Wood Turning a Yarn Bowl: Rescued From the Jaws of Disaster!

Rescued from the Jaws of Disaster: Turning A Yarn Bowl - I almost ruined it!
I have a couple of yarn bowl commissions and finally had a chance to get them started. This bowl is made from a largish (11”x4”) cherry blank my friend Jason brought me and was around 10% moisture content, which is perfect for a yarn bowl. I cored a bowl from the center and then finished shaping the outside of the bowl, which is rounded over at the top and bottom like a calabash bowl and helps keep the yarn ball contained.
All of my yarn bowls are done in the style of my friend TexasHula, and I’ve dubbed his signature design The Hula Hook. They are practical, functional and incredibly sexy. ‪@texashula2213‬
DISCLAIMER: My videos are not meant to be instructional videos. I am still learning and am in no way trying to present a teaching video - my channel is classified as Entertainment. Do I hope you get something useful? Sure! Do I think you can learn from my successes, failures, and mistakes? Yep!
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[@jasonholman6153]

Who ever processed and dried that beautiful hunk of Cherry did a wonderful job and your bowl was pretty too.🤣🤣

[@LisaRamlow]

It was a fabulous blank, I must say! Some really nice dude brought me that, and a Lambchop stuffy for Bailey (partially de-stuffed but mostly intact Lambchop appearance at end of video) 😎

[@mikeconrad454]

It's beautiful Lisa! I do love cherry. Poor Bailey heh, he seems to be living his best life. We should all be so lucky :)

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Mike! Yeah, Bailey has it pretty good ❤️

[@hansolavpedersen5521]

What a winner of a yarnbowl miss Lisa. Cherry is so nice wood to look at and so godd to work with. Keep up the good work with all of your videos. Stay safe and take care. Greetings Hans Olav

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you Hans Olav, how is the weather over there?

[@hansolavpedersen5521]

@@LisaRamlow Well, it is kinda cold here now, negativ 8 and to cold for me to go outside. 7 heartattacks make my breathing not like the cold. Cant say i am sad about that, dont happy abput the cold now when i am old. Stay inside looking youtube and movies is good but i miss going in my shop do some turning. And we have some snow to, that i like. :)

[@markhall1510]

Very nice, can't lose with Cherry. Nice comeback!!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Mark!

[@E.F.Woodturning]

Cherry is definitely my favorite wood. I have never seen a yarn bowl so big, and it looks so nice.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks, I love cherry too

[@MD-en3zm]

I think it’s mine too. I love cherry.

[@amandatallis9875]

Hi Lisa the bowl is lovely the wood has some nice grain and the colour is beautiful. The finish really brings the grain out, well done with the design is really awesome. I enjoy all your videos. Amanda xx

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you Amanda, I’m so glad 😃

[@_zhawkeye_9808]

...very nice recovery!!!...it turned out great...and I'm up for anything you want to upload...👍

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@bigboy9706]

Very nice job. Stinks that bit cracked the bowl. I'm glad you were able to make it work in the end. Have a wonderful day

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Michael! I’m just glad it didn’t ruin the whole thing!

[@jayscott306]

That is a fine looking bowl, Lisa! When I saw the bits and RPM you were drilling at I was worried. Then you changed to that monstrosity and I quickly put my safety glasses on before you continued. I'm glad you were able to recover and a nice job of that as well. The base looks remarkably sturdy and I really like that design. Great work.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jay! I will use twist bits next time - I suck at sharpening them but my dad just gave me an old Craftsman drill sharpening guide jig thing for the grinder so I’ll pull out my big twist bits and see if I can get them to cut.

[@thefreemathtutor]

14:23 “That’s kind of terrifying, isn’t it?” LOL!

[@LisaRamlow]

Can anyone say foreshadowing? 😂

[@bnaivar]

Lisa: I found that my Trend Air Shield's battery wouldn't hold a charge very shortly after I bought it. I chalk this up to them sitting on the shelf for a long time. I had to get another battery off of Amazon that was rated the same (and would fit in the helmet) and replace it.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Bill, good to know. So far so good but I’ll definitely keep that in mind 👍

[@jpopelish]

I found, that when hollowing large bowls, I get a more stable, quiet cut if I set the tool rest well above center line. Doesn't work, at all, on the outside. I learned this making a big yarn bowl out of a cherry crotch (three end grains, on the outside, rather than two). Hollowing it worked me pretty hard. Mine looks like a curling stone. I'm tempted to make a little dome lid with a handle,, to complete the illusion.

[@LisaRamlow]

Agree, I don’t want to be low when hollowing. And I don’t envy sanding three end grains!

[@noahcount7132]

While i freely admit to being a fan of your channel, Lisa, I swear I wasn't making any noise. 😂

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Noah! I appreciate you sticking around and watching the videos that you’re interested it 😃

[@trurex007lee7]

Beautiful yarn bowl. Those auger bits are wild, I had the bright idea of using the 3/4” to drill the pilot hole, well it just got sucked into the blank so quickly. I immediately turned off the lathe but eventually had to drill and chisel all around it to free the bit. Never again.

[@LisaRamlow]

Me neither! At least not on a turning. Probably makes great holes in 2x4 studs and the like but too aggressive for anything more delicate than that!

[@pambozkurt5277]

Nice yarn bowl btw....

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Pam 😁

[@charitybrown4274]

Beautiful work as always Ms. Lisa. Bailey is so cute 😊

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you Charity! And Bailey sez he appreciates that SOMEBODY is paying attention to his cuteness cuz obviously no one around here does 🤣

[@charitybrown4274]

@@LisaRamlow 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@1954JDR]

Beautiful bowl. Great save.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you 😁

[@cookiescoop6065]

Great save looks beautiful have a great day ✌️

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you! 😁

[@millsinaz4220]

I have those blue boring bits. The package says they are the "fastest speedbor ever". They are also the fastest way to destroy a project. Been there, done that!

[@LisaRamlow]

Uh yeah. I really didn’t expect that, but it is cherry and one of the splits was along the grain line so 🤷‍♀️ I am just glad I was able to save it 😁

[@MD-en3zm]

Adding a few layers of painters tape to the front and back of the hole can help get a cleaner hole.

[@LisaRamlow]

Good point. It’s not critical in this application since I’m enlarging and shaping the hole but I’ll remember that for future projects. I also sorted out the drill bit - I forgot that I bought a cheap set of titanium coated uni-bits and the largest one steps up to 3/4” which is just about perfect. It cut a clean hole and should stay sharp for a long time since I’m only using it in wood 👍

[@MD-en3zm]

@@LisaRamlow Yeah, those speedbore bits are definitely not going to give a clean hole. =p

[@ofrank6551]

I normally move my headstock to the end of the lathe to be able to turn out the inside of the bowl. Standing at the end of the lathe enables my to brace the tool against my hip and just move my body.

[@LisaRamlow]

Where my lathe is currently positioned I can’t so that but I am thinking about sliding it down a few feet so I can get to the end of it.

[@jackthompson5092]

Great cherry yarn bowl Lisa. I have made one yarn bowl but it was at least twice as deep.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jack! Yes the first one I made was deeper - this is wider but shallower. I have another one in walnut I’m getting ready to cut the hook in. These are a lot of fun to make, especially if you don’t break it first! 😂

[@roncooney8526]

Another beer job Lisa. I tried using a similar type of drill bit recently and found it way too aggressive. The threaded pilot just grabs the wood and jams the bit. I wound up grinding down the threaded portion to a simple point. It guides the bit without grabbing. I found the Irwin Speedbor style much more gentle and easier to control the feed rate.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Ron! Imma use a sharp twist but next time 😁

[@mako160962]

Just caught up with this. That's a proper work of art! Fantastic work cheers👍👍👍

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chrisjohnston2449]

Cherry is such a forgiving wood turning. You did an awesome job recovering from a near disaster

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Chris! I love working with cherry 😁

[@vincenthunter465]

Beautiful!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Vincent!

[@allyncross6973]

Hey Lisa, Very pretty yarn bowl. However in my humble opinion that was practically heresy to cut out that beautiful little knot in the wood. I am a huge fan of wood and its imperfections. I try to make what the wood wants to be rather than force it to be something it does not want to be. Ok call me crazy. To me a knot should be displayed in all its glory considering how many years it took the tree to create that knot. Even so the bowl turned out lovely and I am sure some knitter will love it. Yall have a wonderful day.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Allyn! I am normally all about the knots and imperfections-the gnarlier the better! Unless you’re trying to pull yarn across or through it and then it’s gotta be smooth as a baby’s bottom. The inside of the knot was a little iffy so I decided to eliminate it and hopefully the chance that it might try to crack from there down the line, since cherry is notoriously prone to cracking 👍

[@alinmayerthorpe7801]

Nice yarn bowl and you did a great job on it even though you had problems drilling that hole! The cherry is beautiful and has such nice color! Of course Bailey stole the show at the end, thanks! Cheers Al

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Al! Bailey is quite a character ❤️

[@lyndaowen2154]

Very nice work!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you Lynda 😊

[@scoobydog411]

Hi I’m a wood worker / turner too. I find it cool that almost anything can be made out of wood. I’m glad you do the kind of work that you enjoy. Cheers Gary from Arizona

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Gary! We took a trip to SE AZ this spring and it was fantastic. Did a lot of birding 😁

[@jerrystark3587]

A Fisch wave cut Forstner bit might work well. ?? I really like these yarn bowls. Great project!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jerry! I’ll have to look that up. The set I have I got from Woodcraft probably 20 years ago. Not drilling into the knot would have been helpful 🙄

[@mr.modern4419]

Great job Lisa. That bowl really turned out great. Plus we got a few minutes with Bailey which is always a bonus. What a sweet pup.

[@LisaRamlow]

He is really something that’s for sure! ❤️

[@garyford9377]

F

[@jeanlong5965]

Love the yarn bowl Lisa. Bailey is such a cutie.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jean! Bailey is pretty adorable

[@MarkThompson-ms5wn]

nice work xxxxxxxxxxx

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Mark!

[@jimdaly5077]

Happy Christmas 🎅🎄🐝

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jim, and to you! 😁

[@carolynpayne6096]

Nice size, like it, sure could use a yarn bowl. Carolyn from Marshall NC

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Carolyn!

[@andyoverall1951]

I was thinking "don't use that speed bit" as you put them on your lathe but you did. They are a carpentry tool at best. You recovered it well though. Turned out nice (excuse the pun)!

[@LisaRamlow]

Yep, a bit too aggressive for anything other than 2x studs and the like. Lesson learned!

[@johnreedy7037]

That turned out beautiful. I enjoy all your vids, I can see the usefulness of a laser engraver, and I like that you are showing it used in turning. Keep up the great work!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you John I appreciate it!

[@louisjcharlett5804]

If I have to use (resort to) the terrifying type auger bits I use a brace (bit brace). Much more control, slow and with greatly diminished volume of swearing. Nice project Lisa.

[@LisaRamlow]

Good plan Louis! I have several hand braces but am saving them for the end of the world when there’s no electricity 😂. I should’ve known better than to try and drill thru the knot with a forstner bit, but at least I was able to save it 😁

[@louisjcharlett5804]

Let me know if you have need (post apocalypse) for a Bit Brace. I have a few old timers....... before there was electricity

[@davidcadena8114]

Another excellent tutorial. Your commentary is one of your selling points. And the editing is on point. Oh, by the way, the final result was excellent. Good work done.

[@LisaRamlow]

Thank you David, I really appreciate the feedback 😁

[@DougMilleratWoodSpunRound]

Nicely done. The bowl is very nice. Not sure where your info came from, but you can indeed put Ren. Wax over all of Brad’s products. Ren. is a microchrystalene wax designed to go over everything. I like your idea of Tried and True. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Doug! Well that info just came from my head cuz I was under the impression you couldn’t put one kind of wax over another kind, but I guess you’re right since they use this to preserve paintings and such and some of them have wax coating. Thanks for pointing that out, I’ll pin this comment to the top so people might see it and I’ll try to remember to mention that next video 👍

[@texashula2213]

You did a great job and epic save Lisa! I blame the Christmas rush for me being so late watching this. lol Keep up the epic work!

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks man, and Merry Christmas! And let’s rock out 2023! 🤟

[@DennisSuitters]

Very nice Lisa, I need to make something like this for my mum, and avid knitter. 25:25 where you mention leaning over the Lathe, have you considered turning in Reverse? You may need to put a grub screw in the chuck where it threads onto the spindle to stop it from winding off the spindle. But it would allow you to see, and not have you lean over, or straddle the Lathe, lol.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey there! Yes I did consider going in reverse but it seemed too much trouble at the time 😂. And after I said straddle I thought about how my legs are too short to touch the ground 🤣

[@DennisSuitters]

@@LisaRamlow haha. Oh, just realised, not sure about the 18/36, but the 24/36 (as that's the Laguna I use), the headstock can slide along the bedways, so you may be able to position the headstock close to the other end, allowing you to do the same as you were considering by straddling the Lathe, would be safer as well, lol. The only thing I find annoying with the Laguna's is that the headstock doesn't swivel.

[@naturaIIydifferent]

Seems like that speed bore bit is dull. I use the Spyder brand ones and even fresh out of the package they need a little TLC. Cool project, glad you didn't get bummed out and kept on keeping on. Big up from Upstate New York ❤️💛💚

[@LisaRamlow]

Thanks Jacob! I bought this set of forstner bits from Woodcraft probably 20 years ago and they all probably need a proper sharpening. I honed the 3/4” before I cut the 2nd hole and it was better (also not drilling into the knot 🙄) but they are definitely not super sharp

[@scottmedori1437]

Instead of leaning over the bed, or reverse turning, could you not move the headstock down the bed, and stand at the end of the lathe? Also, very nice table runner. Noticed it, as my wife is a quilter too

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Scott! I can’t get at the end of the lathe either, where it sits now, but am thinking about moving it a bit when I’m doing some rearranging so I can get at the end👍

[@pambozkurt5277]

As you were having trouble with the inside..I said "go around the other side" and you replied that you couldn't go around the other side because of the garage door! 🙃

[@LisaRamlow]

Next time I’ll probably put the lathe in reverse of I undercut the rim that far. I managed but it didn’t renew to be that difficult!

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

Hi Lisa 🙋‍♂I love a nice cherry bowl; this one especially so !! Hmm, that auger wasn't so good eh ? But you took it out so well. Did you have a pilot hole for the Forstner bit ? And the bottom - so big and flat - I need to do that someday. Thanks for the idea ! Thanks for sharing. Take care. -Mike p.s. Bailey, and our guy, doesn't like to be stared at - he can take words but a juju eye or malocchhio gets 'em every time. Aaah-oooh

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Mike! Yeah this was another, “Here, lemme show you guys what NOT to do!” kinda video 🙄😂. Oh well it’s all good in the end and since I had to cut a hook out anyway it could’ve been WAAAAAAAY worse so imma call this a big win. I didn’t use a pilot for the forstner, never have since it has the point. I have a set of forstner bits I bought close to 20 years ago and they all probably need to be sharpened. I gave it a quick hone with a 600grit Diamond stone but I should’ve know better than to try and drill right on the knot. But it was circular! 🤣

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

@@LisaRamlow 👍😎

[@waldocorsair]

Thank you, Lisa. Quick question: You mentioned you could not get on the other side of your lathe because of the garage door. Do you position your lathe thusly so you can open said door and blow everything out? That is my eventual plan for my shop, meanwhile, my lathe sits in storage......

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Richard! No, this was just the only open place I had left 😂. Good idea though - I can’t open the door cuz I’ve got unistrut and other such thing mounted into and on top of the door rails. Added security feature too 😉🤣

[@davidmeltzer507]

Nicely done Lisa! Question. I’m planning on buying a new lathe and was looking at the 18/36 Laguna. Any thoughts, concerns?

[@LisaRamlow]

I’m really happy with mine. The few issues I’ve had have been taken care of by Laguna quickly and easily. There are a lot of these lathes out there and everyone I know that has one likes it. Mine is the 2HP 220v model

[@garylawrence7547]

Looks like you’re making mostly sawdust rather than shavings.

[@LisaRamlow]

Interesting observation I’ve not heard before 🤷‍♀️

[@michaelsherwood7056]

Hi Lisa, can I ask where you got the s shaped toolrest, I'm in the UK and can't find one?

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Michael! Mine are RoboRests but I don’t think they are on the market even here in the Us at moment. I believe Robust has started making them? I’d be surprised if there weren’t something available in the UK!

[@stevedawson4781]

Keep on turning Lisa but please get someone else to drill holes for you.

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Steve! Or at least get some sharp forstner bits! Actually I’m gonna get a good twist but for doing these cuz this was ridiculous! 😂

[@johnthemainguy9059]

Wormwood or Woodworm? Somebody hittin' the absinthe? 😉

[@LisaRamlow]

It’s Lisa-Speak. We never know what’s gonna come out 😂

[@Loan--Wolf]

i dont live where my lathe is and some one needed all my tools more than me i think becuse i dont have any- any more all said and done i think its like all most 10k worth of stuff that walked out the door one night

[@carolynpayne6096]

How awful, so sorry for your loss.

[@LisaRamlow]

Oh god I am so sorry. They obviously didn’t follow my instructions to not be a jerk!

[@Loan--Wolf]

@@LisaRamlow yea it is what it is i blame my self they wasent out in the open but not locked up

[@bigboy9706]

How are you doing. It's been a month since your last video I hope all is well

[@LisaRamlow]

Hi Michael! Yep, all is well - have just been swamped with the holidays and some big projects around the Bear Den. Shooting for a new project video Thursday! 😁 Thanks for checking in 😊

[@bigboy9706]

@Lisa Ramlow that's good to hear. Woo hoo a new upload on my Birthday can't wait to see what it is. Always amazing work you do.

[@robohippy]

The 'paddle' type of bit would have worked better. Those self feeding ones are to much.... Now you know.... If that had been one of the Milwaukee Hole Hogs, you can really hurt your arm....

[@LisaRamlow]

Hey Reed! Yeah, I was braced pretty well and expected the bits to be aggressive m, but I didn’t expect that! Next time I’ll use a twist bit. Hope you’re doing well!

[@garyjohnson9297]

Try a strip of Gorilla tape to anchor your laser to the rig

[@LisaRamlow]

That’s a good idea 👍