An ImpossiBowl Cosmic Turn - Forged by the Sun and Hardened by Stardust

An ImpossiBowl Cosmic Turn - Forged by the Sun and Hardened by Stardust

I developed a theme inspired by what the journey of a mystical chunk of wood orbiting the sun, forged by fire, and hardened by stardust would look like if it fell to Earth like a meteor and then found its way onto my lathe where I fashioned into a bowl. Not just any bowl but rather a one-of-a-kind creation … an ImpossiBowl. (sorry had to do it. Also, I admit that I started with the word ImpossiBowl then figure out a way to make something worthy of that title.)

What makes this bowl unique is not only the fusion of two ancient Japanese techniques: Ukibori, which raises a cratered landscape into a textured terrain, and Shou Sugi Ban, which chars the surface into an otherworldly finish, but also the way these methods elevate humble wood into something that feels truly otherworldly. Each bump and burn mirrors the fiery orbit decay of a meteor passing through the cosmos. In the end, this piece is both a vessel and vision of a relic born from the stars.

So why is this bowl seemingly impossible to make? Well, wood turning is mainly a "subtractive" process, much like how a sculpture chips away at a block of stone to create a work of art. Similarly, a wood turner cuts, slices, and sands away wood to create a form. But Ukibori enables the wood to "magically" grow back in unique patterns that would puzzle most woodworkers (especially my wood club members which is my intent :-)

Watch below to see how I applied “Cosmic Grain Theory” to wood turning.

Notes: If you want to understand more about Japanese woodworking techniques - see my Instructables: Ukibori and Shou Sugi Ban

A roughed out Bowl Blank (example) - Since this Instructable isn't so much about turning a wooden bowl but rather it’s about applying new techniques to your bowl creation. Also, I recommend a softer wood for the Ukibori technique to work best.

Doming punch for creating the wooden craters (single or a multi-pack for more options)

Propane torch to scorch the wood … best to get one that has a trigger start - much easier)

Small Hammer

Wire Brush & Sand Paper

Choice of wood finish ( I used Tung Oil first then applied Spray Lacquer or you can use Wipe on Poly to add protection.)

Lathe and turning tools

*Amazon affiliate link added for reference

I used my lathe tool rest and chuck with an index wheel to lay out a grid pattern on the bowl. I decided to create a polka dot pattern landscape but you can actually create any pattern you desire.

Ukibori means “floating carving.” It’s a Japanese technique to create raised textures or patterns on the surface of wood — almost like embossing. The result is a tactile, organic landscape on your wood.

Steps

1. Use a rounded punch or doming tool to make dents in the wood to compress the fibers. I went around the bowl twice to deepen the impressions.
2. Next, lathe and sand the surface so the dents disappear and the entire surface is smooth. You may still see marks that look like a bruise. That’s ok. Also you might even have some dents still showing but don't worry they just add character. Just stop when most of the surface is smooth. (Note: Be careful not to go too far or you will reduce the size of the bump that appear.)

Shou Sugi Ban means "Burn wood". It's a Japanese technique of charring wood to preserve it and make it more durable against weather and insects. I like it because it can bring out fascinating patterns in the wood grain.

Steps

1. Burn the wood: Use a hand-held propane torch to char the wood, holding it a consistent distance and moving it like a paintbrush to create an even char. Don't stay to long in one place or your bowl may crack. Also I let the bowl rest around 10 mins or so between scorches which I applied around 5 times to create a dark char.
2. Cool and brush: Allow the wood to cool completely. Use a wire brush to gently scrub the surface, removing loose soot and ash.
3. Wipe clean: Wipe the wood down to remove any remaining dust.
4. Sand: with a high-grit sandpaper (like 220 grit) to reveal the wood grain beneath the char.

Once the bowl is sanded to your satisfaction, you are ready to do the magic.

Steps

1. Apply moisture: Brush, or wipe with a cotton rag, hot water on the surface and watch the compressed fibers swell and expand, creating raised dots that you can feel with your hand. I applied the water around 3 times to maximize the wood bump size.
2. Let the surface dry and harden: As the wood dries, the raised areas stay elevated, giving a 3D relief texture. You can leave it raw or sand lightly around the raised areas for contrast.
3. Apply a finish: Apply a natural oil finish, such as a Tung or Danish oil, to protect the wood and enhance its color. For an added protective layer, follow up with a wipe-on polyurethane or lacquer after the oil has soaked in.
4. When paired with Shou Sugi Ban (charring), the raised areas can create dramatic, cratered, “meteor-surface” effects . The charred surface accentuates the peaks and valleys, making it look ancient and cosmic.

The ImpossiBowl brings together woodworking techniques and cosmic inspiration, turning an ordinary block of wood into a one-of-a-kind form that feels both natural and otherworldly. (Kinda looks like planets orbiting the sun.)

So, that was my journey and I hoped you enjoyed it and maybe even try yourself. If you don't have a lathe you can try a simpler, but still a creative and version on a flat board. (like this Ukibori)

Bonus: if you are really into space, check out my James Webb heirloom ornament