Segmented bowls are made many individual pieces glued up to form a larger turning. This is my favorite form of turning because of the complexity involved. This process is more expensive because of the time involved. Each small piece is not only picked for species of wood, but also how best to highlight the grain. The amount of end grain shown in the finished piece will darken the natural colour while the amount of side grain will tend to lighten the look of the same species. The combinations of texture, colour and shapes are endless, as are the final shapes of the finished piece.
The selecting and cutting of each small section takes time, but then so do all the other steps in the process. Some of the more intricate designs take 4 or 5 days for the glue up and drying process alone. These many variations all help make each piece a one of a kind treasure to be enjoyed for years. A pleased customer has recently informed me that she used one of my covered bowls (that looks like an urn) for her beloved pet’s ashes.
Solid Bowls
Solid bowls can be a real challenge; picking the right piece of wood and shaping it to highlight the natural grain is more of an art than many people may think. Segmented pieces are usually turned from kiln-dried lumber, but solid bowls can be turned from green or seasoned wood. Many times a piece of firewood on the way to the wood stove has been saved from the flames because the turner has seen some merit in it. The oldest, twisted and ugliest hunk of firewood can be turned into a treasure when treated right. As I have said before wood is a living-breathing thing that continues to give off and take on moisture over time and this fact alone makes turning that ugly chunk of firewood into a finished piece quite a challenge. A rough turning is made in the general shape of what you want to end up with and then it is stored under special conditions for up to 6 months while it dries. After this seasoning step is over and if Mother Nature has not put a major crack in the wrong place, you can turn the final piece. I am currently turning some burls and crotches that I put away in the 1980’s.
