From one, several.

Coring bowls from one block of wood.

Set of four ebonized Zelkova serrata bowls carved from one block of wood.

How I Create A Bowl Set from a Single Block of Wood

Creating several nested bowls from one block of wood is a technique that allows me to make the most of one block of wood. Without coring, one block would yield one bowl and most of the wood would end on my shop floor in the form of shavings before heading into the compost pile. Coring lets me create multiple bowls from one piece of wood with minimal waste.

My lathe can manage a block of wood up to 20 inches in diameter. Once I've cored and rough-shaped several bowls, I give them 9-12 months or so to dry before finish turning them to their final thickness. If the drying goes well, I am usually able to make four "Goldilocks" bowls ranging from 5 to 19 inches in diameter.

1. Selecting the Wood Block

I choose a solid, preferably defect-free block of wood.

2. Mounting the Wood Block

I secure the wood block onto the lathe using a faceplate or a chuck, ensuring it is firmly held in place for stability during turning.

3. Rough Shaping the Exterior

Using a bowl gouge, I shape the exterior of the block into a rough bowl form. This shape will be the exterior of my cored bowl. I add a tenon to what will be the bottom of the largest bowl so that I can flip it around for the coring.

4. Core the First Bowl

Using a special cutting tool mounted on a curved "knife" (see image below) I cut into the center of the wood block to remove the first - and smallest - bowl blank.

First core from a large piece of Cherry wood

5. Repeat for Additional Bowls

I repeat this process using several knives, each with a larger radius than its predecessor. I leave the wall thickness of each cored bowl significantly thicker than it will be in its final form. This is because the wood may warp "out of round" slightly while drying. Leaving it a bit thicker at this stage gives me enough wood to true them up after drying.

Set of four cored Black Walnut Bowls

6. Finishing Touches

After I core these rough-turned bowls, I apply a sealant to the wood to slow the drying process (the wood may crack if it dries too quickly) and I set them aside for 9-12 months. Once they are stable and dry, I can put them back on the lathe, turn them to their final thickness, and sand them. I then apply a food-safe oil finish which brings out the grain and protects the wood.

These cored sets make great wedding gifts – one size for each occasion! I particularly like the fact that the wood's pretty grain patterns are consistent within the set and that there is very little waste.

See some of La Collina's wooden bowl sets here.