Well, for reasons unknown, the ash bowl that I have been using at craft
shows for the last 5 1/2 years got a crack in it. It was well seasoned,
well taken care of and not dry, but inbetween 2 weekends it developed a
ring check, cracking along the growth ring. The check was in the
transition area from the wall to the bottom of the bowl, and about 2
inches long. I can still get more use out of it, but it is time for
another bowl. Heavy sigh, it is like loosing an old friend.
robo hippy

"robo hippy" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, for reasons unknown, the ash bowl that I have been using at craft
shows for the last 5 1/2 years got a crack in it. It was well seasoned,
well taken care of and not dry, but inbetween 2 weekends it developed a
ring check, cracking along the growth ring. The check was in the
transition area from the wall to the bottom of the bowl, and about 2
inches long. I can still get more use out of it, but it is time for
another bowl. Heavy sigh, it is like loosing an old friend.
robo hippy


Yep, variations in RH continue to stress the piece as it tries to
accommodate all through its life. More times it cycles, more likely the
final weakness will be found.

Black ash is famous for wind shakes, some of which don't open until the
piece is done and coming out six months later for sale. Then there's the
stinker interrupting the surface finish, and growing into an ugly break.

robo hippy wrote:
..... The check was in the
transition area from the wall to the bottom of the bowl, .....


Your description of the shape makes it sound like a flat(ish) bottom
bowl, with near vertical walls... |___________|

That shape sounds like it may not be very flexible. So the stresses due
to change in RH which George describes cannot be relieved by flexing. At
some point the stresses exceed the strength of the material.


--
Derek Andrews, woodturner

http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com
http://chipshop.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toolrest/

Actually, it was one of my earlier efforts, and the sides were more
like this \_____/. While not a smooth curve throughout the bowl, I have
since found that it was more practical, there is an edge to push food
up against to get it on the fork or spoon. It also works better with
chop sticks. It shouldn't have broken, as far as I could tell, but it
did. Maybe I will figure it out before my birth certificate expires.
robo hippy

"robo hippy" wrote in message
oups.com...
Actually, it was one of my earlier efforts, and the sides were more
like this \_____/. While not a smooth curve throughout the bowl, I have
since found that it was more practical, there is an edge to push food
up against to get it on the fork or spoon. It also works better with
chop sticks. It shouldn't have broken, as far as I could tell, but it
did. Maybe I will figure it out before my birth certificate expires.
robo hippy


======Ahh, Grasshopper! If you had only used the Shao-Leif technique of
LDD, this could have been prevented. Remember the Chinese proverb: "Better a
diamond with a flaw than a pebble without." *G*

Leif

On 3 Aug 2005 21:58:08 -0700, "robo hippy" wrote:

Actually, it was one of my earlier efforts, and the sides were more
like this \_____/. While not a smooth curve throughout the bowl, I have
since found that it was more practical, there is an edge to push food
up against to get it on the fork or spoon. It also works better with
chop sticks. It shouldn't have broken, as far as I could tell, but it
did. Maybe I will figure it out before my birth certificate expires.
robo hippy

Must have been that killer chili expanding the sides too much.. *g*


mac

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