Few questions from a beginner

Hello Few months ago I asked you for an advice on a lathe I was building. It's kind of finished (I'm not showing you pictures of it because it's still a bit messy), but now I have some questions on turning. I have only 0.5 inch gouge

formatting link

and 2 skew chisels made by my local smith. So far I made only 3 bowls. First one cracked wide open. OK. Next two are kind of alive so far. You can see them on my page -

formatting link

They both have small cracks because wood I used was already cracked. First one is made of acacia (I think you call it that), 160mm diameter, the other is walnut, 110mm diameter. My questions: I turned them a bit to thin, 10mm. Now they are a bit warped. Can I finish turning them even if they are warped? Do I shape bottom of a bowl with a gouge or with a chisel? I mean before inserting it in chuck. You can see that I used CA glue to fill the cracks - will I have to use it again if I finish turning them? You'll probably say why bother. But they are my first bowls, so I want to keep them :)

Bojan

That all depends. if the warp is less than 10mm, you could try to make them round again. But if the warp is too much you'd go through the side. The pictures don't make them look too thin for starters. And since they have cracks in them, they will never be perfect specimens of the turning art. I'd leave them warped, makes them more interesting. And depending on the age of the wood (now) they could move even more.

Save the bottom (outside) of the bowl for later, after you finish the inside. then either use a Cole Jaw chuck, or make a jamb chuck. Then finish turn the bottom with only a live-center to interfere with your work. Then what ever tool is most comfortable - me, I'd use my 1/2" bowl gouge.

If the CA glue hasn't filled the crack and you open a void again, yes.

By all means keep them. If they are not perfect they will become samples of where you started, and you will see improvements in the next turnings you do. If you make them Perfect then the only way to go is down. Think of the "Fastest Gun In The West", he can't improve 'cause he is the best.