[Sides]

I had to cut down a tree at work, it fell over a bike path.

I decided to carve a Scandinavian bowl. After I stripes off the bark I laid out the center.

Started carving with a bowl adze

The heart wood starting to show, with red highlights.

The outside starting to take shape.

The final piece.

 

 

 

 

Topic

[Sides]

#2027514

The final piece

[Mike in TN]

#2027594

Hi Sides,

Nice looking project. Was the blank good and dry or how are you managing it for shrinkage?

Have fun

 

[Sides]

#2027662

Hi Mike,
When carving bowls like this, it is best to carve when the wood is green. I did all the basic rough carving when it was green. Then let it dry for at least a couple weeks in a large paper bag filled with some wood chips. The combination of the paper bag and wood chips slows down the way the wood dries. If it dries too fast, it will crack. If you use a plastic bag the wood will get mold After it dries you refine the carving and finish with oil. Yes I have a few crack but I get the wood for nothing, so I really don’t care if one goes into the fire pit. I carved the whole thing with an adze, axe, knife and card scraper to smooth the thing out.

[Mike in TN]

#2027667

Hi Sides,

That is very similar to the process I am familiar with but I hadn’t heard of the paper bag trick, just the wood chips and sawdust. I have also heard the some folks apply oil to slow evaporation. Have you ever tried that and, if so, how did that work for you?

Have fun.

[Sides]

#2027691

If you have a large enough pile of chips it works. The bag helps and keeps the shop cleaner. I have seen where people rub the wood with boiled potatoes. They say it works, I worry about bugs and mold, I’ve never tried it.

[Author]

Replies