@coreygrua3271]

Love the first t-shirt message. This bowl idea is creative to the max and well-presented.

[@edwardmorris2011]

Great info on creating beautiful bowls using a different method.Thank you!

[@raimundoviana7028]

Ótimo trabalho! Aprendi muito com sua técnica. Deus te abençoe sempre.

[@raymondbunkofske4702]

If you cut a U shape in the wood before you glue things up you avoid having to hog out and waste all the wood in the center. As a bonus you could use the waste piece to make another bowl. Depending on how tall you want the sides on the first bowl you could probably get at least three bowls out of the one block of wood.

[@WoodenItBeNice]

Hi Nick, Found you from a recommended list on YT and I'm so glad I did. Brilliant video. I have a lathe that will allow me to turn 16" bowls over the bed rails and bigger if I turn outboard but this is a brilliant idea which I will copy. I will be looking at you cutting board videos as it is something I want to get into. I have subbed and hit the bel Take care Nick. Cheers, from the UK, Huw

[@MyBrenson]

Great work I love seeing the passion for your work it shows up in your product

[@stephenmcgeown]

Those bowls turned out so beautifully! I appreciate the detail you put into your videos and your ability to communicate these steps so well!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Much appreciated!

[@Mike10001]

Great idea for the extended router plate. Making one today.

[@wendyt23]

Amazing! Loved watching an alternative to the lathe.

[@TopshelfEnglish]

I really appreciate the thoroughness of your explanations! Thanks you!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you! I try to include al the steps.

[@marcfournier9227]

Wow!! Those are beautiful!!

[@bhargavram5561]

That’s a great idea. Bowls are looking so pretty. Thanks for the content❤️

I think reusing the wood chips in resin would really look cool for a bowl or cup and other things. Especially with all those different colors of wood chips in there. Thanks for showing these tips. I really appreciate and enjoyed watching the video. 👍

[@brucewest3995]

Thanks for adding alternative tools, techniques, & finished with pros/cons.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Absolutely!

[@gdwsvideos9308]

It is great to see an alternative to turning bowls on a lathe. I really like the idea of using segments combined with other glue ups. I have the Arbortech tools as well and have wanted to get into more carving of bowls and such with them. Looking forward to seeing you use the Arbortech tools in upcoming videos.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Awesome! Yeah, segmenting is such a great option. Love the Arbortech attachments and power carving.

[@dwaynenewton1]

Just found this video browsing. I'm subscribing just because of the shirt. Blessings!

[@ajlemberg]

Sensacional! Parabéns pelo vídeo. Sou grato.

[@cecilferris1163]

The bowls came out awesome, I am going to try this out. Keep up the great work.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Appreciate it! Have fun making some!

[@FreevideosBH]

Fantastic work man! Thanks to publishing this video!

[@ardenchristophercapadocia7056]

Really love vids with natural light coming in like this one. Lit 🔥

[@onsapplikasies8620]

Great job. Those bowls turned out so beautifully

[@rosswells4090]

Unbowlievable video. Thanks for sharing I know there’s a lot of work that goes into making these videos. Appreciate it!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you so much!

[@ComgrowOfficial]

You got me, Nick! You are so awesome and your projects are so amazing! Beautiful😍

[@Choetaesun]

It's great job! Thanks! You shows easy way instead of too much heavy equipment dependency.

[@scot365]

Great job !!! They look great and you gave the right amount of information without beating it to death. Keep up the great work

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Really appreciate it!

[@Spodokamono]

Fabulous. Great video.

[@alwatts9713]

Like the gigantic hose clamp idea for gluing your ring together. Gotta try that myself. Thanks!

[@NelsonWoodworks]

Absolutely beautiful work!! I always look forward to your videos

[@SixEightWoodworks]

I really appreciate that!

[@kenscrackofdoom599]

Stunning creations. So well explained. Thank you.

[@suecollins3246]

Those stripey bowls are _gorgeous_ !

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Appreciate it!

[@glenschumannGlensWorkshop]

Thanks. Nice bowls

[@MrJesseLY]

I love this video. I learned SO much. After a few tries, I finally got a bowl I am happy with. One shortcut that I found worked for me was to use double stick tape to hold the bowl down, making sure to tape both the bowl area and the outer excess area. Then I routed the inner ring to its final depth, followed by the outer ring all the way through to a piece of scrap wood. That saved the step of cutting off the excess part with a bandsaw (or jigsaw, in my case). It also saved the cleanup with a flush trim bit on the outside of the bowl. The double stick tape held perfectly. .

[@billynomates4378]

Wow, they all look amazing. Love your information about different tools and using what you have in the shop instead of paying out big bucks.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Appreciate it!

[@lawrenceogden3736]

Just found your site and happily subscribed love what you do with a router the finished product is stunning

[@alfonso620]

Congratulazioni. Sei la mia fonte d'ispirazione.

[@estevanramirez853]

Excelente trabajo. Felicidades!!!!

[@wordwealth7014]

A great video. Teaches everything you need to know step by step. Not making a bowl start to finish in 60 seconds. I appreciate the knowledge you have shared. You are really helping a beginner like myself. Subscribed.

[@jackthompson5092]

Great bowls.

[@Jimmyjohnson17768]

Just found your channel! Awesome man! It’s hard to find woodworkers that are super knowledgeable and not pretentious. Really good vibes and great content!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you so much! That’s really been the goal. Appreciate it!

[@thepeach5852]

Absolutely beautiful work. Love the variety and all the options you give. Easy to follow all that you say as well. You are great at explaining everything in simple terms.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Appreciate it!

[@janreed8852]

Love the message on the shirt you ended the video with, and the bowls are gorgeous!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Words I strive to love by. Thanks!

[@brentmoyer2081]

Good job. I appreciate your help.

[@caroljohnston4563]

Great video. I've made multiple cutting boards and am ready to move on. Thanks!

[@jasonbrudvig9066]

Great products and awesome video, thank you.

[@stefanmansukhani8797]

Awesome video, I'm never going to make bowls but I learnt a few things which will help me in a few projects and ideas... Thank you.

[@RidgidRon]

Router Bowls!! I am following this and am adding the things I need to get this accomplished. Good job and keeping the explanation to the point.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Much appreciated! It’s a fun project.

[@clintrhoads7799]

Excellent video!

[@timothyoutman7427]

Just found your channel and subbed. Working my way back through the catalog, you do a really great job with both production and content. I hope you continue to share future projects!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Really appreciate it!

[@gregoryeastwood9068]

Very thoughtful, thorough and creatively entertaining. Thanks!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Much appreciated!

[@danaelza]

You are among the very best presenters on the ‘tube.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Much appreciated!

[@klashnacovak47]

I thought I’d never say this to another man but you got some nice bowls.

[@trevorwalters7978]

Simply Awesome👍🇬🇧🙋🏼‍♂️

[@leksey7870]

Great job! Super!

[@asd67lkj]

What a wonderful introduction to making bowls with the router. Some great tips there.... Looks like I may have to discard some templates, and dig out that Jasper circle jig. Thanks also for showing the source for all the tools/supplies. I tend to do more bowls than any other woodwork, so will be using your method for sure.....

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you so much!

[@nitestrike1000]

Fantastic work!! I'm inspired to try this !

[@GoAndStay]

Awesome! And now my question about tools have been answered

[@michaelmattia932]

AWESOME! Thank you for posting this video!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@chenadupont1345]

Wow!! So beautiful! Awesome video!

[@barbarianatgate2000]

Love this video, especially the tip about the backwards miter gauge. As far as sanding the segments, caution should be taken not only to preserve the angle, but the width of the segment as well. Honestly, the angle is easier to protect than the width by sanding on a good flat base. But removing the width will prevent the ring from matching up in a way that can't be recovered. This is especially true if it happens over multiple pieces.

[@georgekatechis628]

this channel kicks ass! im glad i found it. looking forward to your shop tour vid. looks like you have a smaller space like a lot of us. Hopefully thats coming soon!

[@tylerkrug7719]

Wow! Amazing bowls!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thanks so much!

[@DLIMAC70]

Thank you very much for the woodworking class! Excellent video 👍🏻

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Hope it helped!

[@mullinstech]

Want to make life a little easier? Use the dust collection attachment for that plunge base and drill a few holes in the newly fabricated clear base [sled] that is used to "hog" out the center material [around the 20 min mark]. You can use a shop vac or your D.C. system. It'll clean as you go, saving some time and make things just "easier" because you can see what you're doing. Excellent How To video. Thank you!!

[@amynatamayanja751]

Wow awesome video, very elaborate too! I've really enjoyed it, can't wait to try! Thanks for sharing! Very beautiful bowls you made!

[@MEmarcenaria]

Lindo trabalho meu amigo 👍👍 parabéns 👏👏.🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@davehubbard4207]

Outstanding work & look.

[@jenniferspence7092]

Wow!! These are beautiful and I love how well you explain step by step the different options and actually show the process as you go through making them. I have a 10 year old son with severe adhd and mild autism and we started going to the kids workshops at home depot awhile back and my cousin and her son went with us one time and her son (he's 3 year older than my son) said to me that he's never seen my son so focused on anything ever. And I noticed the same thing. He was just right into it and I totally subscribed to your channel just show my son the amazing things he could make if he wants to really get into woodworking. We made nightstands at school when I was in junior high and I still have mine. I have no idea if they'll be teaching this stuff when he gets to that level in school but I sure hope so.

[@davidkittrell5119]

Great teacher

[@jcofortco]

Santa kindly brought me my 1st drill press last year & 1st orbital sander this year... so stoked for both! I don't yet have a router but this vid gave me ideas for my 2 tools which I hadn't previously considered... Thank you for the voice-over explanations, these are what I call Useable Art! You are a Master! New Sub. 😃

[@sosim846]

Nice work and thank you for sharing your amazing work.

[@brianknowles7130]

I like your style and the way you explain things with options. Thks.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thanks so much!

[@qalas7327]

Great work dude !

[@mattcarpenter8689]

Great Video I learned a lot Thanks for sharing

[@dougbeach7299]

I did get excited about your videos. Thanks for being so detailed.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Great to hear! Thanks!

[@mastrexressi5768]

Nice finish and work👌

[@jerrynix5206]

Great video I learned so much, your a very good teacher. You got a new subscriber out of this video! I look forward to watching more of your videos in the future. Oh yeah those bowls turned out fantastic and I love your shop set up, great selection of tools..I'm super jealous!

[@pteddie6965]

Beautiful bowls.. Thanks for showing us the process.

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@GeorgeHogge]

Hey! Just watched this video, the first of yours that I've seen. I subscribed right after. I really like the way you present, kind of like we're just a couple a dudes in a garage talking. Great info too. I am inspired to try my hand at making bowls with a router.

[@rayvin357]

I've watched a lot of videos and have been an amature woodworker for 60 years. You have much going for you. Great presentation. Great list of information. and Great product. Hope you are making money at it. So also being an accountant (retired), I would like to see your pricing strategy. and bet others do need the information or strategy for pricing.

[@jasonflynnpp144]

Awesome video!

[@philipwetherington6850]

Extremely well done! Boy, I’ve got so much to learn!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@Aprendiz-de-Marceneiro]

Absolutely beautiful work!!! Thanks for sharing

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@antoniojordao5780]

Parabéns pelo seu trabalho ficou linda a gamelas

[@simonekeith6483]

I am a beginner woodworker and loved to learn from you. Great video and amazing bowls! Thank you for sharing. I am looking forward to creating some bowls like yours!

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Awesome! Have fun!

[@wildearpsadventures4991]

Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Hope it helps!

[@angkyirebasel798]

WOW I like it,. What a good work.

[@davidschwartz9636]

Really great video there. Also your enthusiasm for making beautiful bowls is really contagious. So, as I've got a couple of routers of various sizes, after watching the fun you had, not to mention your brilliant explanation of how to do things, now I want to have a go! Regards and respect to you, David in the UK.

[@fingerfeller]

excellent educational bowl with a router video, thank you, beautiful variation of wood species and beautiful results

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Thank you so much!

[@Jasonsdesignshop]

Great explication of every step. I gotta get better at that! Making a bowl for a school fundraiser. Thanks!

[@brandonwoodworkersclub4097]

The bowls turned out awesome. You showed some really good techniques. Thanks

[@SixEightWoodworks]

Really appreciate that!

[@RobBertholf]

master class. God bless