Turning a live-edge piece of wood while keeping the natural edge and bark intact can be tricky. But, with careful planning and cuts, you can be left with a stunning piece.
Prep & Mount
To mount the blank, I prefer to drill a 1" hole into the top of the piece with a Forstner bit and use a 4-prong drive, driven in with a mallet. This is relatively safe as the 4 prongs are in a hole in solid wood.
I mark the center of the base to locate the revolving center. (Note: I would advise against using a center directly in the bark of any natural edge. If the bark loosens or gives when turning, the piece could come off the lathe). The tailstock and revolving center are used to support the bowl blank between centers. Be sure to avoid placing the blank between the centers and forcing the 4 prongs into the wood with the tailstock. This could result in damage to the bearings in the revolving center and headstock.
