Turning a 16" Walnut Sink

[Kris DeVault]

I took on a job for a customer of mine. Still not sure if this is the best idea but I am going for it.

Customer has a 16"x6" cement sink that has a small crack (sits on top of the counter) and wants a walnut bowl/sink. It is in the guest bedroom with minimal use.

Because of the drying time of working with a solid blank I was going to get some 8/4 kiln dried lumber and glue up a block.

Any one have advice on finishing this?

My plan was turn it to 90% then use a penetrating epoxy or stabilize it like I do knife handles in a vacuum chamber. Then finish turn it and pile on the coats of my Sam Maloof style Danish oil. I cut it with a Spar Urethane (1/3) with a UV inhibitor.
I kind of wanted to stay away from a solid epoxy finish if I could.

Thoughts or advice on this?
Thanks,
Kris

 

[John Snow]

Not to be snarky or critical, but won't any solid wooden sink check after a time?

 

[Russell Nugent]

I think an epoxy coating is the only way to keep it sealed. Anything else I'd imagine you're looking at repairs down the road and an unhappy customer.

 

[hockenbery]

kind of wanted to stay away from a solid epoxy finish if I could.

John Williams in our club has done quite a few sinks and loads of hollowforms capable of holding water.
He’s use epoxy finishes
His methods work

Here is a video he has on his process
He shows a sink at the start

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI1oo0zwP7I

 

[Kris DeVault]

Not to be snarky or critical, but won't any solid wooden sink check after a time?

All good, yes definitely a chance of it.

I think an epoxy coating is the only way to keep it sealed. Anything else I'd imagine you're looking at repairs down the road and an unhappy customer.

You could very well be correct about that. Trying to look online as much as possible and there does seem to be some out there without epoxy.

John Williams in our club has done quite a few sinks and loads of hollowforms capable of holding water.
He’s use epoxy finishes
His methods work

Here is a video he has on his process
He shows a sink at the start

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI1oo0zwP7I

That is a great video John, I like his turning epoxy set up. Reminds me of when I did a lot of fishing rod building and you let it dry on the lathe.

 

[Dean Center]

If you can get it fully stabilized, it will be much better than plain wood, and probably as good as an epoxy coated bowl. That's what is used on high end fly rod reel seats. Walnut is funny though--it's hard to get it dried in a kiln when it's more than 3" thick--so, you might have to stabilize each piece before glue up. But will stabilized wood glue together? Challenging project, for sure.

One other alternative, if the budget allows, would be to use an oily exotic wood. I've made some shaving soap bowls from cocobolo, and as far as I know, they're still intact. Using a 6"X16" piece of tropical wood for one sink would make me cry, though.

 

[Kris DeVault]

I can get it glued up and turned to 80-90% and then stabilize it. Ive spent a bunch of time dialing that in on laminated knife handles. Walnut is tricky like you say.