Post by dicklaxt on Nov 25, 2009 11:27:50 GMT -6
How many of you prepare your own woods for turning?
Here's a couple of must do's if you gather and prepare your own woods.
Cut the downed tree up in log sections in lengths 1 and 1/2 times the diameter,cut the pith or heart wood out at least 3/4" each side of center,1" would be better,seal exposed end grain with anchor seal,you can cut the pith out of the center section and slice the remainder up for pens ,handles,spindles etc,make sure you seal these end grains as well,store in a dry well ventilated area.
It would be even better if you decided what you were going to turn from each piece and band saw bowl blanks round ,rough turn and seal end grain, for pepper mills turn a cylinder and seal both ends,on vessels rough turn and seal ,store any rough turned bowls,plates or vessels in waterproof bags(dog food bags work well for this) and fill with turning waste.This will slow down the drying,when doing unstable woods(those that tend to check and split, get some large diameter hose clamps and affix them to the edges,do this for natural time drying,,,,, you can also do different methods of drying and storing of woods for spalting ,do some Google searches for how to's.
drying time is approx 1 year for 1" of thickness,so you see from those numbers its advatageous to roug turn.
dick
Here's a couple of must do's if you gather and prepare your own woods.
Cut the downed tree up in log sections in lengths 1 and 1/2 times the diameter,cut the pith or heart wood out at least 3/4" each side of center,1" would be better,seal exposed end grain with anchor seal,you can cut the pith out of the center section and slice the remainder up for pens ,handles,spindles etc,make sure you seal these end grains as well,store in a dry well ventilated area.
It would be even better if you decided what you were going to turn from each piece and band saw bowl blanks round ,rough turn and seal end grain, for pepper mills turn a cylinder and seal both ends,on vessels rough turn and seal ,store any rough turned bowls,plates or vessels in waterproof bags(dog food bags work well for this) and fill with turning waste.This will slow down the drying,when doing unstable woods(those that tend to check and split, get some large diameter hose clamps and affix them to the edges,do this for natural time drying,,,,, you can also do different methods of drying and storing of woods for spalting ,do some Google searches for how to's.
drying time is approx 1 year for 1" of thickness,so you see from those numbers its advatageous to roug turn.
dick