From Tree to Bowl Demonstration

These series of videos will show how I take a standing Maple tree through the process of creating a handmade bowl. Other than the chainsaw used to fell the tree, no other machinery is used in the process. I use only traditional hand tools such as an adze, drawknife, spokeshave, carving ax and various gouges. At times the videos are instructional, but mostly they are demonstrations. If you have any questions, please email me at gene@gfelder.com . Hope you enjoy!

Videos

From Tree to Bowl Demonstration

Intro…Into the woods,
where it all begins.

Bark removal and bottom ax and plane work. In this episode I prepare the blank to be able to layout the bowl design. Here I work on flattening the bottom of the bowl using a carving ax and hand plane.

Determining the top of the bowl curve. In this segment I will show how I determine the overall curve of the top of the bowl. After that I will begin shaping the top.

Using drawknife to shape the bowl. This is the last step before I layout the bowl pattern on the blank. I use the draw knife and carving horse to obtain the top curve of the bowl.

Bowl design layout 1. Here I begin to decide and draw the bowl layout. With good blank preparation, it's easier for the design to come out balanced.

Bowl design layout 2. Here I begin to decide and draw the bowl layout. With good blank preparation, it's easier for the design to come out balanced.

Hollowing out the bowl. Now that the bowl design is laid out, it’s time to hollow it out. I use a traditional Adze and gouge.

Bottom Layout. It’s here that we determine the size and design of the bottom.

Bottom Shaping. During this video, I use a Carving Ax a Drawknife and an Adze, to hew away much of the bottom of the bowl to obtain the final shape.

Shaping Bowl Handles with Ax and Gouge. It’s here where the handles are carved out and begin to take shape.

Shaping the Bowl Bottom. In this video I use a convex spokeshave along with various gouges to further shape and smooth out the bottom of the bowl.

Final Shaping. Back to the Carving Horse, where I put the last touches on the bowl before I set it aside to dry.

From Tree to Bowl Demonstration

Intro…Into the woods, where it all begins.

Bark removal and bottom ax and plane work. In this episode I prepare the blank to be able to layout the bowl design. Here I work on flattening the bottom of the bowl using a carving ax and hand plane.

Determining the top of the bowl curve. In this segment I will show how I determine the overall curve of the top of the bowl. After that I will begin shaping the top.

Using drawknife to shape the bowl. This is the last step before I layout the bowl pattern on the blank. I use the draw knife and carving horse to obtain the top curve of the bowl.

Bowl design layout 1. Here I begin to decide and draw the bowl layout. With good blank preparation, it's easier for the design to come out balanced.

Bowl design layout 2. Here I begin to decide and draw the bowl layout. With good blank preparation, it's easier for the design to come out balanced.

Hollowing out the bowl. Now that the bowl design is laid out, it’s time to hollow it out. I use a traditional Adze and gouge.

Bottom Layout. It’s here that we determine the size and design of the bottom.

Bottom Shaping. During this video, I use a Carving Ax a Drawknife and an Adze, to hew away much of the bottom of the bowl to obtain the final shape.

Shaping Bowl Handles with Ax and Gouge. It’s here where the handles are carved out and begin to take shape.

Shaping the Bowl Bottom. In this video I use a convex spokeshave along with various gouges to further shape and smooth out the bottom of the bowl.

Final Shaping. Back to the Carving Horse, where I put the last touches on the bowl before I set it aside to dry.

Intro…Into the woods,
where it all begins.