Thread: Elm bowl from a cube

It is an interesting piece. Can not recall anyone making such a piece so it is new to me.

I've done a similar one in the past, but couldn't do the jam chuck

Very nicely done! This has been one of my favourite styles to turn bowls, since I saw Guilio Marcolongo(sp?) demo'ing at a club meet many years ago.

There's just something about the way they're not 100% "round" that appeals very strongly to me.


One of the variations I do avoids the need for a jam chuck altogether. When turning the inside I leave a slightly domed internal rim just below the lowest edge joining the points and hollow underneath this. Much like a hollow form with points on top, except I've found it looks best when the hole is around 1/3 the diameter of the whole internal rim. (Apologies for the poor description; a pic would be better and I have several examples of these underway in the shed... but the Gal has taken the camera to work with her. )

Anyways, I can - with care - mount it in the chuck in expansion mode using this rim/hole for careful cleanup of the outside of the vessel.


This design lends itself very nicely to small finialled lids, esp. when the lid curvature matches the 'dome' of the rim in a smooth line.

Thanks Skew, I've read your method a few times and while I think I can see what you're suggesting... I'd love to see some pics if you've got any examples

I can see the potential of a lidded box with finial on a stand for this as well. Looks like I've got some more playing to do with this form

G'day
You don't need to use a chuck to start turning a form like this. Just mount it with one point in the head stock spindle and the other end in the live centre with the point removed,then turn a tennon on the tail stock end then mount in your chuck and away you go.
Ted