Crack Bowl.

[artful bodger]

Some time ago I posted about this (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/5-pounds-crack-ruined-day-222307) bowl and how it had cracked while turning it.
Had been keeping an eye on it since and noticed that the crack after opening up had to a large extent moved back together, nearly.
The weight had stabilised at 2035 grams and it seemed to be dry enough to try and salvage.
Filled the remaining gap with epoxy then used scrapers to clean up the inside of the bowl and a sharp chisel to clean up the outside where the crack did not align properly.
Then hand sanded to a finish-able surface, except on the rim where there had been lumpy shrinkage due to the drying that appealed to me.
Finally gave the bowl 3 coats of Wattyl Stylwood spray lacquer (single pac) 30% gloss.
Knowing my main local gallery would not touch this bowl with a 10 metre barge pole (they wont have a bowl in their shop with the slightest of cracks in it, no matter what has been done to address it), I am happy to keep it. I like the un-even, wonky look of it. Anyway here are a few finished pictures. Thanks for looking.
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[Nubsnstubs]

That's my kind of bowl, AB. It gives a wrinkled look of leather if you get the right kind of shrinkage, like you show in the close up on the rim in one of the pictures. ......... I love it.

What I do when a crack appears while roughing my piece, and it's still over 1/2" thick, I'll drill a 3/8" hole across the crack, insert a dowel using whatever glue I think would be best. When the glue is cured/dried, then back onto the lathe to complete the piece. It adds a feature, plus adds some sense of security knowing the piece won't come apart as easily if you didn't do anything to secure the crack. .......... Jerry (in Tucson)USA

[Paul39]

Artful,

Very nice. It definitely is a keeper. My crafts shop is not as picky as yours, very often unusual bowls with holes, repaired cracks, unusual figure, will sell quicker than more "perfect" ones.

[tony_A]

I like the uneven, wonky look as well AB, good save. I still find it interesting playing around with the odd piece like this to see how it will turn out.
Guess it's a case of personal preference but I don't like the tenon left on the base. When I turn a bowl my last job with the chisels is to reverse the piece and using a jam chuck or bowl jaws for holding, round off the tenon so the lines flow with the sides of the bowl. I think it adds to the mystique of our craft when all traces of "work holding" are removed. I get a bit of a kick when people pick up a turned item, look at it, and say " how did you turn that'.

Tony

[dr4g0nfly]

It's part of the bowls story, leave it alone.

[Christos]

Nice look to the bowl as it has come up a treat.

[bruceward51]

My wife much prefers this type of bowl with a bit of character. I am now turning more bowls to finished state and letting them warp as they dry.
Bruce


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