Rounding the Rim

by Phil Colson
Woodturner

When you rough turn a bowl, do you worry about it cracking while drying? Well there is good news. I have been turning rough turned bowls for years with little or no cracking in the drying process.

Years ago I was watching Chris Ramsey turn a cowboy hat when he said, "Remember to round the outside of the rim or it will crack." It was one of those 'aha' moments. If I round over the rim on the bowl all of the surface fiber will be exposed equally. No sharp edge to initiate the drying and cracking before the fiber around it starts to dry. I have about a 98 percent success rate.

Round over the rim.

I even round over the bottom edge of the tenon I use to hold the bowl.

It works for me.

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Phil can be reached directly via email at woodturnerphil@gmail.com .


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