Those slabs will still move a bit after you turn them. 3 inch thick
slabs will come close to drying, but never really reach equilibrium.
Wood is like that. You may want to rough turn them first, let them
'adjust' for a few days, then return them.

robo hippy

On Nov 11, 7:51*am, Kevin wrote:
On Nov 11, 4:15*am, charlie b wrote:





If you're thinking in terms of a short lid "pull" - then you're probably
ok making
it an integral part of the lid of an acrossed the grain piece. *If, on
the other
hand, you have a taller, more delicate FINIAL in mind for lifting the
lid off
- probably not a good idea since *the grain orientation will make it
pretty
easy for you or someone else to snap it off.

I get from other information that you provided that you're not real sure
about wood movement - as the piece dries - and once dry, how it will
change with changes in temperature and humidity. *Not accounting for
those changes can be a real problem when you add a lid to something,
be it a bowl or a lidded box - especially when the piece isn't turned
"end grain".

You might want to have a look at this stuff on SHRINKAGE I'm working
on as an article on the importance - or not - of UNIFORM WALL THICKNESS
- a Common Knowledge Rule - which seems to be not quite true.

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...e/BowlShrinkag...

Comments, questions, suggestions for improving, missing critical
issues, flat out error detection, etc. *would be appreciated.

Kevin here, the OP.

First off, thanks to all that replied.
To be completely honest, I did not think of cross grain versus
parallel grain finials, or at least not in terms of the former
breaking easier than the latter. *The bowl is about 6" and perhaps 2"
high. *The top would have, well not a finial but more of a small knob
on top with a neck (?) of no more than .25" in length. *I tend to make
the tops for my bowls loose fitting just so folks can get to the
goodies inside. I am aware of movement, warpage, and the relationship
to drying and do try to keep a uniform wall thickness but most of the
wood I have has been in my basement *are about 2-3" thick slabs and
were cut July 2007.
Thanks again for reminding me of the need to consider wood grain in
finials.