Try on these steps to make a wooden bowl on your own.
- Find a piece of wood about 5 inches in diameter and about 12 inches long.
- Draw the outline of the bowl onto the wood using a pencil.
- Using a table saw, cut out the outline of the bowl.
- Sand down the rough edges with sandpaper until they are smooth to touch.
- Drill small holes approximately 1-inch-deep along each side of the seam where you will be joining two pieces together, making sure that one-piece has an even number of spots on either side. In contrast, the other piece has an odd number of holes on either side (this will allow you to join them together).
- Glue one half of one board into each hole on one side of your bowl before flipping it over and gluing it in place in its new place on the other side, giving you 2 joined halves with either even or odd numbers on either side.
Materials Needed
- Wood
- Pencil
- Table saw
- Sandpaper
- Drill
- Glue
Preparing the Wood
To make a wood bowl, you’ll need to be able to remove the bark and cut off any knots before you can make your bowl.
Bark Removal: Use a chisel or a fine-tooth saw to remove the bark on the outside of the piece of wood. You don’t want it on when you create your bowl because it will cause wood flakes to fall off as you work. Wood knots are an indication that there is more grain in that spot, which could cause your finished product to have knots or other imperfections if they are not removed. Using a chisel or hand saw, carefully cut away any knots that are close enough to the edge of what would be your finished product’s surface.
Cutting Threads
This is the step where your two halves are joined together. The process involves cutting threads, which happen to be small slits in the wood that are joined together with glue.
The goal of this step is to create seamless welding of the two pieces of wood by running glue around one side and then inserting it into its new position on the other side.
Cutting threads is easy when you have an even or odd number of slits on either side of your bowl. If you have an even number on one side, then cut threads on the other side in the same way. If you have an odd number of slits on one side, then cut lines on the other side in reverse order (the opposite direction).
Sanding Process
The sanding process is an essential step in the process of making your wooden bowl. This is because it smoothes out the rough edges left over after cutting and drilling your wooden bowl. This can be done with a handheld sander, but you can also use sandpaper.
- Sand the rough edges of the pieces with sandpaper until they are smooth to touch.
- Drill small holes approximately 1-inch-deep along each side of the seam where you will be joining two pieces together, making sure that one-piece has an even number of holes on either side, while the other piece has an odd number of holes on either side (this will allow you to join them together).
- Glue one half of one board into each hole on one side of your bowl before flipping it over and gluing it in place in its new place on the other side, giving you 2 joined halves with either even or odd numbers on either side.
Drilling Holes for Joining Boards Together
You don’t have to be a master woodworker to make your own wooden bowl. Follow these steps, and you’ll have your bowl in no time!
- Drill small holes approximately 1-inch-deep along each side of the seam where you will be joining two pieces together, making sure that one-piece has an even number of holes on either side, while the other piece has an odd number of holes on either side (this will allow you to join them together).
Attaching the Boards Together
Once you’ve cut your two pieces of wood to the correct size and shape, it’s time to join them together.
Start by drilling a series of holes at least 1-inch-deep along the seam where you will be joining your two boards together. It’s important to drill these holes on both sides so that when you glue one panel into a hole on one side, there is a corresponding hole on the other side for it to go into.
Once both boards have been drilled with holes, insert a dowel into the center of your bowl and use clamps or some other kind of weight to hold it firmly in place while you let the glue dry.
**A helpful trick: When drilling your holes for joining your boards together, make sure that one board has an even number of holes on either side, while the other has an odd number of holes on either side (this will allow you to join them together).
Finishing Touches
Once the glue has dried, and the board is secure, it’s time to put a finish on your bowl. Brush on some wax or varnish to ensure that your bowl will last through years of use.
Congratulations! You now have an incredible wooden bowl all made by you.
