The main reason I got a bigger lathe (PM 3520A) was to turn bigger
bowls. I had a 12 inch lathe, and people kept asking me if I could
make bigger bowls. I probably don't sell as many big bowls as I do
smaller ones, but make more money on them. Every thing sells, and it
depends on the show. Small trinket bowls, individual eating bowls/
plates, family bowls, and party bowls. They account for maybe 80% of
my turning sales. I also do boxes, solid hard maple rolling pins,
spurtles, basting brushes, hollow forms, natural edge bowls, spheres,
and even a few beads. Any excuse to turn, and everything sells
eventually. Having some of everything helps, or at least as much
variety as you can find time to do. Bowls are my main source of bread,
and the others are butter for the bread.
robo hippy

On Mar 30, 8:26*am, "JD" wrote:
Get your minds out of the gutter.

I was wandering this morning, do small bowls sell better than large bowls?
On my Rikon, the largest I can turn is around 11-11 1/2 inches. I've sold
several that size, but many people walk through and comment on how pretty
the bowls are and then continue on their way. I wander if I had smaller
bowls, more or less trinket type bowls, would they purchase one of these.
I've not ventured into pen turning, doesn't look like something that would
interest me (actually haven't done it because wife said I can't spend any
more money for a while). I've turned very few small bowls, 4-6 inches, but
when looking through what I've got sitting here at the house, I've no small
bowls sitting around. Apparently, I sold them. I've lots of wood sitting
around that small bowls could be turned from, just haven't done so. Big
stuff is so much fun to turn.
Just wandering about other's experiences. Besides bowls, what do the rest of
you do with the collection of 4-8 inch sticks of wood you have lying around?
I've got a pile of apple that is just begging to be turned. I've looked
through several web sites trying to get ideas, but nothing really peaked my
interest. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
JD

--
He that will make a good use of any part
of his life must allow a large portion of it
to recreation.
* * * - John Locke