turning a live edge bowl

Step 1: Cut your wood (I do this with a chainsaw but I have heard of people doing this with a bandsaw). To do this first cut your log lengthwise down the middle (if possible try to go through the pith). Once you have that cut trace a circle on your log approximately the size you want your finished bowl to be. Next, you cut an octagon-like shape around the circle you drew.

Step 3: Turn this piece round. To have the best chance at keeping the bark on your bowl, move from left to right. That way you are not pushing into the bark.

Step 4: Next I turn a tenon and a foot on the bottom of my bowl. I like to have the foot on as a backup. The foot gives more material to work with, in the event that you go too deep when hollowing out the inside.

Step 5: Next turn your bowl around and put it in your chuck. Note, I like to leave the tailstock in at this step for extra support. Then turn the final shape you want for your bowl.

Step 7: Sometimes when turning the bark will come off. Luckily not all is lost, you can just remove the rest of the bark and have a bark-less live edge. Some woodturners prefer to remove the bark before turning.

Step 8: I peeled the rest of the bark off and then proceeded to do my final cuts on the inside of the bowl. I do tend to leave a little wider side on my live edge bowls so that you are able to see more of the bark (when it stays on).

Step 9: Next turn your bowl around and put it into a jam chuck. This is a piece of wood that I turned to the inside diameter of my average bowl and covered it with foam rubber.