Redwood Burl Bowl

The first thing I noticed was how incredibly soft the Redwood burl was.  This softness means that it cuts incredibly quickly but it also means that it cuts rough and fuzzy no matter how sharp the tools and how patient the user.  However, that softness also means that it was super easy and quick to sand to a smooth finish.

The growth rings were quite distinct and cutting across those rings on a perpendicular angle is some interesting figure that creates hints of chatoyancy that I find very appealing.

I tried something new and finished this piece with walnut oil mixed with a food grade wax.  This treatment imparts only a semi-gloss finish at best even after extensive high speed buffing so I am not 100% certain that I love the finish, but it does have the benefit of being completely food safe and highly water-resistant (which is not to say water-proof).

I enjoyed this new experience of working with a Redwood burl and I wouldn’t be opposed to working with another piece, but Redwood burl is very limited in its availability, it tends to be quite expensive when you find it, and I am not certain that I want to contribute to the ongoing active decline of the species in the wild.  Given price, availability and sustainability constraints, this may well be a one-off experience in my wood turning life.  And that’s just fine with me too.

As always, I wish all my readers a great experience in whatever their wood working interests happen to be and to those who like working with lathes especially, do a good turn today!