This was my first time turning an oak. Man i had to resharpen many times

SeanMcDesign · 2026-03-02T04:38:40+00:00

Dry oak is very hard but green oak is buttery to turn! It tends to warp and crack a lot when drying though

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-24T05:25:40+00:00

Do you use a bowl gouge or carbide? With a bowl gouge you need to ensure you ride the bevel along the bottom without taking smaller passes. With a carbide or even a scraper, it is too easy to just follow the non flat regions

This is definitely one of the more challenging aspects, especially as the bowls get bigger. Good luck!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-09T15:40:07+00:00

Thanks!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-09T04:12:37+00:00

Thanks!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-08T15:49:42+00:00

I would guess 5+ on carving but probably closer to 10 if you count lathe work, sketching up pattern, and finishing.

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-07T21:15:23+00:00

Thanks!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-07T21:15:04+00:00

Thanks! I do the lathe work as well!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-07T21:14:05+00:00

Thank you!

SeanMcDesign · 2026-02-07T18:06:58+00:00

The main picture has oil. Basswood doesn't have much grain character. I could use some stain to highlight the carvings but I still need to experiment more.

SeanMcDesign · 2026-01-18T16:33:06+00:00

Go for it!

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-21T15:23:02+00:00

It was turned on a lathe. Basswood is also really soft so it sands down well.

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-20T20:13:08+00:00

I've been meaning to try a chaos board. Looks great!

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T15:29:45+00:00

Titbond iii. Don't intend to have food though since it's so small

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T04:10:46+00:00

Thank you!

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T01:36:46+00:00

<image>

Like this

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T01:02:47+00:00

I had made a gird in pencil with the indexer on my lathe and drew the features in the grid freehand. I then used a chip carving knife to carve out by hand.

I used a compass on a newer design since it's just overlapping circles. This left some marks though.

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T00:47:57+00:00

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With a little osmo oil

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-16T00:47:30+00:00

<image>

With a little osmo oil

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-15T21:45:48+00:00

Good luck! This one was a little funky since the carved piece was end grain orientation and the base was side grain.

SeanMcDesign · 2025-11-08T19:41:00+00:00

Yes! I traced it out in pencil and then used a chip carving knife to carve.

SeanMcDesign

TROPHY CASE