This blog will show how I make a 12” bowl blank from 1 BF of lumber.
Cut a 12”x12”x3/4” square and draw an X from corner to corner to find the middle.
Using a compass draw a circle in the middle of the board the size you want the bottom of the bowl to be. In this case around 4”.
Draw concentric circles spaced the thickness of the board (in this case 3/4”)
Drill 1/8” holes at 45 degrees on the 4 inner circles to insert a scroll saw blade into later.
Cut the outer circle at 90 degrees on the BS or scroll saw
Tilt the Scroll saw table to 45 degrees. Take the top of the scroll saw blade loose and slide the blade through the hole and reattach the top of the blade. Cut the first ring free. Repeat for the other rings.
Glue and stack the rings together and weight it down until the glue dries. ( I have since built a simple bowl press but weight will work fine)
I only have a face plate that must be screwed on so I glued a piece of paper between the bowl and a sacrificial wood disc that will receive the screws. When the turning is done just tap a chisel into the joint and the paper will tear in two. Then just sand the paper/glue off.
And the last step is the most fun. All you have to do is turn the pilot holes out , sand, and finish.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
20 comments so far
Kindlingmaker
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2658 posts in 3943 days
#1 posted 01-21-2011 07:53 AM
YES! Thank you! Great show n tell.
-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings
superstretch
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1531 posts in 3110 days
#2 posted 01-21-2011 04:13 PM
Nice… really catches the streaks in the grain.
So.. is the syrup bottle for glue a wood workers trick?
-- Dan, Rochester, NY
SASmith
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1850 posts in 3403 days
#3 posted 01-21-2011 05:51 PM
Hey stretch. I buy my glue by the gallon. I have found that the syrup bottle works great for cutting boards. Not too bad either for bowls.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
cajunpen
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14578 posts in 4482 days
#4 posted 02-04-2011 12:30 AM
That is an interesting technique. I think that the end product bowl is very similar to the Ringmaster bowl. Good blog and clever process.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
michelletwo
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2781 posts in 3432 days
#5 posted 02-04-2011 04:08 PM
Bowls from a board is a great process. Very “wood economic” Thanks for the tutorial
TDW
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#6 posted 02-09-2011 06:46 PM
Thanks for the detailed explanation – I can’t wait to give it a try
-- Tom, Ky., http://tomandmaxinewynn.com
mafe
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12075 posts in 3506 days
#7 posted 03-08-2011 03:16 AM
Hi SASmith,
This is really clever! I have to give it a try.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for the kind mail you send me.
best thoughts,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
mafe
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12075 posts in 3506 days
#8 posted 03-08-2011 03:37 AM
Ohhh yes, and a really good tutorial, so easy to understand.
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
SASmith
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1850 posts in 3403 days
#9 posted 03-08-2011 11:50 PM
Thanks Mads
I cant wait to see what you come up with.
Dont forget that this can also me made with a laminated blank.
I have been making “cutting boards” lately only to cut them up again and make a “cutting board bowl”.
Check out my projects for some examples.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
jeffster
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13 posts in 3256 days
#10 posted 03-16-2011 04:47 PM
Thank you thank you! I have some old, old boards that I’ve bee trying to figure out how to use and get the most out of them… and now I need to get a tool i never thought i’d use… a scroll saw :)
-- I measured it twice and it's still too short!!
RavinHeart
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95 posts in 3639 days
#11 posted 06-25-2011 06:04 PM
Very nice, I thnk I may try combining some of this with my way of doing scroll saw bowls
Thank you
-- RavinHeart - Wisconsin
ShopTinker
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884 posts in 3185 days
#12 posted 11-04-2011 07:54 PM
Great info, Thanks for sharing.
-- Dan - Valparaiso, Indiana, "A smart man changes his mind, a fool never does."
BrianA
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76 posts in 3446 days
#13 posted 03-02-2012 09:16 PM
did you free hand the circles on the scroll saw or use a circle cutting jig?
Brian
BrianA
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76 posts in 3446 days
#14 posted 03-02-2012 09:17 PM
did you free hand the circles on the scroll saw or use a circle cutting jig?
Brian
SASmith
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1850 posts in 3403 days
#15 posted 03-02-2012 11:49 PM
BrianA
I usually freehand them on the scrollsaw and did on this blog.
I sometimes make my bowls with a band saw and the half circle jig seen in pics 3 and 4 of this project.
-- Scott Smith, Southern Illinois
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