This bowl was made from a butternut log.

The log is first cut along the grain using a chainsaw.

The larger section is placed in a sawing cradle.

Using chalk, I mark the largest diameter circle possible.

The piece is then rough cut into a circle using the chainsaw.

The roughed out bowl blank, ready to be mounted on the lathe.

This blank, still green, or wet, weighed 54 lbs.

A faceplate is screwed to the flat side of the blank.

The faceplate is then threaded onto the lathe spindle.

Another view.

The lathe’s tailstock is brought up to help support the blank.

The cutting begins.  This rough blank is obviously out of round,

so it is turned very slowly at first until it is running “true.”

Further shaping of the outside of the bowl.  A tenon is formed at the foot,

which will be used for holding the bowl later for hollowing.

Between work sessions, the bowl is covered with a plastic bag

to stop the release of its moisture.  If I let it air dry at this point,

it would surely crack at the end grain.

The outside of the bowl, further refined.

This is a four-jaw chuck, used to grab the tenon at the foot of the bowl.

Here, the bowl is held in the chuck.
The tailstock is brought up for support as the rim is defined.

The tailstock is now removed to allow access for hollowing.

A small pile of shavings.  J

These are returned to the earth in the woods.

The inside cut and sanded.

To finish the foot, the bowl is reverse chucked, or jam chucked, over a disk.

Note the tailstock for support and bubble wrap to protect the inside.

Another view of the jam chucked bowl.  This allows access to the foot,

except for the small stub where the tailstock is holding.

This is the stub where the tailstock was holding the bowl in place.

It is now chiseled off using a small carving tool, and the base is finish sanded.

Here is the finished bowl.  It was finished with a wiping varnish.