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    Video Workshop

    Carve a Greenwood Bowl with David Fisher

    Author Headshot By David Fisher Nov 02, 2017
    Article Image

    Using tools usually relegated to firewood preparation, David Fisher starts with a log and turns it into a bowl that’s refined and beautiful. Known as one of the masters of bowl carving in the greenwood movement, David has carved hundreds of them—and in this video workshop on carving a bowl, he’ll will show you step-by-step the process he uses.

    Additional Reading:

    • Article: Carving Class with David Fisher
    • Watch David Fisher Carve a Greenwood Bowl in 3 Minutes
    • Axes and Adzes for Bowl Carving
    • Storing Green Wood for Carving

    For many woodworkers, bowl carving, with its unique set of tools and processes, might seem esoteric. But you’ll see that the fundamentals of reading grain, tool geometry, and design processes that David uses can inform and enhance any project—be it a Shaker cupboard or a bombé chest—you undertake.

    In this video workshop, you’ll learn how to:

    • Read a log and decide where a bowl lies within it.
    • Rough carve the bowl with an axe and drawknife.
    • Shape the inner bowl with an adze.
    • Chip-carve a decorative necklace around the bowl rim.

    Video by Jeff Roos and Ben Strano
    Edited by Jeff Roos
    Produced by Ben Strano

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    Videos in the Series

    • Ep 1: Finding the bowl within the log

      November 2, 2017

      In this episode, Dave shows you what to look for in a log, and how to find the bowl within it to set yourself up for success when carving a bowl

    • Ep 2: Initial shaping and flattening the bowl bottom

      November 2, 2017

      In this episode, the chips start to fly Dave starts working with the ax to shape and flatten the bottom of the bowl

    • Ep 3: Laying out the curve of the bowl

      November 9, 2017

      In this episode, Dave shows how he lays out the outside curve using a compass, and how he cheats things a little when the wood doesn't totally cooperate

    • Ep 4: Refining the outer curve of the bowl with an ax and drawknife

      November 9, 2017

      The bowl begins to present itself from within the log as Dave begins the hewing process with a carving ax and drawknife

    • Ep 5: Laying out the inner bowl

      November 15, 2017

      In this episode, Dave lays out the elliptical inside of the bowl using a compass, nails, and a piece of string

    • Ep 6: Hollowing out the bowl with an adze

      November 16, 2017

      In this episode, after a safety talk, Dave uses the adze to hollow out the bowl, bringing to light what will be the finished surface

    • Ep 7: Laying out the outside of the bowl

      November 23, 2017

      In this episode, Dave lays out the outside of the bowl by using a folding ruler as a sector, and of course, more compass work

    • Ep 8: Shaping the outside of the bowl

      November 30, 2017

      In this episode, the outside of the bowl begins to take shape with a lot more ax and adze work

    • Ep 9a: Refining the outside of the bowl – Part 1

      December 7, 2017

      In this episode, Dave begins to sculpt the outside of the bowl using a drawknife and ax

    • Ep 9b: Refining the outside of the bowl – Part 2

      December 7, 2017

      In this episode, Dave finishes the refinements to the outside of the bowl with a bent gouge, carving chisel, and sloyd knife before leaving the bowl to dry

    • Ep 10: Finishing cuts on the inside of the bowl

      December 14, 2017

      After drying the bowl, Dave flattens the bottom and gets to work texturing and finishing the inside of the bowl with gouges

    • Ep 11: Finishing cuts on the outside of the bowl

      December 21, 2017

      In this episode, Dave finishes the outside surface of the bowl with a drawknife and carving chisel

    • Ep 12a: Carving the necklace – part 1

      January 4, 2018

      In this episode, Dave lays out the necklace carving for the bowl handles

    • Ep 12b: Carving the necklace – part 2

      January 4, 2018

      In this episode, Dave carves the decorative necklace with a carving chisel and gouges

    • Ep 13: Food-Safe Finishes for Greenwood Pieces

      January 18, 2018

      In the final episode, Dave discusses food-safe finishing options for your bowl

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