I don't have much use for cottonwood, but last February we cut down a large tree with 42 inch diameter trunk. It was too close to the house. Of course I saved a few chunks. The finished bowls were turned twice and are both 10 inches at the rim. The one sitting on the lathe includes a crotch figure and will be turned the second time this weekend. At this time it is 11 1/4 with the grain and 10 3/4 across the grain. You can also get a peak at my high tech photo set up. It is a light grey vinyl window shade mounted above the dust collector box that sits behind my lathe.
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I apologize for the sideways photo and lack of cropping. I will come back later and attempt to correct both.