Thread: Red Mallee Burl

Looks good.
Did you carve it with chisels or an arbortech?

Looks great your friend will be very pleased.
now come on Pat,a little bit of information please.
how big,what tools ,what finish and how did you hold the peice.
Well done.
Regards
Terry

Bob/Terry, I initially attempted to carve it with chisels, but with it being very hard and my impatience, I got out the arbortech to carve out the bowl. My Dwalt grinder died a couple of weeks ago for the third time, so MBGitW gave her blessing to get a new one - Makita 9553nbk. Instead of sanding, I used my goose neck cabinet scrapers (Veritas .6mm and .4mm), which impressed me greatly - the quality of the finish and not having to wear the ppe.

The finish of the inside of the bowl is a couple of coats of olive oil and a few coats of Ubeaut's Traditional wax (Shameless plug for our BB sponsors!). The shell has one coat of Arbortech's Arbor Oil.

The burl is approx 200 long x 100 wide x 35-40 deep. It has a fairly thick lip as the red colouring was in the center only.

I purchased the burl from Brad's Burls sometime ago for $14. Hopefully this is enough detail, as I am suffering from blurring of the brain . . . too much of a good drink last night!

Excellent work Pat,And a Nice looking burl as well

Beautiful Burl Bowl!

Cheers
RR

Hi Pat,
I am a new user of the woodwork forum. I am also a fairly new user of the abortech grinder - I purchased a mini grinder at the Wordworking Show in July and the Industrial Pro just recently. I have been churning out a few bowls and would love any advice/feedback. I have been making similar bowls to the one in your photo. I have been using Coollabah and Red Mallee Burls. I recently found out a method to remove the bark from the Burl by soaking it first in water and then blasting the remainder off with a water blaster (Karcher). These are the kind of tips I am searching for. I would also be interested in tips on sanding, finishing etc. My lastest bowl is finished in Tung Oil and it gives it a really lovely finish. I will endeavour to put some photos on the forum sometime in the near future. Signing Off. Kath.

Kath, welcome to poor end of town, us carver's are a vocal minority As with bark removal, it depends on if the burl is wet or dry. A wire brush and careful use of a knife removes most bark, with the stubbon sections attacked with a brush cup on the grinder with very light hands. You can purchase sandblasted ones from Brad's Burls at Peakhurst.

As described above, I experimented with scraping the bowl with goose neck cabinet scrapers, from which I can assume is the dark version of using a scraper when turning a bowl?

Please post some photo's as I am still mucking around with methods/finishes etc.

Most of all have fun!

Here is my latest bowl - Red Mallee burl carved with arbortech and finished with tung oil

very nice work Backpack.
These hand crafter bowls look very good indeed,will have to try one for myself.
I do not own a superjaws so will have to think of another way.
well done
regards Terry

Terry,

Just wondering what kind of woodworking do you do? I am always keen for advice on sanding/finishing etc.

Kath.

Terry, I too am superjawless, so I make do with sandbags and/or the non slip matting. Both allow 360 degree access and limited movement, but I conceed the superjaws would be better.

Another tool on the list!

Hi kath and Pat
My hobby is woodcarving.Be it in the round or releif carving.Sanding and finishing is a box all of its own.When you sand a carving you find many curved surfaces and tight places that need sanding.I have found that tooth brushes are good.You can cut off the bristles and shape the end to any contour you need and then glue whichever grade sandpaper you require to the new shaped end of the brush. It gives something hard to push against and is easy on the fingers.

Pat,I am the same as you.I also use sand bags and non slip mats but I also use a home made devise which incorporates tow ball that is used on a car .It is great to hold your carving peice and any one how can weld can make one for you.
I will post a picture.
regards Terry

That's not a burl...

Kath and Pat

I too am superjawless but I had a mate "copy" the principal. If u get the time have a look at my web page for pictures of not only the jig but some of my pieces.

Ps nice work keep it up