10.7.2To Shape Interior of Bowl
1.Stop lathe and move tailstock away. (You may want to remove the center from the tailstock to avoid bumping it with your elbow.)
2.Adjust tool support in front of the bowl just below centerline, at a right angle to the lathe ways.
3.Rotate workpiece by hand to check clearance.
4.Face off top of bowl by making a light shearing cut across the top of workpiece, from rim to center.
5.Place 1/2" bowl gouge on tool support at center of the workpiece with the flute facing top of bowl. The tool handle should be level and pointed toward the four o'clock position, as shown in Figure 31.
Figure 31
6.Use the left hand to control cutting edge of gouge, while right hand swings tool handle toward your body (Figure 31). The flute should start out facing top of workpiece, and rotate upward as it moves deeper into the bowl to maintain a clean even curve. As the tool goes deeper into the bowl, progressively work out toward the rim. It may be necessary to turn the tool support into the piece as you get deeper into the bowl.
(NOTE: Try to make one, very light continuous movement from the rim to the bottom of the bowl to ensure a clean, sweeping curve through the piece.
Should there be a few small ridges left, a light cut with a large domed scraper can even out the surface.)
7.Develop wall thickness at the rim and maintain it as you work deeper into the bowl (Once the piece is thin toward the bottom, you cannot make it thinner at the rim). When the interior is finished, move the tool support to exterior to
8.Work the tight area around faceplate or chuck with 1/4" bowl gouge.
9.Begin the separation with a parting tool, but do not cut all the way through yet.
10.7.3Sanding and Finishing
1.Remove the tool support and adjust lathe speed to approximately 500 RPM. Higher speeds can build friction while sanding and cause heat check in some woods.
2.Begin with fine sandpaper (120 grit) and progress through each grit, using only light pressure. Coarser sandpaper tends to leave deep scratches that are hard to eliminate. Use
3.Remove sanding dust with tack rags or compressed air and, with lathe turned off, apply first coat of finish. Let stand for several minutes, wipe off excess. Allow to dry before sanding again with 320 or 400 grit sandpaper.
4.Turn lathe back on and continue the separation cut almost all the way through the base. Stop at about 3" and use a small fine tooth saw to separate the bowl from the waste.
5.Apply second finish coat and allow to dry before buffing.
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