Cherry Bowls by Nickatknight

BOWLS

All of my bowls are made of Maine grown cherry trees- which are hard to find compared to typical northern hardwoods like Oak, Ash, Maple, Birch, etc.. When Cherry trees are first sawn the lumber appears as a light pinkish wood. This pinkish color turns to a very pretty and rich dark brown color as the wood is exposed to air and sun. All of my bowls will turn darker within a year. Each bowl of mine is individually made by me- they are not mass produced- this is my hobby and I enjoy "turning bowls" very much!

Pricing

The Cherry Bowls that I make from Maine Cherry Trees are priced between $20 and $250- with most of them falling between $70 and $150. I do have some “seconds” available occasionally that have minor imperfections. If you are seriously interested in purchasing a bowl I can send you a photo of all my bowls that are available for sale and then you can pick one which I can then photograph close up and then I will send you exact measurements of said bowl so you can decide if you want to purchase it. Most all bowls can be shipped via UPS for an additional $15 to anywhere in the USA. A 5% Maine state sales tax will be charged on each purchase.

Payment

If you come to my shop then you may inspect all bowls and pay for it with cash or check. If you require a bowl shipped to you then please send me a check for the agreed price and I will send your bowl to you after I receive your check

Care

All of my bowls are finished with Beekepers Gold- a food safe combination of Bees Wax and Mineral oil. Other similar products are also available to seal the bowl. If you do decide to use your bowl for food, please clean after each use and use a soapy sponge, rinse, and then most importantly, rub it dry immediately. Never let water soak into a wooden bowl. Never put a wooden bowl in the dishwasher. If you do use one of my bowls for food then yes you will need to re apply a waxy finish like Beekeper's Gold every month or two- to keep it shiny and protected. If you just display the bowl then you may only need to replenish the finish to keep the bowl's shiny patina every year or so.

History

My first bowl was turned at age 15 then 36 years later I bought a lathe as well as all the other equipment and associated tools so that I could start this hobby/business. Once I made too many bowls to give away I began selling my bowls at craft fairs as well as to people coming off large tour ships which make a stop in Portland, Maine for a day of sightseeing and shopping. My bowls are now pretty widespread- people from Germany, England, Canada, Colorado, California, Texas and most New England States have bought them. Most recently I have been accepted by the jury of the SAU Craft Fair in Kennebunk, Maine and plan to offer my bowls for sale at their fairs.

---

5 1/2" tall x 11" wide from a Maine Cherry Tree

                            My Maine Cherry Bowls

    After cutting a large Cherry log in thirds and loading a few 200 pound chunks into the van I transport them to a small portable sawmill where the center pith is cut out of each log. Then I load the still very heavy half logs back into the van so they can be stored for 1- 3 years in my log  drying shed with each end sealed with wax to help prevent cracking. After laying out a circle with a compass on each cut log blank, I use a band saw to rough cut each bowl before I turn it into a round shape on my lathe. Once the bowl takes partial shape on both sides I stop, coat the end grain with wax and allow it to dry for another 6-12 months. You can usually see many partially completed bowls drying on a shelf in my shop. Finally I finish each bowl with different turning tools, different grades of sand paper and then each gets a final rubbing with food safe bee’s wax so that a rich luster develops that will seal the wood. My hobby of "turning" bowls is very enjoyable- so if you buy one of my bowls I hope you too will get plenty of enjoyment just by looking at it and maybe using it too! 

If interested in purchasing a bowl- contact me at nickatknight@maine.rr.com