I've started shaping my next attempt at a bowl and this area appeared. Currently, max depth seems to be 2-3mm. I'm torn as whether to leave it as an interesting feature or to remove it. What are the pitfalls of leaving it? And if I do, is there anything I should do with the bark that's in it?
Question for the experienced bowl turners
- Thread starter fnfalguy
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Woodchipper
Member
Brush the knot with a stiff nylon bristle brush and apply your finish. Some would fill it with epoxy or some sort of quartz, etc. If you try to eliminate it by more turning, you will probably end up with a thin wall.
Ted iin Michigan
Member
Agree with Chipper above re the brush but (depending on whether the remaining bark is firmly attached) I might also give the area a bit of CA. If you do go that route, be careful to keep the CA on the bark and not stain the surrounding wood.
tomtedesco
Member
Agree with both above. It will be an interesting feature on the finished bowl.
If its the style you are looking for, clearing out the punky junk in it and leaving it as-is is certainly one way to go.
If you wanted a different look, then you can also look at fillers. Epoxy, including tinted/colored with dyes and pigments, can certainly work. You would need a pressure pot or something like Liquid Diamonds to make an epoxy fill bubble-free.
Another option is wood filler. I generally use Goodfilla as my go-to, however Milliput is also another option. Once the filler has cured, you can turn and sand it down to the surface of the rest of the bowl. I often go for contrasting colors with something like this...so, say, a darker wood filler, but you can certainly find something that is a closer match.
Finally, you could also try a cutout and replacement with another piece of wood. Maybe drill out the area with a forstner, then turn another piece of wood round to fit the hole. Fit the filler piece in the hole, then turn that down to the thickness of the rest of the bowl wall. Again, I would generally opt for a contrasting wood, but, some people will find a piece of wood of the same type that has a close grain match, and you can sometimes hardly tell there was any issue at all. (In your case here with that figure, that might be tough...maybe a piece of darker wood.)
You could also close-cut out the punky area, to preserve the figure. Then use a bandsaw or scroll saw to cut a piece of wood that is a close fit to that shape. File and sand it down to be a perfect fit for whatever shape hole you end up with, then glue it in place and turn it down.
If you wanted a different look, then you can also look at fillers. Epoxy, including tinted/colored with dyes and pigments, can certainly work. You would need a pressure pot or something like Liquid Diamonds to make an epoxy fill bubble-free.
Another option is wood filler. I generally use Goodfilla as my go-to, however Milliput is also another option. Once the filler has cured, you can turn and sand it down to the surface of the rest of the bowl. I often go for contrasting colors with something like this...so, say, a darker wood filler, but you can certainly find something that is a closer match.
Finally, you could also try a cutout and replacement with another piece of wood. Maybe drill out the area with a forstner, then turn another piece of wood round to fit the hole. Fit the filler piece in the hole, then turn that down to the thickness of the rest of the bowl wall. Again, I would generally opt for a contrasting wood, but, some people will find a piece of wood of the same type that has a close grain match, and you can sometimes hardly tell there was any issue at all. (In your case here with that figure, that might be tough...maybe a piece of darker wood.)
You could also close-cut out the punky area, to preserve the figure. Then use a bandsaw or scroll saw to cut a piece of wood that is a close fit to that shape. File and sand it down to be a perfect fit for whatever shape hole you end up with, then glue it in place and turn it down.
philipff
Member
Why not just put some clear CA glue on the spot and let it dry overnight and it should be good and look natural. P
howsitwork
Member
Just for future info. If you apply diluted sanding sealer to other areas , allow to dry and apply thin CA to the area ( brushing with a brass bristled brush to remove loose debris first ) then the CA will not stain the other wood . You can then finish turn the piece .
Nice piece of YEW I think ? Watch out for black lines in it they're delicate but often show cracks . I learned this when I didn't apply CA to them and the 8" bowl exploded on me.
Thankfully face mask took the hit . You can never be too careful with YEW
Nice piece of YEW I think ? Watch out for black lines in it they're delicate but often show cracks . I learned this when I didn't apply CA to them and the 8" bowl exploded on me.
Thankfully face mask took the hit . You can never be too careful with YEW