Maple Shallow Bowl

I started this maple bowl on the lathe, slowly shaping the wood into a wide shallow form.  With the bowl still on the lathe I sanded the bottom/exterior side of the bowl smooth.  From there I took the bowl off the lathe and finished the interior and rim with hand tools.  I find using hand tools to carve patterns and textures onto a rough turned form to not only be more enjoyable than sanding but the contrast between the crispness left by an plane or chisel versus a smoothly sanded surface also is very pleasing.  The interior has been shaped using small Japanese hand planes, which produce a fine scalloped texture that flows across the grain of the wood.  On the edge I used a chisel to cut a light series of facets.

Raw tung oil finish

The bowl has been finished with a generous coat of pure tung oil.  I use a 100% pure tung oil, without added chemical driers or other ingredients.  Tung oil is slow curing, but will harden over time producing a protective, slightly matte finish.

Use and Care

This bowl with it’s wide shallow form is well suited for use as a serving bowl.  The fine grain of the maple means it can be used for serving just about any food without worrying about bits of food getting into the woods pores.

I recommend cleaning the bowl with with a light rinse of water, but you can also use standard dish detergent when necessary.  After rinsing it’s best to towel dry to help prevent water from sitting on the wood surface.  The oil finish will help to prevent water from penetrating into the wood, however if water sits on the surface for a prolonged period it will gradually penetrate and can cause discoloration and potential warping and cracking.

After using, washing, and drying many times the wood’s surface may begin to look a bit dry.  At that point, reapplying a coat of oil and wax will help to maintain a layer of protection while keeping the surface looking rich.  I’ve included a small tin of beeswax and linseed oil mix for you to use for periodic maintenance.