tel 970-653-0359
email bpepett@gmail.com
Always Handmade, Always One of A Kind.
The Bowls on Display at the Copper Bar Market up Squaw Creek Rd in Edwards, Colorado and viewed and purchased at http://etsy.com/shop/papapeppersbowls
Member of the American Association of Woodturners
Pepper Etters specializes in turning burl bowls from aspen and cottonwood burls, along with flat rim bowls, natural edge bowls, hollow forms, and weed pots from a vast variety of wood. The wood for all of his turnings is reclaimed with permission from local ranchers, BLM and National Forests. Occasionally, Pepper gets turning wood from tree removal contractors. Trees are never cut down for turning.
The bowls are all finished with food safe finishes, whether intended as functional bowls or turned for display. The majority of the finishes are a 50/50 blend of 100% Pure Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent. You can see them here. After drying, the final finish of beeswax and oil mixture is hand rubbed onto the bowls. The Beall Buffing System is used on some bowls, in which case the final finish is Carnauba wax. Pepper prefers a satin finish to a glossy finish, and the 100% Pure Tung Oil/Citrus Solvent blend offers the best result while allowing for better penetration, which in return yields a higher degree of protection for the wood.
The majority of the bowls are turned from green wood. As the bowls dry they warp and twist somewhat, adding to the already unique character of each bowl. Because green/wet wood does not sand well or absorb the 100% Pure Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent blend , the bowls are left to dry completely before sanding and finishing. The final step is to remove the waste material from, and “even-up” the foot of the bowl.
Burl Bowls are more difficult to turn and finish due to decay, inconsistent grain patterns and hidden cavities. That, along with the rarity of burls, cause burl bowls to be priced higher than bowls made from more stable wood. To learn more about burls, click here. Burl Bowls are also more fragile than those made from more stable wood and should be handled with care and on a limited basis.
The Weed Pots/Dry Flower vases are turned from very old and weather beaten Cedar and Juniper fence posts found, on what was once, the original homestead in Radium, Colorado. According to one of the local ranchers some could have been put in the ground over 100 years ago. Because the wood is so dry and brittle, it has a tendency to splinter while turning. A cyanoacrylate glue is often applied into obvious cracks and weak areas to minimize splinters from flying off while turning. The Weed Pots can also be used as candle holders or candle stands.
Pepper can be contacted at: 970 653-0359 or email me at bpepett@gmail.com. Visit the Purchase page to learn more about the various locations to view and purchase the bowls.