Jack Northrop
I turn bowls because each piece is going to be different. I let the wood tell me what I'm going to make out of it. I may start out with one idea and end up with a completely different piece. Its addictive.
I use local hardwoods and salvage (or scrap) wood for all my pieces; black cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, locust, sumac and others. I use pieces left from logging -- pieces left in the woods after timbering, pieces from veneer logs left at the sawmill. Its all found woodd; whatever other people can't use. I have never cut down a live, healthy tree to turn a bowl. No two pieces are alike. I twice-turn my pieces. I turn them green, let them air dry until they get about 8% moisture content.
Most of my bowls, platters and many of my vessels are face plate turned. I use natural edges and carving techniques to finish a piece. Many people have contributed wonderful and interesting wood, including burls, to my woodpile. I often turn a piece from the gift and give it back to the person who supplied me. I enjoy working with burls. They create some of the most interesting pieces. When I cut a block of wood, I do have a sense of what the wood is telling me to create from it.
I use local hardwoods and salvage (or scrap) wood for all my pieces; black cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, locust, sumac and others. I use pieces left from logging -- pieces left in the woods after timbering, pieces from veneer logs left at the sawmill. Its all found woodd; whatever other people can't use. I have never cut down a live, healthy tree to turn a bowl. No two pieces are alike. I twice-turn my pieces. I turn them green, let them air dry until they get about 8% moisture content.
Most of my bowls, platters and many of my vessels are face plate turned. I use natural edges and carving techniques to finish a piece. Many people have contributed wonderful and interesting wood, including burls, to my woodpile. I often turn a piece from the gift and give it back to the person who supplied me. I enjoy working with burls. They create some of the most interesting pieces. When I cut a block of wood, I do have a sense of what the wood is telling me to create from it.
