To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl

Book excerpt: Written directly from transcribed audiotapes recorded during a week-long interview with the master woodworker, this tribute to Bob Stocksdale reveals his life experiences, philosophies, and often replicated turning methods, all in his own words. A private artist who lived quietly and was not widely written about, Stocksdale's lifelong quest for the perfect bowl is chronicled, while select step-by-step, how-to tips for fellow craftsmen are detailed. Featuring a gallery of beautiful, never-before-seen photographs sure to inspire artists, this unique biography provides the master's advice on tools-including lathes, band saws, and jointers-sharpening devices, and wood selection, as well as his business tips for pricing, selling, and shipping finished pieces. A portrait of a beloved and respected artisan, this guide offers the first in-depth look at the man behind the perfect wooden bowl. Ron Roszkiewicz is the author of The Woodturner's Art and Woodturner's Companion. He lives in Encinitas, California.