Fresh hawthorn

[OldWood]

A friend and I spent a happy afternoon yesterday relieving a farmer's huge pile of hawthorn brushwood of some of its accessible larger pieces. We got some 30 to 40 linear feet of 4" to 10" diameter wood.

Part of the fun of this is the fact that we live in a rural environment and can do such pauchling, albeit this was with the farmer's permission.

But having got this wood, a bit on the basis that we just can't let this go to waste, the question does arise as to how we should use it; should we turn it green, and then into what? There are 2 larger section blocks which we've asked him to tractor out for us which will rip to give us bowl blanks.

Hawthorn has the characteristics of all fruit woods, I believe, of not being that easy to dry. Any guidance on that would be appreciated.

Thanks
Rob

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Rob,
Hawthorn is a beautiful wood to turn - closer to boxwood IMHO than to fruit woods like cherry. It's fairly bland to look at but so is boxwood and it certainly takes detail very well. It can have some pinkish rings in it often near to the pith.

It's great for boxes, tool handles in place of boxwood and almost anything. I haven't tried thread chasing it but I'd be surprised if it didn't work. Dave Springett lists it as a substitute for boxwood in Chinese Balls in Woodturning Wizardry.

But you are right it can be a so-and-so to dry.

So, I'd be tempted to try a bit of everything if you have plenty - it'd be rude not to ;-)

Try turning some of it thin and green for natural edge vessels. The wavy edges to the bark will add interest and the bark is thin and stays on pretty well.

Alternatively seal the ends of logs up to about 6" diameter in long lengths very quickly (PVA, gloss paint, end-seal, wax ...) and set aside for several years. It will almost certainly split from the closest bark edge to the pith but often leaves enough good wood left to use and the reaction wood is still close grained enough. Bigger than that and I'd try cutting them down through the pith (bandsaw or chainsaw) and seal the ends again as before.

Branchwood is fine to use too.
Have fun & HTH
Jon

 

[Dangermouse]

I had given to me a load of such wood, took a long time to dry and needed VERY GOOD end sealing to stop it spliting. But grand to work and turn. Can do most things with it. Makes excellent tool handles !