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Welcome to Heartwood Bowls!
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My
name is Scott Trumbo, and my purpose within this
craft is to apply the best tools and techniques
to the most stunning hardwoods I can find; to yield
useful bowls that are very pleasing to the eye and
comfortable to the hands. I believe the eye should
be pulled upward by a well shaped bowl. These bowls
make excellent gifts and I receive great pleasure
from seeing them find new homes! My bowls can be
your family heirlooms for generations! |
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History
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In
1969 I took woodshop in a rural high school
in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and I
really enjoyed using the wood lathe. Industrial
sales management and sales have been my primary
work, but now there are unique hardwood bowls
with my signature on them being used on the
East Coast and West Coast. I have done woodturning
demos in various American Association of Woodturners
clubs throughout the West Coast. I live with
my wife and two children in western Oregon. |
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Heartwood Bowls Process
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Most
of the materials I use are premium native
west coast woods, with Big Leaf Maple and
Big Leaf Maple Burl being the dominant woods
I work with. I also turn Myrtlewood, Pacific
Madrone, Coastal Redwood Burl, Red Alder,
Claro Walnut, Sycamore, the fruitwoods, and
some imported exotics. I will gladly turn
a bowl from a piece of wood you furnish, as
long as it is appropriate.
- Fresh hardwood logs or blocks
are ripped lengthwise with the grain
through the center by a chainsaw.
Parallel thin slices are taken from
both edges of the log. These cuts
help minimize cracking and determine
the depth of the bowl.
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- The half logs are then cut into
round discs on my bandsaw, which
are the maximum dimension of the
log width.
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- A faceplate is screwed on to the
broadest side of the blank and it
is mounted onto my 25” x 42” lathe.
The exterior of the bowl is shaped
with a foot enclosing a dove tailed
recess. The green bowl is now held
by the dovetail recess and it is
hollowed to approximately a 1 ˝”
rim thickness. The entire bowl is
coated with a wax emulsion and air
dried on a sticker for 6 to 10 months.
I am a co-owner of a fine little
company that makes super duty turning
tools and wood lathes found at www.serioustoolworks.com
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All of my bowls are produced using Serious Tools.
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When
the bowl dries to a low and stable moisture content,
I remount it on the lathe and finish turn the exterior
and the interior. Details such as burn marks and
various textures can be added to the rim area. The
last step on the lathe is hand and power sanding
the bowl down to a minimum of 400 grit--and sometimes
as fine as 1200 grit.
- The bowl is saturated with a polymerized
penetrating tung oil. This product uses
a citrus derived solvent—and no petroleum
distillates or chemical driers.
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- After a week, a top coat of a walnut
oil and beeswax is applied.
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- All of my bowls are one piece, just
like it grew in the tree. It is guaranteed
against splitting with normal usage.
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Bowl Care:
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When
your bowl starts looking a little tired and dry, rub it
with walnut oil. Wipe it in an hour and recoat it in a
day. Apply 6 coats. This is a clean, organic product that
bonds with the wood and is available at grocery stores.
Do not use another oil, as it will turn rancid and perform
poorly. |
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