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Best size for large bowls

Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
13
Likes
1
Location
Arlington, VA
I have a section of a large cherry tree. The log is about 26” in diameter and 50” long. I want to make some large bowl blanks of it. What do you guys find to be a good size for “large” bowls? Yes, I *could* turn a 16” bowl, but I found that bowls that big aren’t that practical. What are your thoughts?
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
354
Likes
124
Location
Lummi Island, WA
Most of what I turn is limited by the size of the logs I've got access to - I haven't found that large bowls are impractical or particularly hard to find homes for necessarily - but size is dictated by the grain of the log. The larger bowls are generally more open forms perfectly suited to display the contents - like fruit bowls. They do require a larger space, but I see them used on countertops often and are used by interior designers in larger architectural spaces or even hung as wall display pieces.
When the grain is centered in the final piece it will warp more symetically (I do both greenwood and twice turned bowls) so I plan the work to center. This sometimes limits size slightly if the pith isn't centered and anything outside of the blank is sawed into spindle squares if large enough. Nearly everything gets cored so I end up with a range of sizes (usually three or four) from the same blank.
 

Randy Anderson

Beta Tester
Beta Tester
Joined
May 25, 2019
Messages
297
Likes
191
Location
Eads, TN
Website
candrwoodworks.com
I have to remind myself of the phrase I heard an experience turner say once - decide if you want to make a good bowl or a big bowl. Sometimes they're not compatible and conflict. The desire to not waste wood is hard to fight. I've turned away a lot of a log to get a very nice bowl or hollow form with nice grain and then I've made some 15"+ (I'm limited to 16") and accepted some features like knots or bug activity. It depends sometimes on how much of the wood I have to experiment with. I do find that larger bowls don't sell as well at my markets but are a good "eye candy" item to bring people over to my booth. They all want to pick it up, look it over and then often end up buying a 9-12" size. The big ones do sell but not at the volume. Not sure if you're making it for a gift, yourself or to sell. I've been tempted to turn a really big one like Paul mentions but don't have a tool rest option yet for that kind of turning off the end of my lathe.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
3,193
Likes
932
Location
Eugene, OR
Bowls over about 14 inch diameter don't sell well for me. They are for very big families, or people who do a lot of entertaining. For a piece of cherry that size. Also, the big ones don't fit in a lot of cabinets. I would take a couple of center/quarter sawn slabs for plates and platters, and that would leave a good size blank for family sized salad bowls. In my years of doing the arts and craft shows, I figure I sold equal $ amounts of large and small bowls and plates. So, far more of the smaller pieces than the larger ones. I did make one 22 inch bowl, and ended up giving it to a nephew as a house warming present.

robo hippy
 
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