Black Walnut

[Michelle Rich]

A#1 very appealing.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Classic Cothren!!

[Harvey Ghesser]

wow...beautiful...

[steven carter]

Typical, just typical, and by that I mean fantastic as usual. I never tire of you NE bowls, I hope someday that mine will approach the quality of yours.

[Johnny England]

Just beautiful!!!!! Someday I hope to be able turn one like that.

[Thomas Heck]

Nice bowl. Thanks for sharing.

[Russell Eaton]

That is a beauty! I have a question, do you turn it wet to the desired thickness and let it dry? Or do you leave it thick and return it after it dries? Thanks, Russell

[Mark Cothren]

Russell, I leave it thicker and then re-turn it to final thickness after it dries. A couple of folks on another site suggested turning it to final thickness while still green and then letting it dry (that's the way they do it). Next batch of green wood I get I'm going to give it a try. It's a lot easier turning it green than it is when dry.

[Jay Rasmussen]

Outstanding Mark, do you have any “in process” photos? I would love to see how this started out.

Thanks Mark, the final product is beautiful but for me just getting started in the art of turning how you got there is fascinating and inspiring!
After 25 years of flat work I’m hooked.

[Thomas Canfield]

Russell, I leave it thicker and then re-turn it to final thickness after it dries. A couple of folks on another site suggested turning it to final thickness while still green and then letting it dry (that's the way they do it). Next batch of green wood I get I'm going to give it a try. It's a lot easier turning it green than it is when dry.

What thickness do you rough turn? That piece looks thinner than the 10% or about 1 1/2" thickness that you would normally rough turn. It would seem that the oval rough would have a lot of distortion, from my experience with some smaller NE bowls. What about holding on the bark or is that just a whole lot of CA ? The time of harvest has a lot to do with the bark holding, but I have made several barkless NE bowls.

[Pete Jordan]

Well done Mark!

Always nice to see your work.

[Mark Cothren]

What thickness do you rough turn? That piece looks thinner than the 10% or about 1 1/2" thickness that you would normally rough turn. It would seem that the oval rough would have a lot of distortion, from my experience with some smaller NE bowls.

I just eyeball it, to be honest. The walls are 7/16" right now, so was probably around 1" when I roughed it out. In my own experience with Arkansas Black Walnut, the thinner it is roughed out the less movement there is while drying.

What about holding on the bark or is that just a whole lot of CA ? The time of harvest has a lot to do with the bark holding, but I have made several barkless NE bowls.

No CA used on this bark. You'll just have to take my word on this, but I honestly don't remember the last time I used CA on a bark-edge bowl. I can also tell you - again, in my own experience - that time of the year when the tree is downed has no effect on the bark. This particular tree was cut middle of the summer (I believe it was in July - I do recall the temperature being over 100 that day) and I've already turned several NE bowls and have about 3 more waiting to finish, and none of them have even hinted at losing bark. Maybe it is a geographic thing - I dunno.

[Kathy Marshall]

Another beauty Mark!