Looking for feedback on a Walnut bowl

[Ron Solfest]

I've largely been a lurker on this site for a long time with regard to turning, but was inspired the other week by someone's pictures and the feedback they received. Inspired enough to put aside some flatwork I was working on for a couple hours and turn a walnut blank that had been sitting on the shelf for a couple years.

If I've managed to attach the photo's correctly you should see three images of this bowl, it's 8.25" across by 3.75" tall. I sanded it to 400grit and then put a few coats of bowl finish on it. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on design, technique, or whatever (I recognize the photography is lacking as I just used my cell phone and didn't spend any time on this).


Thanks in advance for any comments/advice that will make me a better turner.
Ron

 

[Odie]

Ron........Not sure what input you are looking for, but......

Very nice piece of wood.

By "bowl finish", I assume you intend the purpose to be for food use? The shape looks very usable for that purpose. Thicker is usually better for the abuse most food bowls will have to endure.

You should develop some method of signing your work......lathe turning for most of us is a very personal thing.

The profile shape looks to "flow" nicely......this means your eye for nice shape is probably very good for this kind of artistic application. The more you do this, the better you will get, and the more creative you'll become in choosing design shapes.

ooc

 

[Gretch Flo]

Signing Ron's work

You should develop some method of signing your work......lathe turning for most of us is a very personal thing.


ooc

Odie-isn't it signed?? Can see some letter but not close enuf to read, Gretch

 

[Ron Solfest]

Yes I've put my initials and 2012 on the bottom in fine sharpie. Odie hit two of my concerns: I agree that I should develop a better method of signing, and I'm not too creative on shapes - I just kind of go with what it feels like but would like to develop a broader conscious design plan. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Odie]

Odie-isn't it signed?? Can see some letter but not close enuf to read, Gretch

Yep, you are correct, Gretch......I totally missed that......😱

You are welcome, Ron........

ooc

 

[Bill Boehme]

I agree with Odie's comments about the design being very good for a functional bowl. I especially like the size of the foot which is appropriate for a bowl that will be used in the kitchen -- large enough to provide stability while at the same time not being disproportionally large. Since you mentioned wanting feedback on style, my personal preference is to have the slope near the rim of the bowl not be as steep. I usually like a slope between 45 and 60 degrees.

 

[Syd Sellers]

Nicely Done

I think it's fantastic, you worked in the knot or branch very well.

Tell us what you did finish it with

 

[Edward Weber]

I think the bowl looks great,...but. I would be concerned about the bottom, meaning the base. It's hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like the base is completely flat. If this is the case, it can cause some issues. Most turners will turn a rim or even concave the base slightly. A rim on the base will raise up thee piece a bit, usually resulting in a better profile. Also if there is wood movment, and the bowl does not sit flat anymore. it is very easy the flatten a small rim, that to have to redo the entire base of the bowl. It also prootects the signature area.

 

[Jim Keenan]

I've largely been a lurker on this site for a long time with regard to turning, but was inspired the other week by someone's pictures and the feedback they received. Inspired enough to put aside some flatwork I was working on for a couple hours and turn a walnut blank that had been sitting on the shelf for a couple years.

If I've managed to attach the photo's correctly you should see three images of this bowl, it's 8.25" across by 3.75" tall. I sanded it to 400grit and then put a few coats of bowl finish on it. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on design, technique, or whatever (I recognize the photography is lacking as I just used my cell phone and didn't spend any time on this).


Thanks in advance for any comments/advice that will make me a better turner.
Ron

Ron,
This is a classic shape of the Hawaiian Calabash form. Very well done.

Palewa
This was a medium-sized bowl of medium weight that could be conveniently carried. Rather than each person having an individual bowl, the family would eat from it together. The palewa is wider in relation to its height.

 

[Ron Solfest]

Thanks

Thanks again for the responses.

Syd - I used GF Salad Bowl Finish, used to use Behlen's until they went out of business. I got some other good ideas for finishes on a duplicate thread on the woodcentral website so I'll try to expand my finish selection.

Edward - I guess the picture doesn't show it but the bottom is shallowly dipped, I've always done that with bowls so they sit flat. After some suggestions I might try a rounded bottom on a couple bowls to see how that turns out too.

 

[Steve Worcester]

Ron, at this stage in your game , it looks great. Would help to have larger, higher resolution photos. As you turn more, you will start to become more critical of your own work as you progress. Looks great.

 

[Ron Solfest]

Larger pics

Wasn't trying to hide anything with the small pictures, just didn't understand how to get pictures posted. Here are some larger images for those of you that asked, I'll follow with some pictures of other bowls I've turned (that my wife has had in use for a while). Note my design space is fairly limited, one of the things I'd like to expand on.

Thanks again for comments and feedback.

 

[Ron Solfest]

Similar bowls

Here are 3 other bowls referenced in the previous post.
Thanks again for feedback,
Ron

 

[Jake Gevorgian]

Very nicely done Ron! I like the design of the bowls and I like the way you've curved the lip. The base of the bowls are unique in each one. I personally like the one that has a little foot. But, anyway, all of them look great. I wish you took some pictures with some fruits in the bowl 🙂

Cheers

 

[Dan Hines]

walnut bowl

Just a question on the finish. Could tung oil be used?

 

[james dennis biggs]

I think it is nice. I too have been a lurker. I've been turning for 3 or so years and enjoy all of the posts and info. Doc