BOWLS

[orangeman]

Has anyone made bowls with a scroll saw?

If so, what tools do you use for sanding?

And what are your favorite woods?

bb

[MrsN]

I have made bowls, but I prefer baskets.

When making bowls it is really helpful to glue up the layers and sand as you go. Always leave the bottom off until the inside is done. 

I used a dremel and a spindle sander for sanding mine.

[scrollerpete]

I made over 15 bowls with the scroll saw, I used all kind of woods, cherry, walnut, oak,maple and even Purple Heart. As far as sanders I used all kinds, round pneumatic to shape the inside also belt sander for outside and small discs sanders. You should get a book from Carole Rothman she is the expert on bowls making on a scroll saw.

[meflick]

Hi Brian, I confess - I tried once but I wasn't very successful at the time and I walked away from it.   Patience is not one of my virtues and i think I was too early in my "learning" process with the saw.  I will try again - just haven't gotten there yet. I was interested in doing them after seeing Carole Rothman's work doing so.  My husband told me it was easier to "turn" one on the lathe.  But Carole's way you use less wood perhaps.

However, what I wanted to point out to you that the preeminent expert on making bowls with the scroll saw may be Carole Rothman.   She has a book on doing so that have been published by Fox Chapel Publishing. It's called "Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw". It can be found at Fox Chapel or at Amazon.  Slightly cheaper by pennies on Amazon right now, but if you are Amazon prime, would be free shipping. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565234332/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0 or Fox Chapel's site: https://foxchapelpublishing.com/wooden-bowls-from-the-scroll-saw.html

She also has her own blog here: http://scrollsawbowls.blogspot.com she doesn't do a post all the time but it does have a lot of good information on it. 

She also has a Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/scrollergirl/videos

She had a recent article in Woodworking Journal on creating a "sphere" ornament with a scroll saw - similar to doing bowls: http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/project-holiday-spheres/

An Article on her from SSWC: http://scrollsawer.com/2015/12/23/teacher-feature-five-questions-for-carole-rothman/

a 4 or 5 part set of videos of her sanding a scroll saw bowl at SSWC''s website: http://scrollsawer.com/2015/12/23/teacher-feature-five-questions-for-carole-rothman/

a search of SSWC's article Index for "Carole Rothman" gives I believe 29 articles - several of which are on doing bowls with the scroll saw: http://scrollsawer.com/article-index/

 

[tgiro]

Here is Carole Rothman's youtube videos on scroll saw bowls. She is queen of the walk in that media.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=carole+rothman+scroll+saw

 

[Bill WIlson]

I've made several of the bowls from Carole Rothman's book.  In fact, I just finished 6 footed candy dishes, from her Wooden Bowls book, to give as Christmas presents.  I use every sander at my disposal.  My main sanding tool is a Rigid oscillating spindle/belt sander.  I also use a drum sander mounted in my drill press as well as the sanding attachment on an oscillating multi-tool.  After that, a lot of hand sanding.

I love Carole's designs.  She is indeed the master and her videos are well worth watching, if you are considering making any of these bowls.  To go along with her considerable talent and creativity, she is also an excellent teacher.

The one draw back to Carole's designs, in my humble opinion , is that they require so much sanding.  Her more innovative and complex bowl shapes really require something akin to the specialized sanding system she uses in her shop to accomplish the shaping in any sort of efficient manner.  I've not tried some of them because of that reason.  The belt, spindle and drum sanders I own are better suited for sanding on a flat plane.  Sanding complex contours with them, doesn't work very well.  I've actually considered getting a Guinevere sanding system in order to facilitate making some of the more creative bowls in Carole's book, but have not yet done so.  Do not be deterred though.  She has several designs that can be effectively sanded with more common workshop tools, so I encourage you to give it a try.

Good luck and have fun making sawdust!

[barb.j.enders]

I have made three of the same beginner bowls from Carol's book.  Didn't get the drill points sanded out completely, but they are for my own use, so I wasn't to worried.  Used a spindle sander and my belt sander on them.  I did buy a rounded sanding attachment for the drill press, but wasn't very impressed with it. I think that is more user error than anything!!  I have decided that I just don't like cutting bowls lol.  However, never say never.  Might go back and try some more.  I do love the look of them!!!