beginners woodturning How to turn your first bowl

Turning a wood bowl is a beautiful and rewarding woodworking project. The process involves selecting a piece of wood with an interesting grain pattern and turning it on a lathe to create a functional or decorative bowl. To turn a wood bowl, woodworkers must use a lathe and various chisels and gouges to shape the wood into the desired form. Sanding and finishing the bowl with a food-safe finish completes the project, resulting in a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece. These easy steps will have you turning your first bowl in no time.

I do interactive remote demos through Zoom for clubs and to the public. Visit my website to for more details and a schedule of upcoming pay per seat public demos.

There are risks involved with woodturning. My videos are only for entertainment purposes. If your not familiar with the turning techniques I use consult with an experienced instructor or mentor. Always use appropriate eye, face, and lung protection while woodturning.

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Some of the tools I use in my shop.

[bluebow]

Thank you sir for keeping it real..(simple)..Your vid was extremely helpful, , Greetings from the uk

[karenricotta]

Nice job Chris. I really appreciate you showing the pull cut and explaining how your fingers were pulling the gouge. I wouldn't have noticed what your did unless you pointed it out. That is helpful info.

[trevorchang]

Have you considered finishing the foot then the outside of the bowl before hollowing the bowl? I finish the outside, scrape, sand, and check the bowl thickness, then finish. To complete the inside of the foot you only need a jam chuck or cole jaws depending on the size of the bowl. Saves time.

[karma]

Just been given a lathe for my birthday. Great tutorial.

[mikedecker]

Just got a lathe and this is amazing. Thank you!

[robohippy]

One step I make sure to do with every single bowl when turning the inside, is to break or ease that outside rim edge. If you leave it square, it will slice your hands if you even get close to it. I did that once....

[mistergamerguy]

I've watched a lot of different channels with wood turning in them, and a vast majority of them either don't talk, or they have some awful music attached, and at times its a toss up of either the music, or the lathe sound overpowering the other. THIS video, I love how you explain each process and how/why you use it that way! Sub from me!

[macmckie]

Thanks.... many of the basics explained really well without the glitz, much appreciated !!

[mashmade-airth]

Brilliant video for a novice turner like myself

[patcummins]

Thank you! Very informative for someone starting out on first simple bowl!

[glong]

Well explained. Thank you for sharing

[adamcisneros]

Thank you for the information and showing all the details.

[markhilken]

Wow ! What a great video, clear and concise. Love the form of your bowl as well. So tired of seeing bowls with 1" thick sides. Your bowl is much finer.

[johnspevak]

Nice work, wish more turners would explain each step as you did, to many are just silent when showing a video

[jameyfark]

Thank you for sharing this nice video.

[judyl.]

Beginners need to see the recess you cut in the bottom and see you attach it to the chuck.

[zlvirag]

nice job, good explain..., thanks...

[Blah-blah-sure]

Great video, IMO for someone like myself. But question? In the many other videos I’ve watched. You didn’t go into any detail on how to place the bowel onto the tenon? Many have said not to bottom out the tenon to the jaws. What’s your understanding?

[stevecorry]

Nice video you make it look so easy. How many different tools did you use? This is where it gets confusing to me.

[OregonOldTimerWOODTURNING]

I listened twice at 2:00 to be sure you said 3/8 drill bit rather than 5/16. At 8:22, with tailstock removed, there is an obvious wobble, and at 9:00 you said that the piece had loosened on the screw. I doubt that would have happened if you pilot hole had been 5/16. That's all I ever use because that's all I've seen anyone else use, and if the wood is soft, maybe 9/32.
Curious as to why you used a 3/8.