Custom bowls
If a sedimental tree has come down on your property for one reason or another a great way to preserve its memory of it might be to get some bowls made from the tree. As a woodworker I hate wasting good lumber and generally, residential logs get turned into firewood. A great option might be to have a set of custom bowls made from the log.
If a sedimental tree has come down on your property for one reason or another a great way to preserve its memory of it might be to get some bowls made from the tree. As a woodworker I hate wasting good lumber and generally, residential logs get turned into firewood. A great option might be to have a set of custom bowls made from the log.
The Process
We start with photos or if you are around the Cazenovia area I can come to look at the tree. From there I can give you an estimate of the quantity size and price of the bowls we will be able to produce. If the project sounds good you can have me come get the lumber or drop it off at my shop. From here I rough out the bowl blanks and turn it to its final shape. Now the slow part, drying. Depending on a number of factors I dry the bowl blank for 1-4 months. After the wood is dry I can come back and sand it and any custom laser engraving if desired. All of my bowls are finished with our 100% natural, food-safe wood conditioner.
How does this work?
Well, every case varies depending on the size and condition of the lumber. I prefer to start out with photos of the downed tree. From there I will give you an honest opinion of whether I think the lumber is worth the effort. Some trees might have to rot damage much or might be too tricky to access. It's better with my methods if we harvest the tree ASAP. time is of the essence once the tree is downed.
How much does this cost?
Any were from $200-$20,000. The sky is the limit really. I have made single bowls for customers and have made over 100 bowls for organizations as well. You tell me what you're looking for. A set of bowls for the holiday season is a killer gift! The billing is broken up into two parts the first payment is due after all the bowls are turned. The second half is due once they are sanded and finished.
Details
I do what's called once-turned bowls. It tends to be a slower process but what you get is a true one-of-a-kind bowl that is worth the wait. Once turned means It's only turned once. I lathe the bowl down to its final thickness then let it dry at its own pace. I believe it's more respectful to the wood, letting it do what it wants to do rather than forcing it to become something it's not. They warp and move in their own way making a bowl that will never be repeated. I air-dry my bowls rather than kiln drying lumber which tends to bleed the colors of the wood together. The process brings more of the wood's natural colors and hues shine in the the result. When bowl turning I try and listen to the wood and let it tell me what shape it wants to be maximizing every last square inch of the bowl blank. Please check out other bowls to see elements you might wish to incorporate into yours. Or just reach out to chat consultation is always free!