Commemorative Maple Bowl

[Steve Schlumpf]

A few months back (snow was still on the ground) one of my wife’s co-workers, who lives on the south side of Marquette, had the city cut down an old maple tree that had died. The tree was pretty well rotten and he had planned to split everything up for firewood. My wife talked to him about the wood and the possibility that I might be able to turn something out of it. He offered any or all of the tree if I was interested – all he would like in return was something/anything made out of it as a remembrance. Told me the tree was planted back in the mid 1930s by his Dad and Grandfather (both gone now) – back when the whole area was part of their family farm.

This is the Maple bowl I turned as a memento. It is 8 1/4” diameter x 4” high x 3/8” thick, sanded to 400 grit and has 5 coats of Minwax Wipe-On Gloss Poly.

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As always, your comments and/or critiques are welcome!

Thanks for looking!

[Gary Herrmann]

Very nice!

[Bill Bolen]

Beautiful colors and a great shape! I really like the lip treatment too. Appears to slope slightly inward? I'm sure he will treasure the memories you have encapsulated for him! WTG Steve...Bill..

[Joshua Dinerstein]

Great work Steve. I really like the color and the form of the bowl.

Joshua

[Bruce Pennell]

Steve I'm sure he will love the bowl, super job...Bruce

[Jon Lanier]

I like it! Now you need to learn to wood burn and put the info on the bowl. heh heh.

[Ben Gastfriend]

A very nice story and a great bowl (not a huge surprise), Steve. Turning a piece of history- cool!

[dennis kranz]

A great looking bowl. That one will stay in the family for a long long time.
Dennis

[Mike Minto]

Nice one, Steve. Very elegant lines; it'll be nice to have a physical memento to go with the memories. Great bowl. Mike

[Toney Robertson]

Steve,

That will always bring him pleasure because the wood is beautiful and your elegant form highlights the wood.

Toney

[Curt Fuller]

That would be a beautiful bowl without the story behind the wood. But to have that nice of a reminder from the wood is priceless.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Nice gesture Steve and it is a beautiful bowl. I like the form and wall thickness. Well done.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thanks everyone for all the kind words! I do appreciate it!

One thing I forgot to mention in the description is that this bowl was turned end grain. For those of you that have turned end grain you know what kind of a challenge that can be sometimes to get a smooth cut. It was fun and I hope to buff the bowl and be able to present it to the owner tomorrow afternoon.