How to make a bowl from coconut shell

How we make Handmade Coconut Bowls

The matured coconuts are collected and brought to a sorting facility where the meat and milk have been harvested. Then we separate the shells by size, thickness, and color. After scraping the inside of the coconut to remove any residual meat, the husk is peeled off and sanded down. We cut down the recovered coconuts to the proper size to transform them into bowls (between 6 and 8 cm deep). 

The bowls are sanded thoroughly on the outside and inside to create a smooth finish and then polished with organic virgin coconut oil sourced locally. This is what gives the bowls their shiny beauty and water-repellent. Our patterned bowls are then engraved with unique patterns by local artisans. There are no two exactly the same coconuts, and the differences between them should be appreciated as a hallmark of their uniqueness.

Make Your Own Coconut Bowl

Making your own coconut bowl is simple. To create your own rustic bowls, all you need is a coconut shell and a few simple tools. Friends and family would appreciate these “handcrafted” natural organic coconut bowls as gifts. They’re surprisingly simple and affordable to make while yet looking gorgeous. Furthermore, these coconut bowls are completely natural and free of BPA, toxins, synthetic materials, and plastics.

 None of these DIYs need the use of specialist equipment. If you buy a coconut shell from the market or the supermarket, you can split it in half using a saw which may be purchased at any hardware shop.

WHAT YOU NEED

Mature Coconut Shell: Choose ones with slightly flatter ends to make balancing easier and that is attractively round-shaped. Plus, ones that don’t have a lot of the fibrous outer husk.

Small handsaw: you can buy this online or at local DIY stores.

Sandpaper – coarse and medium grit.

Coconut Oil: or any other food-safe medium for lacquering/waterproofing the coconut bowls. Other choices include vegetable oil in general, nut oils, Linseed Oil

A brush or a towel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. When making bowls, it’s better to cut the coconut in the middle with a tiny handsaw. To keep the coconut from rolling away, lay it on a kitchen towel or a softer surface. Start by holding one end of the coconut (away from the saw!) and carefully pushing the handsaw back and forth.
2. Remove the coconut meat: Slot between the coconut meat and shell by using a butter knife to pry the meat away from the shell as you work your way around the coconut; it will ultimately come loose.

1. Sand the entire outside surface of the coconut shell with sandpaper until you get the desired effect. If you don’t want to eliminate too much of the natural texture, go slowly and gently.
2. Apply coconut oil to the inside and outside of the bowl using a towel or small brush. Coconut oil will seal the coconut bowl and bring out its natural brightness.
3. After applying coconut oil, the coconut shell will seem darker.

1. To properly seal the dish and make it food safe, repeat this procedure 4-5 times, drying in between.

COCONUT BOWL CARE GUIDE

Wash by hand in warm water. They should not be washed in the dishwasher or immersed in hot water for long periods of time.

Never put one in the oven, microwave, or refrigerator. It can crack or be damaged by ‘extreme’ temperatures.

The gloss and oil coating on the bowl will fade with time. To preserve its smooth and shining surface, simply polish it with coconut oil every 10 to 15 uses. 

If you give this DIY a try, we’d love to see how your creations turned out. Feel free to share with us!