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I can only endorse what others have said. It’s best to have a try with the guidance of someone who knows what they’re doing. Be warned; it’s addictive.

Robbo Thanks for that. I get the technique, but, as you say, it looks a bit iffy from a safety point of view. There is a clear danger that a descending corner could flip an overhung tool violently. I think I’ll stick with round blanks, either bought or cut by myself on my bandsaw. Espy, make...

Hi Robbo I’m not sure what you mean when you say ‘cut into the front of the blank.’ As I understand it, for truing up the blank ie making it round, the rest is parallel with the lathe bed, as are the cuts are across the rim of the blank. As you say, this means end grain, side grain etc. Turning...

Thanks for the suggestion, Aligish. I’m sure it works well, but it’s a bit expensive for my purpose. D

Thanks, guys. I’ll give it a go with the sealer. I let you know how it goes. D

Another thought. What about wood hardener? I’ve read somewhere that it works, but should not be used on anything that might come in contact with food. Is that right? D

Thanks for the advice, guys. The wood is a fairly big piece, probably making a 10 inch bowl. I think a lot of CA glue would be needed to treat all the punkiness. Using cellulose sealer sounds a bit easier and more economic. Would the sealer need thinning or should I just slap it on? Then do I...

Hi Guys, I been given some badly spalted (beech?). It’s very punky. I’m a bit unsure whether to use it. I have turned spalted stuff before, but not as punky as this stuff. I note that Richard Raffan says that he will never turn spalted wood because he doesn’t want a fungal infection. Has anyone...

It’s definitely treewood!

Doug, this post is 13 years old.

Cheers, Phil. Thanks for your helpful advice. D.

Hi Guys, I got the soft pads ( 50mm) from Simon Hope, and they really help with power sanding. I also sent for a 36mm arbor and some 36mm soft pads as Phil recommended . When I came to try them I realised I didn’t have any 36mm sanding discs (doh), so I will have to get some of them, unless...

Cheers, everyone. I’ve ordered some of the soft pads from Simon Hope. When they arrive I’ll give them a go, and report back. D.

Thanks, Phil. I’ll get some. Paulm, I have been using the smaller pads for everything, as I don’t, yet, have larger. D.

Cheers, Phil. Where do the larger pads come from? I have the Simon Hope sanding kit, but it doesn’t contain any of the fat pads in your photographs. I have always sanded by hand, often with the lathe stationary to deal with torn end grain, but I’ve read that power sanding gets the best results (...

Thanks, guys. Paulm, the marks appear during the sanding, rather than being present before. They are circumferential, and I have wondered if it’s the edge of a small sanding disc that is doing it, in spite of me keeping the sander moving. That’s why I asked if a larger disc is better. Phil...

Hi Guys, When power sanding (using either a drill or inertia sander) , what is the optimum size of sanding disc to use? I have used the standard 50mm, but it seems to leave marks around the inside of bowls. Should I use a bigger disc? Or is there anything els I should be doing? D.

What would constitute ‘bulk’? There are blank suppliers (eg Home of Wood) who sell packs with maybe a dozen blanks.

Thanks again, guys.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I have DeWalt cordless drills, Bosch corded drill and sander. My other powered tools are Elu ( which gives my age away) that all still effortlessly ‘do what’s on the tin’. I want to get an angled cordless drill for occasional use, and have looked at a few...