umpire vest? first turning...

Pine requires a SHARP blade, but it makes pretty bowls if you make them out of the crotches.

Adzes work real nicely, but there is a learning curve. Before you get it sharp, put some chalk or mud on the outside suface of the blade. Practice swinging the blade along the top of a log so that you are scuffing off the chalk/mud/whatever in a consistent manner. Keep practicing until you are scuffing the same area all the time, then change the area you are scuffing until it is the are right at the sharpenable edge of the adze. The important thing is to be consistent in your swing. When you are consistent, sharpen the edge and start doing it for real.

Triangular or square isn't the point here. Ideally it would be round. The idea is to knock off the parts that stick out since they'll keep you have getting the toolrest in where it needs to be and they'll keep the center of balance from being near the apparent center of the wood.

A 3-4" branch cut into 3-4" lengthes and then flattened on one side so that you can attach a faceplate to it will give you a piece of wood 3-4" in diameter and 2-3" deep. Not huge as bowls go, but much safer than one that is while you're learning.

I'll draw out the sequence, scan it in and send it to off line. Don't give up, Dave in Fairfax

I just posted a full sheet sequence on turning a log into a bowl blank ready to turn. It's over on ABPW, labelled: Basic log prep for beginning turners

If anyone wants the hi-res version, e-mail me and I'll send it to them. I ain't an artist folks, caveat voyeur. Dave in Fairfax