A few ???'s about a burl bowl

[h0tr0d18]

Hey guys! I am brand new here and this is my first post. I was wondering what you guys have used for filling cracking on bowls. What I have is a Cedar burl?? maybe something else not sure (I'm a welder LOL) I have rough cut the burl out and I am at the point where I am starting the sanding phase. Before I go ahead and oil or varathane the bowl I want to make sure the tiny cracks are filled, or should I worry about it? I am going to attach some pics to show you what I am talking about. This is my first carving so please don't give me to hard of a time hahaha. Also I have heard tung oil would likely be a good finish for this bowl, what do you guys think? Forgive the quality of the pics, I took them with my web cam :s You can see the cracks in the third pic

[Dan S]

I would try the tung oil myself. I would think the woood would swell with the oild and the cracks should vanish. It will take a lot more work than the polyurethane though.
Dan
Ps. Nice work!

[h0tr0d18]

Thanks alot!! I just started it tonight and I am pretty excited to get it done. It has been sitting in my wood shed for 2 years LOL. At least it was out of the rain and snow. I will be sure to post more pics up along with my progress. I have 2 more burls in the shed, this one is for learning. I love it already Smile

[Nozdive@sbcglobal.net]

Looks like a beauty to me. I wouldn't worry about little cracks. All of us get them as we age, but we hold together. You'll notice change in shade of wood as it ages too. Maybe Danish Oil, or just a wax would enhance it. Love it as it came. Nozdive

[Alice in Wonderland]

It looks beautiful and it should turn out nice,
I have had good luck with :sanding with some lubricant (B.L.O )and pushing the slush into the cracks wiping off the rest until you are satisfied ,let the oil cure(no smell) and put Deft on.
I envy you having such a beautiful piece of wood and as I can see it will fit perfectly with your modern teak surounding.
Alice

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Take some of the fine dust from sanding the piece and mix it with either yellow wood glue, epoxy, or CA glue these will fill them in and also be hard to notice. I would do what Alice suggested about the BLO and then sand it into the cracks, If your planning to use this for food your going to want to reconsider all the finishes unless you get food safe BLO otherwise there are quite a few food safe finishes to be found at wood turning stores. I use beeswax for my bowls and food utensils, it's simply to use really looks great and has little if no maintenance required. I hope this information helps, one placer that has food safe finishes.
Food Safe Finishes - Woodturners Catalog - Woodworking tools and supplies specializing in woodturning.
Carl

[submarinersg]

h0try0d18,
That is a pretty cool bowl, burl has always amazed me. It is very cool to look at, but not always fun to work with because of the wild grain issues! I really like the natural edge, and the side profile, not to deep, just right! Keep up the great work!

To fill cracks, or to fill gaps, epoxy is the way to go. There are a few viscous CA glues that will gap fill as well, but epoxy really is best. A slow curing epoxy will give you a little longer working time. Also when you mix the epoxy, fold it together, rather than stir it like crazy, you will make a lot less air bubbles. If you do have bubbles, use a fine sewing needle to pop the big ones, and as many others as you can before the epoxy cures Use some blue painters tape around the area that you are going to fill, you will have less spillage and less sanding later.
For your finish, try General Finish Salad bowl Finish. Check out The Wood Whisperer Woodworking Video Podcast, Blog, and Forum and look for the cutting board videos (video#7 part 1&2.. titled " A Cut Above") Marc covers a few food safe finishes there.
Keep us posted on your adventures!
Scott

[Alice in Wonderland]

Scott I am interested in your Underwater carving?? how and what do you carve there??I it sounds incredible,I used to Scuba Dive and I can not imagine how you go about it?
The advise to tape the edges when using the C.A glues is the best you can give ,I did not know that and the work after to get the runoffs clean, forever:-(((
Alice

[Alice in Wonderland]

Scott ,here is a goofy one for you that's "Alice" forgive my ignorance thinking of underwater carving:-(((( I am sure you had a good laugh about that.I hope you did.
Alice

[Bill]

My advice is don't put anything on it except to finish it, I wouldn't even try
to fill the cracks, its wood and it does crack...........
Enjoy the the beauty of the wood once you put filler it you will alway see it
no matter what.......
IMHO
Bill