Thread: Not shave related, but an 8" bowl I turned.

Hey gents. Made this for the missez as a Mother's Day/birthday kinda gift.
Biggest bowl I can turn on my machine, and the biggest I've tried so far.

Had to turn the handle separately and bore it out to thread onto the nut press.
It's walnut, since I figured what better wood to turn a nut bowl out of..
Bought the brass cracker mechanism as a kit from lee valley, the rest is my design.
Working up to trying to turn some shaving bowls in the future. Just practicing on every kind of small project I can try to gain some proficiency..
Thanks for looking.

hey that's nice ! I haven't turned a bowl since the last century. Your making me want :<0)

Really NICE Mike!
Two

Not a razor, but pretty darn slick nonetheless.

Thanks gents. First larger turning I've tried on my smaller lathe and first time trying shellawax cream friction polish as well. Both worked well. The plus to the friction polish is that it applied and set up in minutes, unlike everything else I've tried. It's also non toxic and ends up with a real hand rubbed effect, not like a urethane. Really shows the grain and leaves a silky finish feel. Presanding up to 1200 grit is recommended though, and key to the final finish with this product.
Going to look at those nesting bowl turning tools I've seen on line as they may be perfectly suited for the shaving bowls I'm thinking of trying next.
Cheers.

Mike....... Outstanding brother!!! I'm sure the Missus will be Impressed.

That piece of walnut is mint! Also, that shellawax cream can be a pita to apply and it looks like you nailed it. Love the smell of that stuff too for some odd reason.

Harry is Jealous!

Thanks Harry, appreciate it. It does smell awesome for sure, agreed. Haha. And great creamy consistency. Like a good shave cream actually..
The stuff had a learning curve too, the final image being after I tried once to apply and didn't like the results, took it back to sand paper and started over.
Actually went to the company web site for deeper tips and found that they recommended 1200 grit before application, and on larger than pen sized items, apply with the lathe off and then buff at low speeds with elbow grease. Otherwise, like I found on the first try, splotchy sticky, unshiny results.
Got the hunk of walnut at that store in cambridge. $20! Great grain on it and it turned easily. The finished product will be added to my Christmas gift idea category for other family members. All told, maybe 5 hours invested and under $60 in hardware and lumber.