I turned a bowl and the botton is very thin. I finished it with walnut oil and later had the thought that I could have used some CA glue to strengthen it. Any ideas as to what I could do now?
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Thin bottom bowl
- Thread starter shaunmcmahon
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I know you are disappointed. The good news is the next one will be better.
If i’m not happy with a piece I either burn it or experiment with it.
The next one I make will be better.
But how serious is the problem.
Seeing light through the bottom
Bottom flexes when you touch it ?
If neither of those are happening it should be fine. Using calipers can give you an accurate view of bottom thickness on a tenon mounted bowl.
A bowl wall with a nice curve cut into triangles on the the bandsaw makes a nice desk clock mount.
If i’m not happy with a piece I either burn it or experiment with it.
The next one I make will be better.
But how serious is the problem.
Seeing light through the bottom
Bottom flexes when you touch it ?
If neither of those are happening it should be fine. Using calipers can give you an accurate view of bottom thickness on a tenon mounted bowl.
A bowl wall with a nice curve cut into triangles on the the bandsaw makes a nice desk clock mount.
Last edited:
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
What one of our turners did who also had that problem was to pour clear epoxy or casting resin in the bottom. It worked so well he started putting leaves in the bottom before pouring in the resin. Not only strengthened the bowls it looked incredible.
- Joined
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Thanks for the great idea. I have a beautiful huge box elder bowl that I made about a year ago and had the same problem. Beautiful curves on both the inside and outside, but at the dead center it is only about 1/16" thick. I had promised to send it to a former neighbor when it was finished and didn't want to scrap it. There wasn't even a problem with the bowl until I decided to dish out the foot a bit more and without thinking or measuring I just proceeded as if I knew what I was doing.
We have all done that, the last pass!
Here is one that got too thin on the bottom so I flattened the sides on a disc sander and glued on a 8 segment walnut and cherry ring, but a solution like that may not work with something saturated with walnut oil.