Workshop trial produces stunning results

"Had a great day with Mark in his workshop making a beautiful wooden bowl. What I learnt is you need the right tools for the right job and Mark certainly has them. Keep the lathes turning!" Andy

A couple of months ago a friend after looking through the MJA-Wood website approached Mark Austin and asked if he could try his hand a woodturning. On Easter Monday the request came to fruition with a couple of eager woodturners about to see what could be achieved in a morning well this stunning natural edge bowl is the answer

After selecting a blank of spalted beech, with a natural hole through the timber approx 450mm in dia and 75mm deep (not a bad size and complexity for a first time out) from the stockpile we set to work securing the out of balance piece of timber. We set off with a slow speed and tailstock support to true the blank up and started to shape the base of the bowl.

The shape we settled for was a natural edge, low shallow dish with good curves as always with spalted timber what starts to appear through the turning process never ceases to amaze. We reversed the bowl and shaped the inside with a flat margin and shallow dish with a thick base depth to maintain a rustic feel. After an hour or two we had our shape and proceeded to sand through the grits to 800 and finished with Briwax only.

I think you'll agree the results are stunning if anyone else would like to try their hand at turning please contact Mark through the website and a lesson can be arranged.