About Us
At Branches to Bowls, our number one priority has always been the satisfaction of our customers. Over the years, many of those customers have become friends and fellow woodturners, and that's a blessing I'm deeply thankful for. There's nothing more rewarding than helping someone complete a project they're proud of and seeing their confidence grow along the way.
My name is Ken Rude, owner of Branches to Bowls Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta.
My journey with wood began when I was about nine or ten years old, building birdhouses with whatever materials I could find. Even then, I enjoyed the satisfaction of creating something with my own hands.
Years later, I rediscovered that passion through woodturning. I bought an old lathe from Kijiji, hoping to recapture the enjoyment I remembered from high school. While it rekindled my love of turning, it also reminded me how frustrating poor equipment could be. For years I battled vibration and limitations that took away from the enjoyment of the craft.
After six months of searching, I finally found a used Vicmarc VL300 just ten minutes from my home. Within 24 hours it was set up in my shop, and it completely changed my woodturning experience. The precision, smoothness, and quality of the machine reminded me that good tools don't just make better work—they make the entire process more enjoyable.
That experience shaped the future of Branches to Bowls.
In 2016, we began supplying Vicmarc lathes and accessories across Canada. Today, we are proud to represent Vicmarc throughout North America.
As our reputation grew, companies whose values matched our own began reaching out.
Carter and Son Toolworks invited us to represent their exceptional turning tools in Canada, knowing we shared the same commitment to quality craftsmanship.
When customers repeatedly asked for premium carbide tools, we partnered with Hunter Tool Systems. Their innovative carbide cutters are designed for cutting—not scraping—and their commitment to quality aligned perfectly with ours.
PlanetPlus / Rotur also recognized our dedication to supplying reliable, professional-quality equipment and invited us to carry their growing product line. Their tools provide woodturners with dependable performance while making the craft more enjoyable.
We have never chosen products simply because they were available. Every brand we represent has earned its place because we believe it helps woodturners produce better work with greater confidence.
Our mission has always been simple:
Help woodturners find the right tools so every project goes more smoothly and every finished piece becomes something they're proud to share.
Whether you're turning your very first bowl or creating gallery-quality work, we're here to answer questions, offer honest advice, and help you choose tools that will serve you well for years to come.
For us, success isn't measured by the number of tools we sell.
It's measured by the smiles, the finished projects, the friendships we've built, and the woodturners who tell us, "I couldn't have done it without your help."
That's what Branches to Bowls is all about.
