Elm Bowls, Sycamore Bowls - Free Materials

I have an acquaintance who had to get rid of a great big Chinese elm tree in his yard. The tree was starting to mess with a retaining wall so it had to go. My dad and I went up to cut it down and could see that it was going to take an expert to bring the tree down without killing the nearby trees and/or smashing a nearby home, so we left it to a tree surgeon. BUT when he was done, i got first dibs on the wood. I brought up a chain saw and cut it up, took the pieces home, cut them into bowl-sized chunks, and sealed the ends so that, as it dries, it won't split.

Elm is a hard wood with caramel-colored heartwood and lighter sapwood. The bark is thick with contrasting layers, and quite strong, making for beautiful natural-edged bowls like this first one I turned. Because it was turned while green, and dried afterwards, the shape is somewhat elongated. The effect is exaggerated by the uneven rim.

This particular bowl was from a crotch piece, meaning where the trunk split in two. The resulting wood usually gets more interesting grain patterns than the straight stuff.

And of course, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without a chance for my son to model the bowl as a hat.

I have lots of this wood. I want to make lots of beautiful bowls. There's a tool I can get that will allow me to get multiple bowls from one piece of wood, but it's kind of pricey so i need to sell a few of these larger bowls to pay for it. Until I save for that tool, you have an opportunity: I'll give you the bowl for labor only, ignoring the cost of materials, AND I'll give you the natural edge bowl for the price of a regular bowl on the labor ($1.50 times height times width, or $78.00 for a bowl like that shown.

I also have a bunch of sycamore that I can do the same with. Order today, and be sure to mention this sale.