Prepare the Workspace
Choose the bowl blank that will be used. To start out, try a 3/8-inch slab. Place the wood on the center point, and compress it between the chuck jaws and tail stretch. Make sure that it's securely in place. Get the tools ready to go, and make sure that you have all the necessary safety gear on your person.
Get Started
Place the lathe or gouge at the tail stretch end. Using a pulling cut, start cutting away the excess wood. The bowl should be wider at the top and thinner towards the bottom, similar to an upside down pyramid.To use more strength, use an overhand push grip to work with the wood. Go slowly at first in order to carefully select the shape of the bowl. Also, have a way to gather the pieces of wood that come off from the bowl.
Form the Tenon
The tenon is located at the bottom of the bowl and acts as a stand to hold the bowl in place on a level surface. Make sure that the size and shape of the tenon fits securely in the chuck jaws.
Shape the Profile
At this point, you should have shaped the bowl roughly. Use a shear scraping method to remove any imperfections along the bowl. Try to make it as smooth as possible, and watch out for signs of torn grain.
Hollow It Out
With the exterior of the bowl completed, it's time to hollow out the inside of it. You should use a bevel cut and point the lathe in the direction of the cut. Push the tool towards the center of the bowl. Continue to hollow it out until it's close to your desired wall thickness.
Using these steps and the correct tools and methods, you can create a simple bowl. It might take a couple of practices with various bowl blanks in order to create the perfect bowl. During your practice, you can try different types of wood to find out which one works best for you and which ones you prefer. Then, get ready to create a whole set that you can add to your dining room service for your next get-together.