Three and Three Bowl (three Sides Circular - Three Sides Flat)

I have not seen a bowl like this until I decided to try to make one. I have made two now - one about 6 in. across and the other about 8.

Making them requires some care in measuring to that the pieces , particularly the flat pieces fit precisely. Other than that the turning is routine.

Obviously the sides can be designed differently, using woods of other colors and choosing other patterns.

3/4 oak and walnut lumber 2-3 board feet of each. The lumber can be any width.

Tools: Lathe, lathe tools, compass, sander, glue, clamps, planer

1. Use light colored hardwood like oak cutting out a hexagonal bowl base. I use a compass and after drawing the circle, use the radius to mark six equally spaced points on the circumference for marking and cutting the six sides.

2. I then turn the surface of the base which will be inside the bowl

3. I attached the base to a spacer on the face plate then scribed the circle to be sure the base will be centered

1. Cut strips of oak and walnut - approximately 1 in. wide and 3/4 in. thick. The length ideally would be 3 1/2 times the length of the side of the bowl. (measured from the base created.

2. glue and clamp four strips together alternating oak and walnut

1. Cut the glued strips into three pieces each vertical angled cut being at 30 degrees on both ends. take care to orient the cuts so that the oak and walnut strips are aligned

2. Glue the strips to the sides of the base

3.Similarly cut and glue three scrap wood pieces between the oak and walnut sides. (these scrap wood pieces support the others while the partial bowl is turned but will be knocked out and discarded after turning.)

1. Attach the bowl base to the lathe face plate and turn the sides both inside and outside. (I usually glue the base to a spacer plate so that the face plate screws do not enter the base of the bowl. That way there are no holes in the bowl base.) (You may want to attach the base to the face plate first before cutting the six sides to be sure that the base in centered.)

2. While the bowl is on the lathe, sand (coarse-medium - fine) inside, out, and interior base.

1. Knock out the scrap wood spacers

1. Measure the thickness of the curve sides of the bowl.

2. Use that measure to determine the thickness of the remaining glued strips piece and plane the piece before cutting into three pieces (as was done to the three side pieces)

3. Cut into three sections as in step 3 -1.(It is best to cut them slightly long and then use the sander to make them the precise angle and length so that each fits between two curved sections.)

4. glue and clamp in place

1.Cut off bowl from spacer attached to the face plate.

2. Sand the under side of the base until smooth

3. Apply finish stain to taste. I usually simply apply glossy clear coat.