Ingredients:

  • 1 large block of dark hardwood (e.g., walnut, cherry, or mahogany) – about 6x6x3 (15 cm x 15 cm x 7.5 cm)
  • Food-safe wood finish or mineral oil (1 ounce / 30 ml)
  • Sandpaper (varying grits: 120, 220, and 320)

Instructions:

  1. Select Your Wood: Choose a dark hardwood block and inspect for knots or imperfections.
  2. Prepare Your Workspace: Set up your lathe
  3. Mount the Wood Block: Securely attach the wood block to the lathe using appropriate mounting techniques.
  4. Rough Shape the Cup: Use the roughing gouge to shape the exterior of the cup, forming a cylinder.
  5. Hollow the Cup: Switch to a bowl gouge to carefully hollow out the interior, leaving desired thickness (about 1/4 inch).
  6. Fine-tune the Shape: Use the skew chisel to refine edges and create a smooth finish.
  7. Sand the Surface: Progressively use sandpaper (120-320 grit) to smooth out the surface, eliminating any tool marks.
  8. Finish the Cup: Apply a food-safe finish or mineral oil for protection and shine. Allow to dry.
  9. Final Inspection: Check for any rough spots; sand any needed areas for a smooth finish.
  10. Enjoy Your Creation: Let the cups cure if necessary and then showcase them proudly!