I didn't quite finish this afternoon, but will be done tomorrow evening for sure. The bowl was still round, but by the time I worked the walls down to a little under a 1/4", nature took over and it went a little out of round. Not so noticeable when stationary, but makes it fun to sand. Other than that, the wood actually has some nice color, chatoyancy and grain patterns. These will be brought out even more after a finish it applied.

Almost down to the final thickness, a little more came off while trying to make sure the walls did not have any bumps.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8...c4212smau9.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2...c4213smab4.jpg

A little sanding has been done, but you can still clearly see the tool marks and 40 grit sandpaper. The checks and splits were already in the wood, wood can be like geodes; you never know what you're going to get.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8...c4214smox8.jpg

Safety glasses should still be over my eyes, but at least I'm wearing them! The sawdust covers them and it's much easier to see the wood without them. I'm just going through all the different grits of sandpaper, usually starting with 60-80 and finishing with 320-400. Depends on the wood and tool marks.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5...c4216smpo3.jpg

Here it is tonight. I have to completely finish the inside before I can turn it around and finish the base. I still like to sand as much of the outside at this point as well. Pictures don't bring out the subtleties and character of the wood.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3...c4217smyh4.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6...c4218smxf2.jpg

I'm still debating on the finish to use...

Those look great slodave. I like this thread. Thanks for posting all of the pics. You are getting me interested in starting a new hobby.

Kewl, Dave! You be tunin' in on da Zen thing! I kin tell! :D

Dave, those are some beautiful pieces. Real artistry. You sell them right? If not, you ought to. Send some pieces to Berkeley Bowl grocery or some of the retail nurseries in Monterey or Carmel. Those things would go for $250-$450 in the right store. Shoot, I'd buy one for the bookcase.

Thanks kycarguy 935, DARISC, rusnak!

Rusnak, no I don't actively sell them. I was going give it a try a number of years ago, but found it was a bit difficult for me to do. I've also had a hard time parting with them! We'll see, I need to make more, I have the time, just have to put in the effort.

You can make a deal with the retailer. If it doesn't sell, you will take it back in a month, and send a different one. The customers will learn that he or she better move quick or it will be gone. They'll come back to see what new stuff has arrived. There are some stores in Morro Bay such as Fiona Bleu, or Seven Sisters art gallery that could move them. You also can make a wooden neckline model for displaying hand made jewelry such as necklaces or stands for earings. I think crystal, shells, or lapis would look stunning against the darker pieces.

Alright, finished, well, I am going to take it to the buffing wheel tomorrow and get rid of the lines left buy the cotton rag I used to apply the French polish - Oh yeah, I decided on French polish.

Time to take it off and turn the bowl around. Inside was finished and about half of the outside was finished as well at this point. Time to switch to something that can hold the large opening of the bowl. The black things are rubber grips. You can either clamp down or expand.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2...c4220smbq2.jpg

Back on the lathe, you can see how the bowl is being held. Once again, make sure to start spinning the bowl slowly. Not fun to have it spinning at 200RPM's and the bowl flies off!
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1...c4221smgn5.jpg

The foot of the bowl unfinished. At this point even if the bowl is slightly out of round, which mine is, you can still finish the bottom without anyone noticing.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6...c4222smus0.jpg

The foot is finished at last. Same deal with sanding, starting at 60 grit, finishing with 400.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8...c4223smow1.jpg
The French polish blends right into the finished portion.

The finished piece (without going to the buffing wheel). I'll take another picture during the day tomorrow.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8...c4224smwe7.jpg

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5...c4226smfw4.jpg

Thanks for looking! Time to start searching through the wood storage for the next blank. Smilewavy

I have to believe there are more on this board interested in woodworking. Come on! Who else has a shop they want to share?

It be dat damn Zen thing!

I know. They are labors of love. An ineffable part of your essential being infuses their every fiber.

Dat damn Zen thing!

How much for one about 8" x 6"h? :D

you mean 9" x 16" 5-spoke right?

You know... It could almost be done. A router would have to be used and some regular 'ol hand tools as well, but even the lug nut recesses could be done on a lathe.

Alright, now I'm really done. I took the bowl to the buffing wheel, bottoms been signed and now it's ready for display.

A little out of focus, but still makes sense. The wheels are soft cotton and have different abrasives that you put on them to really cut and polish.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7...c4233smld2.jpg

What started out as a 17 pound block of wood, now is about 1 3/4 of a pound.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/8...c4234smad3.jpg

The wood pile. Wood from around L.A., covered with a wax paste, so that the wood does not dry out too fast and become firewood.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/43/dsc4231smjw3.jpg

One still has to see these things in person to really get an idea of the color, chatoyance and feel.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/9...c4229smvp7.jpg

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/9...c4228smdp6.jpg

Dave

I'll bet the chatoyance is great!
HA! Learned me a new word - thanks! :D

Yes, it is...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1226725818.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1226726133.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1226725855.jpg

I forgot to take a picture of the item that triggered the saw stop. It as an "Incra Miter Gauge".

Was that a state school in CA? My professor and I wanted to start a construction managment program which we didn't have in our technology branch of the school at the time. It never worked out for any of us. That did n't stop me, and I bacome a cabinet maker then general contractor after college.

Nice shop BTW.

Yes, Cuesta - hence the 'slo'. I had an interesting college experience 4 yr., 2yr...

Thank you, I will pass on the nice words to my dad.

beautiful work. I've built a couple boats in my kitchen and repaired a couple harleys in my living room. does that count as a workshop? I have a 35 x 70 or so shop I used to build cabinets and things when I was doing carpentry for boat companies around town. over the years it started filling up with stuff until there's just a little trail from back to front to get thru. it's filled to the ceiling now with everything from airplane parts to volkswagon engines now. anything and everything you could imagine. as is the building in back, driveway, back yard, shed behind my house, driveway, backyard, front yard, etc. you name it and I've probably got it somewhere. it used to be a nice workshop with plenty of room for working on projects, now it's storage for projects I haven't got the room or time to work on. I seem to have inherited the genetic disease on my father's side of packratism. clearing out stuff you don't need or use only makes room to store new junk you don't need or use. I had a nice workshop at one time.. with plenty of space for tablesaws, worktables and tools. they're still in there somewhere.

Dave,
Very nice work!
My shop is not yet complete and most of my woodworking tools are for renovation purposes.
Your dad has a very nice set up. Nice to have access to that, isn't it?