Use and Care Manual

OPERATION - BOWL TURNING

MOUNTING THE WORKPIECE ONTO THE FACE PLATE

When turning bowls or plates with a large diameter, mounting it to the face plate to gives the maximum amount

of support. While face plates are the most reliable method for holding a larger block of wood for turning, a lathe

chucks can also be used. A chuck is handy when working on more than one piece at a time, allowing your to open

the chuck and change workpieces instead of having to remove the mounting screws.

1. Select a stock that is at least .2 inches (5 mm) larger than each dimension of the finished workpiece.

2. Remove any bark from the top of the wood stock (that will be later attached onto a face plate or in a chuck).

3. True one of the surfaces of the workpiece for mounting against the face plate. Using the face plate as a tem-

plate, mark the location of the mounting holes on the workpiece and drill pilot holes of the appropriate size.

If the mounting screws on the face plate will interfere with the workpiece, a waste block can be used. Shape the

waste block so that it is of the same diameter as the face plate. Flatten the mating surfaces of the waste block and

the workpiece. Use a high quality glue suitable for the particular workpiece to prevent the workpiece from falling

off during operation. Glue the waste block to the workpiece securely. If you plan to use a chuck, turn the waste

block into a tenon of the appropriate length and diameter to fit your chuck.

TO SHAPE THE INSIDE OF A BOWL OR PLATE

Turn off the lathe and move the tailstock out of the way. Mount the workpiece onto the face plate and install the

face plate on to the headstock (see page 10). Adjust the tool rest in front of the workpiece to be just below the cen-

terline and at the right angle to the lathe’s turning axis. Rotate the workpiece by hand to check for proper seating

and clearance.

Begin shaping by lightly shearing across the top of the bowl from rim to center. Place a bowl gouge tool on the

tool rest at the center of the workpiece with the flute facing the top of the bowl. The tool handle should be level

and pointed toward the four o’clock position.

Control the cutting edge of the gouge with the left hand, while swinging the tool handle around towards your body

with the right hand. The flute should start out facing the top of the workpiece, rotating it upwards as it moves

deeper into the bowl to maintain a clean and even curve. As the tool goes deeper into the bowl, progressively

work outwards towards the rim of the bowl. It may be necessary to turn the tool rest into the piece as you get

deeper into the bowl.

NOTE: Try to make one light continuous movement from the rim to the bottom of the bowl to ensure a clean,

sweeping curve through the piece. Should there be a few small ridges left, a light cut with a large domed scraper

can even out the surface.

Develop the preferred wall thickness at the rim and maintain it as you work deeper into the bowl (once the piece

is thin toward the bottom, you cannot make it thinner at the rim). When the interior is finished, move the tool rest

back to the exterior to re-define the bottom of the bowl. Work the tight area around the face plate or the chuck

with a bowl gouge. Begin the separation with a parting tool, but do not cut all the way through.

Turning bowl with large diameter,

mount it to the face plate to give the

maximum amount of support.