Can You Turn a Bowl From Fir? Yes, yes you can!
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- I was curious to see what a bowl from fir would look like. This is just common firewood but could be construction grade lumber. In this case, I made a natural edge bowl and it turned out just OK.
Facebook Page: / phils-woodshop-1470648...
It's like you said there is a natural beauty in all the pieces you work on. Some more than others. You did a amazing job bring out the beauty in such a plain piece. Great job. Keep the shavings flying.
Thanks so much, Dean! 😊
Never would have thought something so plain could turn out so nice!
With all the downed fir trees this winter there should be a lot of fir available for turning experience. Good use for getting turning practice. Thanks for showing what to expect.
Good call! 😊
Not sure how you, or woodturning for that matter, came to me in my UA-cam feed, but I feel blessed. You seem like a good man Phil. And Shady Acres sounds like a wonderful place; shaded by the firs. God bless you sir.
Wow, thank you, Socko, I'm glad you're here with us!
I like this bowl quite a lot. It has a charm and it’s a nice size. The edge looks good. I always love the discussion it’s always interesting!
Cool, thank you! 😊
I think that bowl is magnificent.......Love the shape love the grain and love the finish.........I would display that proudly........ Good Job!
Thank you, Holly-Anne! Your words provided me with a pick-me-up this morning! :)
I am not a turner but I do know wood....I was in construction for the last 35 years( retired) Fir is use as fir downs because its cheap and soft......but you "turned" it into an object of beauty....... It should be very easy to sell or something to keep for your enjoyment !
Holly-Anne - _”...would display...”..._ wood display 😉
You may think it's simple but I think it's pretty. Good job !
Very pretty bowl! Inside is really nice! Looks great ❤️ Natural!
Thank you, Diane! 😊
I really appreciate that you identify your lathe speed and tool you are using. I am quite new to turning and this info helps me a lot. I also think the bowl is really very pretty. I love the look of fir and the grain really stands out. I wish I had access to lots of free wood, including fir.
Thank you, Carol, for watching and commenting, very much apprecited! I'll probably try fir again, as it's sooo plentiful around here. I search Craigslist every day for free wood. Now, that's what I do, not that I have ever been successful at it, but I keep trying! If you have friends that have firewood you might ask if you can sort through their pile. Much luck with learning to turn. It took me about two years of watching videos and practicing what I had seen to become what I consider an average turner. I think it is a years long endeavor. Best wishes, Phil
Bowl looks fine to me.i am still learning and any finished piece is a good one to me. I enjoy your channel and watch it often. 😁
Awesome, thank you, Eddie! 😊
It's very NICE? The Wood looks nice!❤️
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Phil, that is a very nice bowl! I like it!
Thanks 👍
Beauty is in the 👁 of the beholder & my eye likes it. Gives off a rustic, log cabiny vibe.
Thank you very much, Johnnie! I agree, rustic it is.
Phil
Hi Phil; I like the finished product, it looks great. I like to turn fir. Fir can be turned to a very thin overall bowl. It's cheap, it has a nice grain and it holds it finished shape. I think you did a fantastic job.
Cool, thanks, Dan! 😊
UA-cam graciously put this video on for me and I must say that this is very unusual for you. My brother just brought over a truckload of oak today and I saved out several pieces that I wish I could ship to you but it would cost a small fortune. We do have some pine around here but I haven't gotten hold of any yet. Love your videos 👌
Thank you, James! 😊
I like it Phil it has a lot of character! Here in Maine we have tons of balsam fir and white spruce I've made some bowls out of spruce but not fur thinking I will try one!👍
Happy turning to you!!!👍
Good luck with it, Jon! 😊
Good looking bowl Phil
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A beautiful useful piece👍👌😍❤️🇬🇧😊😊
Thank you so much 😊
The growth rings give it detail! Very nice Phil
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Good looking piece.
Thank you, Josephine! 😊
It’s really satisfying how central that knot is
It IS! I felt the same way, Alastair. I couldn't have planned it any better if I had planned it at all!
WELL Now that I'm retired and I go back and find your older videos to view, I find myself in conversation with you as you talk. Ha! I liked the fir bowl... The knot dead center was a surprise.
Congrats on the retirement, David! Yes, that knot was a saving grace for this bowl.
Phil
Igloos great, only look at the positive side
Your work is always great.
Don't mind my spelling my fingers always hit several keys at once
Thank you, Layne! 😊 Cheers!
Looks ok Phil not my favourite wood but it’s got its own beauty 👍
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I think it looks awesome!
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To me, it has the look of a well-used, well-loved bowl.
Good call, John, I agree! It does look like it's been around awhile.
Phil
PHIL, this is not an ugly bowl. I know, not match grade walnut but it is what it is. A nice looking bowl.
What a nice "firry" bowl. Congrats Phil good job! See ya in the next one.
Can't wait!
Hey Phil, Lovely bowl with beautiful grain. If you look at the inside of the bowl at 22:18 you can an eye or maybe a galaxy from a great distance. This video kind of saddened me due to your attitude toward the wood. To me all wood is extremely beautiful. No Fir, Pine and other softwoods will not turn like hardwoods but they are ultimately just as beautiful. I believe every piece of wood deserves our respect as part of nature. Some pieces are more difficult than others and that is true no matter how hard or soft the wood may be . With every piece I turn I find I have gotten a bit better at listening to wood and turning it the way it wants to be turned. I am far from perfect and although I try I dont always do the wood justice but I do truly love the wood. Every curve and swirl of the grain, every natural and live edge, it is all amazing to me. Anyway absolutely beautiful bowl. Yall have a wonderful day.
I feel that way about most wood, Allyn. Not Fir. It's a construction lumber, straight and strong. I have hundreds of them growing on this property. I've burned tons of it. It's quite useful, just not pretty. 😊
Hi Phil
I first started out using free wood just to get me started out and the wood was very spalted/punny White Birch!
I fought with it trying to get good cuts and also a good finish!
I bought wood hardener but it was too expensive!
I ended up using a 50/50 mix of clear shellac and denatured alcohol! I keep applying it until the wood wouldn’t take anymore and did this several times,,letting each application dry thoroughly!
I then made my finish cuts with a bowl gouge and scraper!
Then 2 coats of lacquer based sanding sealer mixed 50/50 with lacquer thinner!
Sand to 400 grit and finish of choice!
I used several coats of tung oil on the pieces I really liked!
In my opinion free/junk wood can be made beautiful if you really want it to!
I also fill cracks with thin ca glue and the fine wood dust from my shop vac filter!
Thanks for watching and your great comment, Thomas! I often forget that chisel work after sanding sealer is applied, can help. And I love your idea of using the dust from the vac filter! Why didn't I think of that? You've given me great advice and I really appreciate it!
I think that's what I call pine where I live here in Kentucky. Nice work!
Cool, thanks, Stephen!
Very nice, like someone else said, I'd display that baby proudly!
The patch is part of its life.
Wow Phil! You're pretty hard on the Fir Wood! I'm surprised. It's, like you said, a nice utility bowl. Thanks for sharing.
You are not the first to say that, Mike. I'm not sure why my comments are so derogatory in this video. It's a very common wood around here and not a hardwood. It's something someone might use to practice on while learning to turn. You're right, it's a nice utility bowl! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Phil
It's a keeper ❤️ I love it 😉
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Enjoyed watching that. I have a large old construction beam of Oregon / Fir out in my shed - came out of an old station homestead in the WA Goldfields. My first attempt at turning a bowl ended in disaster when it exploded on me and two halves flew in different directions across the shed. I have since turned a hat stand with Oregon top / Salmon Gum base which came out well. After watching your video, I'm going to have another go at turning a bowl - maybe keeping the lathe speed down a little this time.
I wish you much success! You do need a sound piece to start with, no doubt about it. After that, it's all about a good hold. I know you can do this! Thanks for watching and commenting, much appreciated!
Beautiful bowl and for me cedar has a very nice grain I like it😍
No offense Phil but I think that amazing. I love it.
I'm happy you like it, Bodiejay! It was easy to turn, I'll say that. I would love to get my hands on some old growth fir. I'll bet that would look great!
Thank you for taking your time to watch and comment, much appreciated!
Phil
I think that maybe you were a little harsh on yourself Phil. You do the very best you can with what you have at hand. In spite of your own doubts about the wood, the finished bowl is really very nice, well finished & worthy of a place in any home. Cheer up my friend, I think you would just about be able to turn any piece of material with your skills. Don from South Aust.
Sorry if I sounded not cheerful, Don. I was just trying to show that even a soft, common wood could be turned. Around here, this is construction lumber or firewood, not much else. I'm glad you like it, maybe I'll have to reconsider my opinion of Fir. 😊
@@PhilAndersonShadyAcresWoodshop I feel that if you do reconsider your opinion of the common fir that you have the skill set in spades that would allow you to explore this wood & release products that truly are worthy of your abundant skills & refine techniques suitable to release the beauty in this wood because it is there to be found my friend & who better to find those techniques than Phil Anderson. I would love to see this happen & who knows what may develop. Kind regards, Don from South Aust.
Sorry Phil if I overstepped the mark, I was just trying to show my faith in your abundant skills & thought processes. Don
G’day again, I. Think the grain looks fantastic phil. Nice job.
Bowl might look better as a normal one not live edge.
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I turn Everything! There is beauty in where the wood will carry you.
Yes, you are right, Mike!
Who's the other at Shady Acres?
I've only seen you, but you say we.
Love the videos. Appreciate your sharing.
I'll keep that a secret if it's OK with you. 😊
Indeed you were a bit hard on the fir... it turned out beautiful. If you really hate it maybe you can send it to me here in Trinidad and Tobago, I'll give it a home 🤗
Yeah, that seems to be a common thought in these comments, Ruthlyn. I guess it's because around here, fir is sooo common (I have hundreds of them on my property) and not particularly attractive. It's a softwood used mostly for construction and heating. I see it once in awhile and it's not as bad as I thought at the time. I'm glad you like it, thank you!
Phil
You make it look good
Last year I made a large popcorn bowl out of pine. Some people thought it was nice but I was convinced. I thought your bowl looked pretty nice but I know what you mean, there is something about certain soft woods that seem boring (unless you can find lots of knots or other deformities in them) and they don't easily sand or finish well. I have had better luck with some other soft woods such as silver maple and basswood.
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Your commentary made me laugh out loud!
I wonder if comedians make more than I do? LOL! Glad I could give you a smile, Jonathan, thank you! 😊
Just really enjoy watching
I don't think any UA-cam creator can ask for a better comment, Gordon! Thank you!
i LOVE IT !
Yay! 😊
I see what you mean Phil, it is very plain. But you got to try and put it down to experience eh? Graham UK
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I rather like the grain patterns and think you are a bit dismissive of your Fir Bowl, be interesting to turn greener wood I think a nice quick project.
If I could get a hold of some old growth Fir, then I would be happy, Lewis. This stuff is just so common around these parts, I have hundreds of Fir trees on this property, I just can't get excited about it. But, I think you for your comment! 😊
I'm curious why you didn't use the dovetail tool to make the dovetail on your tenon.
The dovetail tool is used on recesses, Dick. On tenons I normally use my diamond point tool for squaring the sides or making a dovetail on tenons. This video was three years ago. I've learned a lot since then! 😊
Well I'll give that a thumbs up 👍 Does the sap run out of the finished piece?
"Does the sap run out of the finished piece?" Boy, I wish I knew what this means! 😊 The piece was dry when I started and it's still dry. There ain't no sap running anywhere that I know of!
@@PhilAndersonShadyAcresWoodshop I've turned pieces and had sap come out but matbe they weren't as dry as I thought they were. Thanks Philm hope you're gaining strength and continued improvements friend!
it a real bowl to me a nice looding bowl
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One day soon I would love to find a lathe and start turning. I am retired and need another hobby
Retired is a good thing, Gordon! And yeah, turning on the lathe is a good way to keep active. I hope you find one, soon!
I like the bowl but it's clear you were not enjoying this project. Your skills are really good don't use them on something you are not happy using.
I Would be more than happy to own it.
You are right! 😊
Nice job sir
Thank you, Tomas!
G’day Phil,,
Try. Putting vinegar and ion solution on tis. Wood..
You will see. Something amazing.
Fir eboonizes
Thanks, Greg, for the tip. This wood is not worth the trouble, to me, but maybe for someone else. 😊
@@PhilAndersonShadyAcresWoodshop in Australia we don’t get much of this wood anymore, it’s called, marketed as Oregon here and used as a construction timber. It’s usually much more heavily grained here and when sanding , you’ll often get high low sanding spots due to the softness and hardness of the grain.but with care gives a nice job. Looks nice on a reclaimed Oregon furniture, which is quite popular down under atm.
@@PhilAndersonShadyAcresWoodshop
It’s like gumtrees here, a lot of eucalyptus is not worth the trouble to turn for us turners down under
Have you ever turned any Virginia Pine. I was wondering because I am a rank beginner and I inherited a large wood lathe and some tools. I have played with it some. But then i had children. Lol! They are grown and gone now and i would like to really get into my wood turning. I have about 10 very large Virginia Pines that are going to have to come down and i need to know what you feel would be the best way to prep them for wood turning whether it is just left in logs or turned into blanks and should I turn it green or wait a few years for it to dry. Or maybe use a dehydrator? I have been watching all these videos of different people and their different styles and I'm so confused. I like how you turn and handle wood and I value your opinion.
I never have turned Virginia Pine, Diane. Depending on what you hope to accomplish, what type of turning you want to do, there are various methods to prepare your blanks. If you want the bark to stay on, the trees should be cut down in Winter when they are dormant. Cut them to lengths suitable for the size your wood lathe can accommodate. Cut them in half lengthwise, removing the pith so they don't crack. Seal the ends of each piece. There are various ways to do that and I recommend you do some research. There are products you can buy that some people really like. I prefer to turn wood when it's dry or at least nearly so. It's hard to get a good finish on wet wood. Some people turn it wet and then store it to dry and then re-turn it. I don't have the patience for that. A dehydrator or other similar method can indeed speed the drying process but can also cause cracks if dried too fast. There are books written on all of this. Way more information then I could possibly provide, especially since I don't really do much of any of what I'm telling you.
I do appreciate you watching and commenting and can only encourage you to do some searching and watching to see how the experts handle this situation. I'm not one of them! LOL!
Phil
I can see why you feel the outside is not so nice, esp the rough spots where the core transitions to the sap. I really dig the inside look though. It got me thinking.. maybe fill the outside cracks and then use milkpaint on the outside? Cheers fron the netherlands!
Excellent suggestion, Guido! Someone else also suggested using a torch to bring out the grain. I really appreciate comments and suggestions like yours!
To fill holes you can move the tool rest
Hahaha... I had to watch the video to see what you were talking about, Gordon. Yes, it was clear to me after that! I guess I just wanted to get it over with and was in a hurry and not thinking clearly. Thank you for your great comment!
May i ask two questions, Was that wet or dry wood and what was the make of the sanding tool you used, looked like a funny drill , and i thought the grain looked ok, much better than some our British woods
The fir was dry, but it had been outside undercover. I do think maybe the wind blew some rain onto it because it did have some surface moisture but it didn't last long. Not sure which tool you are referring to for sanding. I use a right-angle drill with the 2" sanding pads. I also used a drill attachment called a Sand-O-Flex. That's the one with all the tiny bits of sandpaper coming off of it. They are not easily obtainable anymore. I get mine from eBay. I have several, each with a different grit. They are simply invaluable for sanding irregular surfaces and especially helpful on bark. Thank you, Mart, for watching and commenting, much appreciated! Phil
New Sub, And never seen a right angle drill , maybe we don't have them in the UK, think i'll have to do a bit of googling, Thanks Again
Hope you find one. Mine is cordless. 18 volt, battery operated and I love it! It's a Ryobi, don't know if you have them over there. Thank you so much for subscribing, much appreciated!
Do you sell your work? That bowl is amazing!
I never have sold any of my work, Angel, but I do thank you for watching and commenting, much appreciated!
I thought it turned out to be a nice bowl. Grain is not that bad either.
Phil you can send me all your ugly projects😊 they’ll become a master piece in my house😊
LOL!
Do you mean pine
It's Douglas Fir. It grows all over here in the Pacific Northwest. I wish I had some pine, though!
Looks like Hemlock to me...
Ya know, MrTaco it could be. Around here, when they run an ad or even on the sign in the store, the lumber yards say Hem/Fir. I think they don't know, either! :) I know how to tell the difference when they are standing but not in lumber. Thanks!
madronawoodworks I was judging it by it's bark texture and grain pattern. A Douglas Fir log that size would have wider growth rings and more pitch in it. I base this off of years of firewood cutting. Fir is usually more yellow in color.
You disparaged this poor bowl throughout. I understand, as compared to the vast majority of your projects this is pretty plain. I do find that it's rustic quality is its redeeming quality. I grew up in the country and now live in the city, so to me this bowl says, "home."
Yes I did, JN. I agree, it's rustic and comforting and even useful which is more than you can say for most of my turnings. Welcome home!
Phil