Rustic Birch Burl Bowl (22SF22)

This bowl was turned from a small old birch burl that came from the Hovland, Minnesota, area. Images of two burls on a log and the lower one on the lathe are shown. The lower burl was used for this bowl. The burl was about 7” in diameter and showed signs of worm and insect damage. It was obvious that a bowl would at best be rustic with worm holes and signs of decay, or possibly a piece that just falls apart. I love rustic bowls with holes and there is always a chance for some great burl figuring. The images above show a rustic bowl with worm holes, vibrant coloring, and some nice figuring. The burl part of the bowl is mostly on one side and all around the top. I am happy with this result and will soon turn the other small burl on this log. The bowl was stable during turning. The sanding was difficult due to all the holes which shredded a lot of expensive sanding disks. The bowl also has a complete live bark edge that caps off the interesting shape. The bowl was turned from dry wood using handheld tools on a lathe and sanded to 400 grit. I re-turned the bottom of the bowl to give a proper base. The bowl was sealed with two coats of tung oil, hand sanded after each coat, and finished with a buffed thin coat of beeswax and walnut oil. This finish is considered food safe, although the bowl is best suited for artistic display. This bowl shows where the burl formed from the normal grain of the log. It also shows the artistic results of worms and maybe even some ants carving up the wood. Fortunately, they left enough burl and wood for me to turn a bowl.

 

 

 

All my bowls are can be returned for a full refund if you are unsatisfied for any reason within 60 days. You must only pay the return shipping.

All of my bowls come with a laminated card with images of the bowl and burl, a complete description of the bowl and making process, and the artist's bio on the back side. There is no price on the card so it can be used if the bowl is given as a gift.