Turning A Downed Log Into Wooden Bowls- A Beautiful Process

Many handcrafted arts and skills have become lost or nearly lost over the last century. With modern technology advancing at a frantic pace, skills such as turning a downed log into wooden bowls, a beautiful process, has nearly become a lost art. A fantastic company in Michigan, Holland Bowl Mill creates and crafts beautiful wooden bowls. Made from solid hardwood trees such as maple, beech, cherry or walnut, each and every bowl is different and unique. These amazing bowls can be custom ordered by companies and the mill's artists will burn or paint, or burn and paint your logo onto the bowls. With each and every bowl going through a food friendly mineral bath, the wood grains are enhanced and accentuated. Completed with a clear coat, the bowls are well preserved and protected, a treasure for years to come.

Only parts of the trees that are free of knots, scarring, cracks and other flaws are used. The bowls blanks are then cut, carved and sanded. Using a special series of knives, designed and forged by Holland Bowl Mill, the lathe operator carves out bowl after bowl. Producing approximately one bowl each minute! Fine blades are used to sculpt and smooth, leaving you with a gorgeous and flawless bowl. Using progressively smaller blades, the lather operator can sometimes produce four nesting bowls from one bowl blank. Steamed for 4 hours to draw out the sap and hydrate the entire wooden bowl, the bowl is left to air dry for approximately one month. It is then shaved and sanded smoothed. Once the logos are added, the bowls are cleared and finished and presented to their happy owners.

Started in 1926, Holland Bowl Mill continues to offer wooden bowls of the highest quality. They are the world's largest and best wooden bowl production facility in the world. To ensure your wooden bowls last for generations to come it is important that you hand wash them in warm water, using a mild soap and non abrasive cloths and hand dry. To prevent warping, cracking and staining, reapply B's Oil Salad Bowl and Wood Preserver approximately once a month, depending on use. 'Off Grid Quest' has made available a wonderful video that takes you through each step of the bowl making process and is a fabulous place to learn about rain water harvesting, perma-culture, alternative power sources such as solar and bio gas, survival tips on how to sterilize drinking water and turning downed logs into wooden bowls. To view the video outlining this beautiful process,visit 'Off Grid Quest' by following the link below.