Finishing a Massive 18½" American Elm Bowl – From Rough to Ready! (Rare NC Elm)

After rough-turning several American Elm bowls and letting them dry for months, it’s time to finish the largest one! This beauty started as an 18½" diameter × 7½" tall rough-turned bowl from the first section of a huge log I cored. The tree was harvested from land being cleared in North Carolina for a new simulated hospital at a community college—making this rare local Elm a meaningful piece of rescued wood.

In this detailed video, I walk you step-by-step through the entire finishing process:

Remounting the dried bowl safely on the lathe
Trueing up the exterior and interior after drying movement
Refining the rim, foot, and walls for perfect balance
Sanding technique
Dealing with the beautiful, wild grain and figure typical of American Elm
Applying a food-safe wood bowl finish for protection and a natural glow
Final measurements: 17" diameter × 6½" high
I share specific tips on tool choices, techniques to deal with tear-out, and how to get a silky-smooth surface on a large bowl like this. American Elm is increasingly rare in North Carolina but not endangered, and this bowl honors the tree’s second life.

If you’re a woodturner working with big bowls, drying green wood, or just love seeing rare local species turned into functional art, this one’s packed with practical advice!

Drop a comment: What’s the largest bowl you’ve ever finished? Have you turned American Elm before?

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Thompson Wood Turning Tools https://thompsonlathetools.com/
Simple Wood Turning Tools https://www.simplewoodturningtools.com/

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