Pimento Burl Bowl

[David Winters]

I haven't posted in quite some time. Let's just say I have a lot more free time in this economy!
This Pimento is the most difficult wood to dry defect-free. Tried all the usual strategies; DNA, Boiling, Waxing, etc.
Nothing worked at all, so now I just turn it green, as thin as I dare and let it have it's own way.
Kind of interesting, as the final shape is nothing like what you pull off the lathe!
Sadly, I'm out of my green stock- Have tons of smaller billets with varying amounts of defect, if anyone wants some, I'd trade for what you might have..

This one is about 9" dia x6" tall. The base was much smaller!

 

[robo hippy]

I love it when my bowls do that. For drying thinner bowls, most of mine are in the 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick range, I soak in LDD (1/2 cheap brown dish soap, and 1/2 water) for 24 hours, rinse, then use a couple wraps of newspaper around the outside, and secure it to the rim with some of the stretch plastic film that you use to wrap boxes together on a pallet with. Leave the inside of the bowl open to the air. The soap makes the pieces a lot easier to sand out (does nothing to speed drying, stabilize wood or prevent cracking and movement). Normal drying time is about 2 weeks.
robo hippy