How Many Bowls Do You Turn?

[Gregg Adams]

I'm curious about how many bowls some of the forum members turn weekly, monthly, or yearly.

Thanks!

 

[john lucas]

I don't turn a lot of bowls. I figure why compete with everyone else. I sell hand mirrors, oraments, boxes and wine stoppers at my gallery. However having said that I look over some of the turnings that are building up over my house and realize I actually turn a lot more of them than I know. I don't know if I can put a number on it. probably around 2 dozen or so a year. Now that I think of it that's probably underestimating as well because I had 2 orders last year for 5 each and that doesn't count the ones I turn for fun.

I'm doing about 15 right now. My friend Joe Looper from the Appalachian Center for Crafts passed away about 10 years ago. His wife dug out some of his unfinished bowls and asked if I would finish them. Of course I said yes, Joe was the one who introduced me to the AAW and the TAW. About 10 were roughed out and 5 are turned thin. I've done 8 of them this last week and will finish 2 more tonight. Then it's on to the ones that I can't put back on the lathe and just have to sand.
Here is the second batch of 4 I did.

 

[Gregg Adams]

Wow, nice work, John! It sounds like you do a lot of various turnings. I haven't finished a bowl yet. Everything I've done so far is in the drying process. Meanwhile, a neighbor had a sweet gum cut down, and I've been getting some of that. Can't wait to see what it looks like turned.

Take care

 

[Rick H]

Turned Bowls

I guess I haven't counted them for sure. And depends on the size you want to consider too. If any size counts I have probably done at least 500 since September. I turn every day, like today I only made 6, then some days I turn other stuff than bowls.

 

[Mike Peace]

I checked my log and I finish turned 11 and roughed 8 in the past six months. But my non bowling output was considereably greater as I also turn lots of other stuff including ornaments, handles, HF's, eggs, spheres, boxes etc.

 

[Gregg Adams]

I guess I haven't counted them for sure. And depends on the size you want to consider too. If any size counts I have probably done at least 500 since September. I turn every day, like today I only made 6, then some days I turn other stuff than bowls.

Holy cow, when do you sleep? 😀 I bet you have a mess of shavings. Quite impressive!

 

[Gregg Adams]

I checked my log and I finish turned 11 and roughed 8 in the past six months. But my non bowling output was considereably greater as I also turn lots of other stuff including ornaments, handles, HF's, eggs, spheres, boxes etc.

I've been thinking about trying my hand at turning an egg. It might end up looking like a suppository. 😉

 

[Odie]

About 50 per year is about right for me. Some months I turn at a more serious pace, and some months are less. As with others here, not all my efforts in the shop revolve around bowl making. However, my lathe is used primarily for bowl making........

ooc

 

[Gregg Adams]

About 50 per year is about right for me. Some months I turn at a more serious pace, and some months are less. As with others here, not all my efforts in the shop revolve around bowl making. However, my lathe is used primarily for bowl making........

ooc

That sounds like a pretty good pace. I'm pretty much limited to the amount of wood that's available locally due to the high cost of shipping when ordering wood. I had no intentions of turning bowls in the first place, but I needed a chuck in order to drill each end of spindles I was doing for dough rollers. Just playing around, I tried making a vessel that was only about 3 inches tall with spindle gouges. That was so much fun that I thought I would try a bowl. I've been hooked ever since.

I just finished looking at your link. Nice shop! Also, thank you for your service to our country!

Thanks for sharing, Odie,
Take care

 

[Gretch Flo]

How many bowls??

I turn small stuff mostly, as I like unusual colored natural native woods. Often with natural edges. When I am not working part time. (probably 30%), and the weather is crappy I spend 6-8 hours in the basement. (getting into gardening season now-then I only turn a couple hours in the am.) There's "down" time when waiting for something to dry-cut sandpaper strips then, or get something to eat or drink or tend wood stoves.
I am dabbling now with color and is more labor intensive with multiple sanding. So I usually turn (Green turn a-z) 1-2 bowls per day. A 13 " takes me 4-5 hours+ (fairly dry wood). So make maybe 30 a month. Gretch

 

[Gregg Adams]

I turn small stuff mostly, as I like unusual colored natural native woods. Often with natural edges. When I am not working part time. (probably 30%), and the weather is crappy I spend 6-8 hours in the basement. (getting into gardening season now-then I only turn a couple hours in the am.) There's "down" time when waiting for something to dry-cut sandpaper strips then, or get something to eat or drink or tend wood stoves.
I am dabbling now with color and is more labor intensive with multiple sanding. So I usually turn (Green turn a-z) 1-2 bowls per day. A 13 " takes me 4-5 hours+ (fairly dry wood). So make maybe 30 a month. Gretch

You mentioned dabbling with color. Are you dying the wood? I've been wondering how I would finish some of my lighter wood pieces. Seems a lot of people like darker wood, and I didn't know if it was sacrilegious to stain a turned piece.

 

[Ken Ferrell]

I turn 3 or 4 a month if I'm lucky, but do a lot of Pens, Handles for my tool line and other turnings for craft shows.

 

[Gary Chapman]

stump dump

Gregg,
Check with your local tree trimers and ask them where they dump their garbage( wood pieces). I made friends with a local tree remover and he is always looking for neat pieces to give me. I made him a couple of bowls and he loves to find stuff for me.
I am always looking for people cutting down trees and ask if I can cut a few blanks from their tree, always give them a bowl for their wood. Gary

 

[Gregg Adams]

Hey Ken. That sounds about like my pace on bowls. I haven't done much spindle turnings lately.

Gary, I'll keep that in mind. That would be a great way to get a slew of different wood types... well, at least as far as native woods for this region. The sweet gum that I got pieces of... I probably have enough to do 12 bowls at 12 inches each. That ought to keep me busy for a while.

 

[Odie]

That sounds like a pretty good pace. I'm pretty much limited to the amount of wood that's available locally due to the high cost of shipping when ordering wood. I had no intentions of turning bowls in the first place, but I needed a chuck in order to drill each end of spindles I was doing for dough rollers. Just playing around, I tried making a vessel that was only about 3 inches tall with spindle gouges. That was so much fun that I thought I would try a bowl. I've been hooked ever since.

I just finished looking at your link. Nice shop! Also, thank you for your service to our country!

Thanks for sharing, Odie,
Take care

Thank you, Gregg.......

My shop is my personal retreat........I'm in a "world of my own", there.......

For me, local wood is limited to Pine and Fir, for the most part.......very little hardwoods available. Have to purchase wood and all other related shop supplies/materials...... and pay the shipping costs. Rats! As skill continues to improve, I'm getting faster and faster at completing bowls.......and, since there is major expense to consider for basic materials, I'm not so sure getting faster is an asset! Ha! 😀

You are welcome, sir........

ooc

 

[Gretch Flo]

dying wood

You mentioned dabbling with color. Are you dying the wood? I've been wondering how I would finish some of my lighter wood pieces. Seems a lot of people like darker wood, and I didn't know if it was sacrilegious to stain a turned piece.

My primary goal is to bring out flame/crotch figure/chatouncy (sp?)
in lite colored woods. I am a natural kind of person so I have dilute and subdued colors. About a month ago I asked this forum and got some nice tips. . Have to get more experienced before I can really comment. Working on my 6th piece. Gretch

 

[Grant Schoonover]

What I would like to know is, for those of you who produce at a high rate (say, more than 5 finished pieces per week, which is alot for the hobbyist), what do you do with that many? If you sell them, what channels do you sell them through? (Craft fairs, Websites, direct to stores or Wholesale, ???)

I am just starting to sell my work, so I'm trying to make enough to fill a booth and one local store - 1 finished piece every day/other day is a good rate for me. (Rough one, finish one,and so the cycle goes)

 

[MichaelMouse]

When you run out of relatives you have to find some way to get what you make out of the way so you can make more. So you sell. If you're one of those arty types who does one piece a day you need to charge large dollars. If you're like me and finish turning/sanding one dried blank per hour with a show looming, you don't have to charge so much.

You don't go to "craft" shows where people are looking for a bargain. You go to "art" shows where people are looking for - something to look at. About twice the price on entry for juried "art" as craft shows, but you can get much more per item. I will wholesale to dealers, but mostly it means I don't charge them tax....

 

[Steve Kubien]

I suppose I do around 100-150 bowls per year, 10" and up. I also make cremation urns, plates/platters, peppermills and pens (fewer and fewer of those). Right now, I have 4 blanks in front of my lathe waiting to be cored out (that will happen this weekend). That will give me 4, 14-15" bowls, and the same in 10-11" and a some 8-9" ones which may be too shallow to do much with. Who know, I may get a few more inbetween sizes but since I have never used the coring rig which arrives today or tomorrow, I am not sure.

Yes, I do sell them through /art/craft shows, a couple of galleries, my online store and word-of-mouth.

 

[hughie]

It varies allot, as lot of other things around me impact on my shop time 🙁
But lately very few as I have been building a new shop and over hauling one of my lathes. So my batting average is way down to1 or 2 this year.