Secrets Revealed, Segmented Rims

If you have the skill and like a challenge, try turning a bowl with a segmented rim. Here is my step-by-step process. It takes patience, persistence, and an intuitive sense of tool application to pull this off.

 

Superb realization Jim
and thanks for the tips

 

Jim, may I ask you which woods you have been using to do this master piece?

 

Woods used

This bowl consists of Osage Orange, Ebony, Red Heart, and Maple.

 

Jim:

Awesome! What software do you use for drawing the segment template?

Thanks.

Tony

 

I use Freehand, but I don't have the latest version. Illustrator or any drawing program will work as this is pretty simple stuff.

 

Jim,
I’m sure many novice segmenters appreciate your instructions – nice job. I do have a concern regarding the potential cross-grain glue joint, which is created between the segmented ring and two sides of the solid wood bowl. In the example that you illustrate (72 segments), it’s probably not a huge concern, but you suggest that “If you are doing this for the first time, scale your plan to 6 to 12 segments.†Using as few as 6 segments will create very wide (long) cross-grain joints on two sides of the bowl. This is really asking for trouble as long-term wood movement will put excessive stress on those joints.

Just my opinion.

 

Good point

I've actually never done a segmented bowl with only six pieces. My point was to scale down to something simpler, and twelve would probably be better.