Mouthy Maple Bowl

[Mike Ramsey]

Got this little piece of Maple about 6 or 7 months ago in a care package from John Hart. I started turning it then, but it kept showing me so many different looks that I wasn’t sure how to go with it, worm holes, inclusions, spalting, swirl, goes on & on, so I sat it on a shelf behind the lathe for a few months & would glance at it occasionally, finally decided that if I went any further with it I would surely destroy it, So I put a couple of coats of Danish Oil on it and rubbed It a little. As usual (for me), the pics are not good enough. Dims are 4 5/8" (at the widest point) x 2 3/4" Comments good or bad are surely welcome!

[Rich Stewart]

I like that very much. I am terrified to turn something like that. Do you turn really fast when it has a chunk out like that or would that make it explode? Some pointers would be appreciated as I have a couple pieces I would like to try but am afraid of.

[Mark Cothren]

Mike, that is a neat bowl for sure! Impressive to me that you got it finished up with that big gap. I bet it was fun to sand, eh?

Thanks for the pictures!

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

GOOD STEADY hand there, Mike.

Takes a gentle touch to hold that much open space together.

Simple beautiful.

Bruce

[Andy Hoyt]

I can hear the gouge now.

thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump
thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump

Well done, I like it.

[John Hart]

Very cool Mike...I like everything about it!!

[Michael Stafford]

It appears that you left the walls thick, for safety or for esthetics? I am such a chicken I don't turn pieces like that. I pretty much turn only sound wood. You did a nice job with that. Be careful with pieces with holes in them; they can grab you.

[Mike Ramsey]

Thanks guys!

Rich, when I turn something like this I speed up my lathe, I think
I probably turned it at about 1400 to 1600 rpm. If slow, the catches
would have been numerous, as it was there were very few. Don't be
scared just take real lite cuts with a sharp gouge and more than not
you'll get through it fine.

Andy, it was more like tickticktickticktickticktick!

Mark, It was fun!

Big Mike, wasn't worried about safety, gotta nifty face shield :D .
Doesn't look like it but the inside does follow the shape of the outside,
but it is thicker than i wanted. I stopped because my spidy senses
were starting to tingle :D , I knew if i went a hair further it would
blow apart.

[Carole Valentine]

Uh uh...not me! I am the original "voidophobic". :eek::eek::eek: I admire your courage Mike. Nice job. But whle you were at it, don't you think a 3/32" wall would have been better?:rolleyes:
(Carole ducks and runs)

[Jim Ketron]

Neat Piece Mike!
Great Job!

[Jim Becker]

Neat! Kinda a Jack-o-lantern quality to that form...and there is also some really gorgeous wood there, too.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Nice job Mike. Excellent piece.

[Bob Noles]

Mike,

Now that looks like the scarey side of turning to me :eek:

You did it justice and that turned out to be a really nice piece.

[Bill Stevener]

Mike, I can't say I have ever had the pleasure to view a bowl of such character. It looks so much alive, as though it's crying out for a sole mate. You best get on it, time to find another one.
Really neat bowl, takes a steady hand to work around a void like that.
Thanks for showing.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Ernie Nyvall]

Wow Mike, it looks like it would still bite you... just sitting there. That's some fine wood and you did a great job on it.

Ernie

[Dick Parr]

Very nice Mike, I love the grain of the wood. Beautiful.:)

[Mike Ramsey]

Thanks again everyone....
Bill I will have to sweet talk John Hart into sending me it's soul mate
as that kinda wood doesn't grow here :( .