segmented bowl project #9

[mike calabrese]

Segmented bowl maple and cherry Minwax wipe on poly finish
9 inch diameter 7 inches tall.


490697490698490699

[Robert Hayward]

Nice work Mike!

[Steve Mathews]

Very nice! Let us know how you approached the work.

[Tim Elett]

I like it.

[Frederick Skelly]

I really like this Mike!

[mike calabrese]

Very nice! Let us know how you approached the work.
Thanks Steve for looking in.
I have dabbled in woodworking off and on for many years but only discovered segmented bowls about 8 months ago.
Most of what I know about the process I get from this link https://segmentedwoodturners.org/forums/index.php and naturally YouTube.
Check out the gallery at the link above the work there is phenominal I was instantly captivated.
The image below is my design board basically establishes the profile of the bowl and the ring overall sizes needed to blend (turn) to create the profile .
The individual segment rings are pretty typical in that way , the feature ring and the base really tax my efforts to come up with ideas.

I have made 10 bowls so far but each one kind of turns out a little different than actually planned, you can see that in the design board and the finished bowl.
The feature rings are the toughest for me to come up with a design. The horizontal bar section starts out as simply a glue up strip of cherry and maple then cut into segments defined from on line calculation apps. The diamond block section was sketched out and built as individual pieces and glued to the bar wedge section to bring the finished wedge of the two components to the dimensions defined by the wedge app values. In this case there are 12 wedges in each ring.
There are a bunch of segment calculators on line at the Playstore example here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.byroid.segmentcalculator1&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1
The process is not really complicated BUT you have to get a lot of little things right along the way, it takes a learning curve i must say.
the two references above will show you everything you need to know about building a bowl from making a wedge sled to stacking the individual rings concentric as possible. If I can do this any woodworker with some sawdust experience can too but I suggest you dig in to the details learn all you can as you will need a foundation to solve the issues you will experience along the way. There will be issues encountered I guarantee it.


490706

[mike calabrese]

Nice work Mike!
Thank you Robert

[mike calabrese]

I like it.
Thank you Tim

[mike calabrese]

I really like this Mike!
Thanks Frederick

[Edward Weber]

Very nice work Mike
I think the feature ring is proportioned very well, not always an easy thing to do. Not to mention great alignment throughout.

[mike calabrese]

Thank you Ed for youer comments. I certainlly struggle a bunch with ideas for feature rings nice to know I got lucky with this one.
On this bowl the alignment is something I worked on quite hard as the first bowls I made I paid no attention to such detail and it showed.
I actually discovered a very simple way of producing the kind of alignment I got in the example bowl using just two lines drawn across one of the rings to be joined.
I mostly stumbled into it as an eureka moment while trying to over complicate the alignment process.
Thanks again for looking in
mike calabrese

[Richard Madden]

Mike, you've done a wonderful job on this bowl!! I have made a few segmented turnings, both open and closed segment, but none have feature rings. Great job! I tip my hat to you sir.

[mike calabrese]

Mike, you've done a wonderful job on this bowl!! I have made a few segmented turnings, both open and closed segment, but none have feature rings. Great job! I tip my hat to you sir.
Thank You Richard, way too kind .
I have not tried an open segment bowl yet. I am having enough trouble with the solid stuff.
I have made 9 bowls so far and have 6 left because things like a bad catch and some holy crap moments reduced my inventory :eek:
i can't imagine how those 3 boomers would have blown up if they were open segment jobs.
On the feature ring you can make one if you are making segment rings now. The feature ring is really just a bunch of pieces glued up to make a segment blank then you glue those up into the ring. Don't make the same mistakes I made on a couple of feature rings don't get end grain in the design flat or side grain saves a lot of starting over .
Honestly the hardest part of a feature ring , for me is the darn design really scratch my head.
thanks again for you time and comments.
mike c

[Sam Force]

I actually discovered a very simple way of producing the kind of alignment I got in the example bowl using just two lines drawn across one of the rings to be joined.
I mostly stumbled into it as an eureka moment while trying to over complicate the alignment process.
Thanks again for looking in
mike calabrese[/QUOTE]

Please explain the 2 lines you mentioned

[mike calabrese]

I actually discovered a very simple way of producing the kind of alignment I got in the example bowl using just two lines drawn across one of the rings to be joined.
I mostly stumbled into it as an eureka moment while trying to over complicate the alignment process.
Thanks again for looking in
mike calabrese

Please explain the 2 lines you mentioned[/QUOTE]
Hi Sam
Thanks for your question.
I will show the process soon. Hard to explain without an actual pair of segmented rings to demonstrate.
I will cut some up today get it together and post some pictures with details. It will be super clear and super easy with pics.
Please stay tuned.
mike calabrese

[mike calabrese]

Please explain the 2 lines you mentioned
Hi Sam
Thanks for your question.
I will show the process soon. Hard to explain without an actual pair of segmented rings to demonstrate.
I will cut some up today get it together and post some pictures with details. It will be super clear and super easy with pics.
Please stay tuned.
mike calabrese[/QUOTE]

Ok here are some pics that I hope will tell the story.
the rings shown are 9 segments but the process is exactly the same for even count segmented rings you just have to draw arcs on the segment 180 degrees across from the one you just laid out. You will find that getting three alignments between the layout line and segment joints is nearly impossible IF you simply try just to rotate one ring. the trick is to start with one line / segment dead onand then rotate and move a ring around like North South East and West and spinning as necessary.
When you think you are close LOOK CLOSE because I would bet there will be a alignment or two that isn't all the way there yet. back to spinning and pushing around. When it is dead on you will see it all lined all around the rings.Lock it down, register mark it and add the glue as usual.
This method also works for 25% or 33% offsets or any degree for that matter you just have to establish "where you draw the line"
Example if you want a 25% offset bisect the segments as shown THEN bisect the half segment you just laid out. Half of a half is 25% I think
Please ask any questions
mike calabrese
490894

[Bernie Kopfer]

I plan to get into doing segmented bowls soon. Hope that by number 9 I’m starting to turn out something as nice as your work. If Hx is an indicator it will be a lot longer.

[mike calabrese]

Hi Bernie
you can do it ! I have been making sawdust for a bunch of years but I just discovered segmented bowls about 8 months ago. It is a little different and a lot of the same all at the same time. YouTube stuff on segment bowls is one of the sources I got hooked on .
Best of luck
mike c