Unlocking the Art of Turning a Bowl With a Bark Rim

I demonstrate how to wood turn a live edge bowl (some call it a natural edge) from a sweetgum tree from my yard. I demonstrate starting with a green log and turning a live edge bowl on the wood lathe. If you find my videos helpful, you can buy me a virtual cup of coffee with this link. www.buymeacoff...
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[@haroldsworld]

Excellent demo, however you did skip one step that if you are turning a thin bowl can created a problem. But even in a regular thickness bowl it is a good practice. Once you make the flip to the tenet you need to true up the outside. In green wood or dry for that matter you can end up with different wall tall thickness. On a thin piece it can result in hole on one side to the bowl. Dont ask me how I know this. Still a good video and I enjoy it. I call it a natural edge bowl LOL.

[@MarklTucson]

Nice overview of how to chuck up a blank for best results. That turned out quite nicely; sweetgum looks like it has some interesting figure.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It does!

[@hankfrankly7240]

I really appreciated this video. Found it very helpful. Will be watching it again.Thanks Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Awesome, thank you!

[@glencrandall7051]

An excellent demo Mike. I call it a EE. Educational and Entertaining. I really like the natural and bark edged bowls. This one is quite nice. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jackthompson5092]

Great video Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks 👍

[@hfbowerndesigns810]

Informative demo Mike, I have a few of these blanks that I will give this a go. Take care my friend Cheers Harold

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

They are fun

[@OregonOldTimerWOODTURNING]

Kent Weakley and others would say your bowl is a live edge. Bark on, live edge. Bark off, natural edge. It's a distinction worth preserving, I think. Thanks for the discussion of different spur drives and their uses, Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for sharing. I think it is good to have a clearly understood term for bark on vs bark off. Unfortunately, I think few woodturners would be able to recognize the distinction between live edge as bark on vs natural edge as bark off and would probably consider the terms interchangeable. Some knowledgeble turners consider the NE as bark on as indicated by this link blog.woodturnerscatalog.com/2015/11/turning-a-natural-edge-bowl-2/

[@josephpotterf9459]

First time I’ve heard of anyone turning sweet gum but I’ll try it. Lord knows it’s not good for anything else but grief lol thanks Mike

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

It is pretty wood with interlocking grain. It moves more than most when drying.

[@oldgeezer1746]

One important aspect of getting a bark edge bowl is to cut the blank in the winter.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, I have heard that also. In my experience, the species plays a bigger role than when it was cut. How long it has been down also plays a role. Maybe because I have not turned that wide a variety of species with a bark rim.

[@oldgeezer1746]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning I agree, species makes a difference. Some woods let go of the bark easily, oak as an example. Other species such a Cyprus and maple hold the bark well.

[@dakotamax2]

I have a mountain of dry oak firewood that I would love to experiment with. I'm wondering, is there is anything I can do to stabilize the bark so that it doesn't fly off when it's spinning. I assume this sort of work is best done on green wood.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I think green wood is best. I do not try and save the bark if it does not want to stay. Some folks put CA along the cambium layer.

[@ivanbukh7576]

Good job! But I saw how you are struggling with measuring the depth of drilling and the depth of the groove, and I can suggest that you make a primitive device for these measurements yourself with an accuracy of 1 mm. If necessary, write your e-mail in the reply and I will send you a photo.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Ok thanks! [e-mail]