What is the difference between a wooden bowl of first quality, second quality, and third quality?
The bowls are graded for structural integrity and wood defects. Grain variations occur in all bowls such as black spots, mineral stains, dark heartwood, curly grain, small burls, or birdseye graining. First quality bowls (#1) are structurally sound with no wood defects. Second quality (#2) are structurally sound but contain wood defects such as minor exterior bark, uneven edges, stress fractures in the heartwood, putty patched knot holes or voids. Third quality bowls (#3) are not necessarily structurally sound or contain wood defects such as cracks, thin bottoms, excessive exterior bark, spider cracked knots, large putty patched knot holes or voids.
