Turning Process for Natural Edge Bowls

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Hi Guys, I just turned my first natural edge bowl tonight. When doing natural edge bpwls, do you normally use the same process as any other bowl ... ie. rough them out while green, let them dry, then put them back on the lathe to finish?

Or do you typically/sometimes turn them with thin walls and finish them green, then just let them warp a bit into the final shape? If this is a common method and you remove the tenon while the bowl is green so that it's essentially finished, what do you do for sanding? I typically sand while the bowl is on the lathe, but I guess this would not be possible while it's green and wet?

Thanks ... lots of questions I guess.
 
Most of the time I finish them thin walled, sand and put my finish on immediately when taken off the lathe. I mostly use Minwax Antique Oil and most bowls very seldom warp if I soak it right away.
 
And I'm the opposite. I think all but one of my NE bowls have been turned twice -- once while wet and again after drying.

Both methods obviously work...I'd say try both and see what you prefer.
 
I turn green, finish on the lateh and let nature take it's course. Occasionally one splits, depends on the wood, but as often as not they are OK. I am lazy and really can't get ibnto turning twice or soaking etc then finishing.:D

Pete
 
Both methods will work. I do alot of natural edge bowls out of mesquite because its what my gardner has given me lately.
The way i do it is i finish turn it on the lathe, sand to 220 on the lathe, Then, alot of times i will wet sand with oil to 400 or more, or sometimes i dont because 220 is fine if im going to build up a film finish.
Then I remove the tennon, and sand flat the bottom, then like Bernie said soak well with oil (I use Antique Oil, BLO, or i have a 5gal pale with Oil/varnish/mineral spirts in it and let soak for longer periods). I do not always use the same method for applying oil though and try out different ways of finishing pc's. However, with the oiling that others have mentioned i have not lost many to any checking/cracking from drying. If i have a pc of large size or i think its to hot out etc - I soak well and brown bag it and set it to the side for a couple weeks or so inside the house. I am in So Calif and the summer temps are very high.
Then ill sand the bottom again if necessary to flat. sand the turning by hand a bit more - then finish it the way I want.....Varnish-Laquer etc . This is another area that i do not always finish my stuff the same way and like to experiment with different ways to finish but thats me....others will finish the exact same way all the time.
Opinion - I finish turn and let them warp if there going to - alot of times with a good oil soaking they keep their shape well for the most part but it also depends on the wood, climate etc......but having a round bowl all the time is boring to me........Its a area where you can really experiment and see what works best for you.....i mix it up.....LOL .....hope it helps ....Dan
 
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Thanks for all the different opinions guys. It looks like I'll have to try both ways! I'm surprised to hear that people sand wet bowls on the lathe, but it sounds like fun!

I'm looking forward to trying the entire process at once on the lathe!
 
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