VORTEX BOWL By Phil Scott Yellowstone Woodturners

Making a Vortex Bowl 1. Select several pieces of suitable lumber (different colors) 2. Review the plan

1. Cut the bowl slabs using a band saw 2 1. Cut the bowl slabs using a band saw 2. Lay out your slabs which should be all the same length and height, but varying widths

Lay out your slabs so that you can begin laying out a vortex pattern

I use a miter saw and a planer to insure the surfaces of the slabs are smooth so that they will glue together without gaps

Fit the various colored and various width slabs together (no glue) with a clamp to see if you like the pattern. Note there must be a single center slab surrounded on both sides by other matching slabs.

I actually laid out four differing patterns in preparation to make four bowls

Time to start gluing 1. You are going to glue one half of each pattern 2. Lay out slabs 3. Apply and spread glue to one side 4. Pull each slab up against it neigbor

Clamp the glued slabs (use several clamps, the more the better) into blocks

Note: I have lots of glued blocks waiting until tomorrow

The glue dried, it is time to saw the blocks into quarter inch sheets (back at the band saw)

Concentric circles are then drawn on the sheets using a compass Concentric circles are then drawn on the sheets using a compass. Using the band saw cut out the inscribed circles.

Note: There were 5 sheets and those were cut into five circles (each containing 5 rings)

Note: The two halves of each circle are glued together to make full circles or rings.

Assemble the rings with a twist pattern (each ring is placed atop it’s neighbor). Using the center slab on each new ring as a guide move it slightly right of the center slab below it. Markers are attached to each ring to insure the right move and fit.

Note: Here markers are attached to insure the right move and fit.

Review: A bowl ready to be turned and a view of the original plan.

My bowl was approximately 11” when finished. Dimensions for bowls Phil Scotts bowl Slabs I used one center with 10 matching slabs of various thicknesses on both sides (20 matching + 1 center) Length 12” (but its optional) Width 2” Thickness varies from ¼ ” to 1” (1” is the single center) Blocks (two together are 12” x 12”) Sheets (1/4” thick) My bowl was approximately 11” when finished. If you make a smaller bowl reduced the length of the slabs

Wood Types Dark woods Walnut Mexican ebony Purple heart Cocobolo Padouk Brazilian bloodwood Teak Light woods Maple Cherry Poplar Holly Alder

The Final A VORTEX BOWL