Spalted Maple Lidded Bowl

[David Walser]

Here are photos of my most recent project, a lidded bowl for my son's girl friend. It's made of maple, spalted maple, and redwood. The box/bowl is 3.5" in diameter and 2.75" tall. All the standard apologies for the poor picture quality apply. I took the pictures in our hotel room and, without my tripod, there was not enough natural light to avoid using the flash.

Comments welcome.
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[Jon Lanier]

I really like that , that is a neat way to incorporate some spaltd maple.

[Don Robert]

Quite creative. I really like it. Did you use a number of bowl blanks like those available at Rockler and other places? Or did you turn the maple parts from green wood? The "button" on the top of the lid handle is a very nice touch to complete the trim and balance the look.

[Dewey Torres]

Spalted maple has become quite popular and for good reason. Very nice!

[Bill Bolen]

I really like that spalted banding! Consider yourself copied!...Bill..

[Jim Kountz]

I really like it, good work of combining the different woods. Great job!

[Richard Madison]

That is beautiful David! Your son must be serious about this chick.

[David Walser]

... Did you use a number of bowl blanks like those available at Rockler and other places? Or did you turn the maple parts from green wood? ...

Thank you for the kind words. To answer your question, the maple top and bottom were made from dry stock just under 1.25" thick. The other parts were donuts of dry stock. The spalted maple was so dry and fragile that little pieces would crumble off whenever I picked it up. I soaked it in MinWax Wood Hardener before gluing the bottom blank up and that helped stabilize the wood. I still needed to use thin CA glue to get a clean finish cut, but the MinWax Wood Hardener was a great help.

[David Walser]

...Your son must be serious about this chick.

We've got our fingers crossed about this one. She's quite a gal and is spending Thanksgiving with us. My wife wanted to make the gift contingent on their getting married, but I was afraid that would scare her off.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking piece. I like how you incorporated the woods. Beautiful.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Very classy looking David! Love the different woods and the colors they give the piece! I am sure your 'possible' future daughter-in-law will love it!

What are you going to make her for Christmas?

[Curt Fuller]

I like that a lot! That's an interesting combination of woods and they really look good together.

[David Walser]

... I am sure your 'possible' future daughter-in-law will love it!

What are you going to make her for Christmas?

She does love it (gave it to her yesterday for her birthday). For Christmas, she and my son are going to her parent's home. I'm giving her an unassembled pen kit. When they come to our house for New Years, I'll teach her how to turn a pen. At least that's the plan.

[Don Carter]

David:
That is very beautiful! This lady must be something special. Your work certainly is. Thanks for showing it.

All the best.

Don

[Eugene Wigley]

Very nice looking bowl. The detail and combination of woods really work well and look great. This gives me some ideas of how I may be able to use some of the small cut offs I have left from furniture projects.

[Skip Spaulding]

Beautiful David, your pictures arn't all that bad either.

[Dean Thomas]

What a fun piece, David. Nice work.

Anyone else see the eagle in the spalting in the upper right pic? Just curious. Looking at spalting patterns is almost as much fun as finding shapes in the clouds. Yes, I am often easily amused. :rolleyes:

[Mike Vickery]

Beautiful piece, I am sure she will treasure it.