A first in a couple ways.

This project was the first thing I ever carved (made it this week). I have had a set of carving tools forever, but never had the inclination to use them. Carving is a skill I don't really think I can master for whatever reason. This is also the first thing I ever named, I know many name their pieces so I decided to name this. "Weird little bowl that will really not hold very much, was way more work than I thought going in, but gave me something to do on rainy days" (catchy ? I am open for other name suggestions, I'm flexible)

This is almost a blog/project..bloject, sorry but I have to explain it. It started out last week when the city street dept. dropped off a couple burl redbud logs. Here is one outside the shop door, notice the missing burl ?


I went after it with the carving tools and a bunch of elbow grease and sand paper.




I know it is a little on the "chunky" side, but that was by design not laziness. Even though I am not a carver I tried to take appearance into account inside and out. If I took too much off I would have ruined it. There was some cool stuff going on outside too. I wanted to save the sapwood with the neat bark inclusions and the little birdseyes showing. Too much work on the inside I would have carved away the great color/figure of the heartwood. So thick walls were the only answer for me.




I guess I could glue it back on the log ?


I know some people may wonder, how did he get a finished bowl from a fresh log in just a couple days ? Microwave. I have had this debate with people before, whatever. Some species can be dried in the nuker without much (if any) degrade. Long story, I could go into it if anyone is interested that is not what this project is about. But yea, I cut the burl off/roughed the bowl/nuked it (2 minutes on 5 minutes off repeat,repeat) then finished carving and sanding.