Better is to have firewood delivered in eight Ultimate Small Shop Review foot lengths and then cut it yourself with a chainsaw. Once four inches is cut off the end to eliminate splits, a section as long as the diameter can be cut. For example, a ten inch long log section from a ten inch diameter log. This can then be placed in a sawbuck and cut down center to form two bowl blanks. After the corners are cut off the piece can be mounted on the lathe. The down side to this of course is any wood that is destined for the stove or fireplace will have to be cut to length, split and dried by yourself.
A good way to mount the wood on the lathe is to estimate the center of the flat side and the curved. The flat side will face the headstock and the curve the tailstock. Once the spur center and tail center are pushed into the wood the piece can be adjusted for best turning. The flat side should be at ninety degrees to the ways of the lathe and the whole piece centered as well as possible after which the tail center needs to be advanced to seat both centers well into the wood.
With the wood clearing the tool rest and the lathe at low speed for this unbalanced section, the outside of the bowl can be roughed with a bowl gouge. As the bottom of the future bowl is established a tenon can be turned on it for a chuck or it can simply be turned flat. In either case a tenon is left on the bottom to be removed later off the lathe. If a tenon for a chuck is not turned, the blank can be reversed on the lathe and the future top of the bowl flattened between centers. Then the bowl can be hollowed between centers leaving a central tenon to be removed later, off the lathe.
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