Author Archives: Dave Fisher

Bowl from a Plank in FWW Issue #315

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Back in February, Jon Binzen came to my shop and shot photos as I carved a bowl from a board. It will all be in the next issue (#315) of Fine Woodworking magazine, which should go out in a week … Continue reading →

Posted in publications, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Ambrosia Maple Bowl — Butterflies Included

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I should take my own advice. I tell people to be careful to look for the tiniest checks in the end grain of a log because they will open up as the bowl dries. If a log section has been … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, figure, finding wood, patterns, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Fall Fluttering

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Dave Fisher

My workshop is our attached garage at one end of the house. While it’s not an idyllic cabin-shop among the trees, I did get pretty lucky that there is a grove of quaking aspens just outside one window. For much … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, video, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Carving the Hollow: A Trick and Some Video Clips

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Sometimes, after you’ve hogged away most of the wood and the hollow is nearing the final shape, your hands and eyes tell you that one end/side of the bowl has a steeper slope than the other. Your hands and eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, carving, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Couple Announcements

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Dave Fisher

For those of you interested in an axe and/or a couple exhibitions of wood art in Philly, read on. First, a few months ago, Robin Wood sent an axe to me to try out and provide him with some feedback. … Continue reading →

Posted in sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Round Walnut Bowl Layout: Plan for Shrinkage

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Dave Fisher

A wide walnut logs came my way a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been busy roughing out a few things from it. One of them will be a big open round bowl, 18 or 19 inches (46-48cm) in diameter. In … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, green woodworking, layout, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

“A Crust — a Crumb” Walnut Bowl

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Dave Fisher

It’s been a week since I’ve returned from teaching an October class at Peter Galbert Workshops. I carved this walnut bowl in July and took it along as an example for the students. I’ve decided to offer it for sale … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, Lettering, teaching, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

March Bowl Class at Pete’s

Posted on October 5, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Fall is here and I’m excited for my October class at Pete Galbert’s. I’ll burrow into the shop for the winter, then we’re going to do it again in spring. Registration for a class at Pete’s March 10-15 opens up … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Wandering Cherry Bowl

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Dave Fisher

This is the third time I’ve carved these words from J.R.R. Tolkien on a bowl, but it has been several years. Each bowl has been different, and so has the lettering. I think working with green wood straight from the … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Silver Maple Bowl and My New Old Drawknife

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I like this silver maple bowl that I just finished, and I liked making it even more. Part of the reason is that it gave me an opportunity to use a curved (cooper’s hollowing) drawknife that I had picked it … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, figure, holding, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments