Dent in flying bowl - can I get it out?

[miles_hot]

I had a lovely profile on a bowl which then flew off the lathe causing a small dent (within a growth ring). Rather than have to turn away 0.5 - 1mm of wood I would rather have some other solution.

I seem to recall something about steaming out but I don't know how or if it will work on this sort of situation.

Many thanks

Miles

 

[pete honeyman]

The only thing I would be able to do is fill it with cold cast brass and make a feature of it!

 

[CHJ]

Yes steaming usually works.
Try just soaking the dent with water for a while, isolate area with some plasticine/blue tack or the like, and see if the wood pops out.

If this fails then place a moist rag to the area and lightly apply the tip of an electric iron to the area to create steam to aid penetration to the wood.

 

[Bodrighy]

I've done it on a table top as Chas suggests wqith a steam iron and a wet cloth. SDhould work though a bit more fiddly on a bowl.

Pete

 

[duncanh]

I've done this several times using a damp tissue and a pyrography tool set on max heat setting. It works well but can take several applications. If it's a deeper indent I apply a little water before hand as suggested.

 

[Mike Wingate]

Wet the damaged area, and with the tip of a soldering iron, steam the water and the dent will rise out as the wood expands. Not a naked flame, and don't touch the soldering iron to the wood. If no soldering iron available, set am electric iron to max, and use the tip of that. Put a wet cloth over the dent and iron the cloth.

 

[Lightweeder]

I'm told Ammonia swells the fibres, but you have to be careful with that stuff :shock: