Woodworking & Tools

Stories from Brailsford Woodworks [YouTube]. Show all stories · All sources

• BBrailsford Woodworks [YouTube]2026-10-03Video✓ Read

  Vikings Never Painted Bowls This Bright | Magnolia, Turned and Sold

  These two Magnolia bowls started with a small bowl found in a Viking settlement in Ireland. It had a rim and that back-cut shoulder, a shape I wanted to try on the lathe. My mother was from Denmark, so Viking history has always pulled me in. The form is true to that old bowl. The finish is not. Vikings were not pouring on color like this. I have learned the hard way that brighter finishes sell, so these got a strong red and a deep purple swirl. Both were gone at the very next craft fair. In this video I turn the pair from Magnolia, shape the rim and back cut, and finish them in color meant to catch a buyer from across the booth. If you turn, sell at shows, or just like a good wood story, leave a comment with the finish color that sells best for you.

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• BBrailsford Woodworks [YouTube]2026-09-26Video✓ Read

  I Turned Two Live Edge Walnut Bowls… and Kept the Moss

  I started with two slightly green walnut bowl blanks and turned a pair of live-edge bowls. Because the wood is still a little green, these bowls will continue to change shape as they dry — and that’s exactly what I wanted. Live edge work can be tricky to get right. Those wings stick out past the rest of the bowl, so most of the time you’re turning air and only hitting wood about 40% of the time. Sanding the wings is another challenge—they have to be done stationary if you want a good finish. I finished both bowls with spray lacquer. I kept all of the bark on both pieces and even managed to leave a few small patches of moss still growing on the bark. I’m pleased with how they came out. If you enjoy woodturning, live-edge work, or seeing how green walnut behaves on the lathe, this one’s for you.

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