Let’s say for example, you would like to apply the perfect finish to a lovely wood bowl you have just finished turning on a lathe–well not so fast,  power up that tool once more–you will need to do some power sanding as follows:

1. Power sand on lathe using 80 grit paper all the way up to 180 grit.
2. Remove bowl from the lathe.
3. Hand-sand but this time use 150 grit paper working all the way up to 400  grit.
4. Now turn bowl around, place on vacuum chuck and sand using 80 grit paper all the way up to 180 grit then hand-sand using 150 grit working up to 400 grit once more.
5. Placing the bowl on a work bench, wet bowl down to raise the grain.
6. Place Abralon pads on an orbital sander and start sanding again this time using 180-360-500 and lastly 1000 grits.
7. Apply 1st coating of mineral oil to the entire bowl and let dry for 24 hours.
8. Sand bowl using Abralon pads 260-500 and finally 1000 grits.
9. Apply 2nd coat of mineral oil to the bowl.
10. Test your finish by placing a gnat on the bowl at an angle. If this gnat slides off and break his legs then you’ve applied the perfect finish to your bowl.

We will be happy to answer any questions (courtesy of David Yeatts) you might have about this article but through this blog only.

View or purchase works by David Yeatts here -http://www.barouke.com/david-yeatts-c-22_37.html

View our entire collection by David Yeatts here-http://www.barouke.com/david-yeatts-m-27.html

Artist: David yeatts

This bowl was hand-turned from prime stock of Ambrosia Maple. David Yeatts is famous for his meticulous work as a woodturner. In the above image, his amiable personality shines through his work.

For those of you who are not familiar with Ambrosia Maple– this is weakend, dead, dying or untreated maple that has been attacked by the ambrosia beetle. This beetle is of the weevil family. It chews its way through the wood creating a series of winding tunnels known as galleries or cradles. These galleries serve as a breeding ground for fungi which is the sole souce of food for the ambrosia beetle.

The tell-tale marks that the ambrosia beetle leaves behind are the distinctive blue, grey and black figuring on the wood which can also be identified by the entrance holes in these areas. The above image is a fine specimen of a salad bowl made from highly figured Ambrosia Maple which is not to be confused with Spaulted Maple.