Here’s a quick video showing the steps to shaping a bowl from a log. This section of log was from an American Beech tree.

You’ll notice the completed bowl has very thick walls – this is called “rough-turning”. Because the bowl is turned while the wood is still “wet” or green, the walls are intentionally left thick to allow for distortion while drying. (They typically warp into an oval as they dry.)

The rough-turned bowl will be set aside and allowed to dry for up to a year. Once completely dry and stable, it will be remounted on the lathe and turned down to it’s final shape and thickness.