How to Make a Driftwood Bowl

A large thick piece of driftwood is ideal for carving out a bowl.

Make a driftwood bowl with a few hand tools. According to the Northwest Driftwood Artists, found driftwood has the potential to become any work of art. For crafting a bowl, locate a piece that is thick enough to carve at least 2 inches deep. Set it on a flat surface to check if it is stable. Most driftwood bowls utilize the natural formations of the wood, so you do not want a piece where you need to cut off the bottom. Mark the areas where you want to carve away the wood.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Vise
• Short-handled adze
• Gouge
• Coarse- and fine-grit sandpaper
• Beeswax wood finish
• Soft rag

Instructions

1. Rinse the driftwood well with water. Dry the driftwood outside in a shaded area for at least 48 hours before carving. It needs to be completely dry before you make your bowl. Some driftwood takes a few weeks to dry if it is found in water.

2. 

   An adze hollows out large chunks of wood.

   Mark the driftwood with pencil. Place the driftwood into a vise low to the ground. You want the carving area to face you. The driftwood can also be secured between heavy pieces of wood.

3. Stand over the wood and carve out the marked area with an adze, going down and behind you in one direction. An adze is like a curved ax, and is used for hollowing out timber. If you do not have this tool, start with the gouge tool.

4. Carve from the opposite direction with the adze. Once you have most of the area carved, switch to a gouge tool for finer carving. If your bowl is small, 10 inches or less, an adze is not necessary.

5. Gouge out the bowl area to create a smooth bottom. Refine any of the carving with the gouge tool.

6. Sand the bowl area only with the coarse sand paper in circular motions. Keep the natural beauty of the driftwood. Switch to the fine sandpaper after the bowl is smooth. Rub the entire driftwood piece with beeswax wood finish using a soft rag.

Tips & Warnings

• A bowl does not have to be that deep or wide. It can be as little as 1 1/2 inches deep.

• An angle grinder can be used to create the bowl area.

• Small pieces of driftwood can be glued together to form a bowl.

• Always carve away from your body to prevent the tools from slipping and cutting you.

References

• The Self Sufficient Urbanite: How to Make a Wooden Bowl
• Robin Wood: Wooden Bowl Carving, Ollie's First Bowl
• Northwest Driftwood Artists: Home
• Woodsil: Beautifying driftwood