Lets see your wood

[Kittyhawk]

What an eye opener and I doff my hat to all you fellers, starting your woodworking activities literally 'at the tree.'
Feeling a bit ashamed because of how easy I have it by comparison - all the timber I use is given to me in the form of old and discarded furniture so no flitching, drying, milling... the most I have to contend with is possibly scraping off a bit of decades old varnish. I'm a wimp by contrast.

 

[alex robinson]

Had a pleasant day milling a bit of cherry and some nicely coloured ash. Quite looking forward to making a bowl out of that crotch piece.

 

[Jester129]

@alex robinson that's some set up you've got - what is the thinnest you can mill with it please?

 

[alex robinson]

@alex robinson that's some set up you've got - what is the thinnest you can mill with it please?

I don't really know. You could cut at 5mm if you were careful, but the kerf is huge so you would be turning most of the log into sawdust. Also through and through cutting gives quite a bit of cup. I tend to cut most stuff at 2" or thicker. Do you have an interesting plan in mind?

 

[Stigmorgan]

Since I started woodturning my ears seem to be able to zone in on anyone using a chainsaw, this morning whilst opening up the school I heard one being started up in the car Park next to the school field, I was straight out there to see what was coming down, it was a very rotten willow, there wasn't a lot of decent stuff but I got chatting to the guys and said that if it makes life easier for them they could tip the chipping in school under a big shade sale we have, they jumped at the chance, I couldn't resist temptation and picked out a few bits that didn't have any rot in them

Back to my site walkabout I noticed that 2 palms we have near our main building have not come through the winter very well, I suspect they will not revive this spring so may end up cutting them down they are probably not much more than 150mm at the base and 100mm near the top so almost completely useable, anyone tried to turn this stuff before? I'm expecting it to be very very soft

 

[alex robinson]

Since I started woodturning my ears seem to be able to zone in on anyone using a chainsaw, this morning whilst opening up the school I heard one being started up in the car Park next to the school field, I was straight out there to see what was coming down, it was a very rotten willow, there wasn't a lot of decent stuff but I got chatting to the guys and said that if it makes life easier for them they could tip the chipping in school under a big shade sale we have, they jumped at the chance, I couldn't resist temptation and picked out a few bits that didn't have any rot in them
View attachment 156288View attachment 156289View attachment 156290View attachment 156291View attachment 156292View attachment 156293

Back to my site walkabout I noticed that 2 palms we have near our main building have not come through the winter very well, I suspect they will not revive this spring so may end up cutting them down they are probably not much more than 150mm at the base and 100mm near the top so almost completely useable, anyone tried to turn this stuff before? I'm expecting it to be very very soft
View attachment 156294

Willow can be very pretty, especially if it is a bit rotten. I cut these a while ago and am looking forward to turning them. They are the tops of an old pollard, so loads of crazy grain. Bit of a faff getting a clean cut though!

 

[alex robinson]

Since I started woodturning my ears seem to be able to zone in on anyone using a chainsaw, this morning whilst opening up the school I heard one being started up in the car Park next to the school field, I was straight out there to see what was coming down, it was a very rotten willow, there wasn't a lot of decent stuff but I got chatting to the guys and said that if it makes life easier for them they could tip the chipping in school under a big shade sale we have, they jumped at the chance, I couldn't resist temptation and picked out a few bits that didn't have any rot in them
View attachment 156288View attachment 156289View attachment 156290View attachment 156291View attachment 156292View attachment 156293

Back to my site walkabout I noticed that 2 palms we have near our main building have not come through the winter very well, I suspect they will not revive this spring so may end up cutting them down they are probably not much more than 150mm at the base and 100mm near the top so almost completely useable, anyone tried to turn this stuff before? I'm expecting it to be very very soft
View attachment 156294

Love the idea of the palm. Will be really interesting to see how it turns out. Perhaps lots of wood hardener? Looking forward to pictures!

 

[Stigmorgan]

Love the idea of the palm. Will be really interesting to see how it turns out. Perhaps lots of wood hardener? Looking forward to pictures!

So the rot in the willow was literally like a sponge and could be crumbled in the hand so no way of saving it, your stuff is very colourful, mine is very plain and almost white, I have some almost dry stuff from a tree that came down in last year's storm and I find it very fibrous, difficult to get clean cuts unless the gouge is razor sharp but sands quite well.
With the palms I may consider looking for someone that would be willing to let me pay them to stabilize a few pieces with cactus juice and vacuum chamber but that won't be for quite a while in till the minister levels are right down, plus side being that they will be easy to store, I'll probably cut them at ground level then in half and store the 4 pieces once end sealed

 

[Linus]

If you are going to turn the willow green then put your souwester on - you will get very wet, and everything along the line of fire!

 

[Stigmorgan]

If you are going to turn the willow green then put your souwester on - you will get very wet, and everything along the line of fire!

Already have that T-shirt it's surprising how much water some woods release

 

[Jester129]

@Stigmorgan just the odd bit of willow then eh?

 

[stuart little]

Since I started woodturning my ears seem to be able to zone in on anyone using a chainsaw, this morning whilst opening up the school I heard one being started up in the car Park next to the school field, I was straight out there to see what was coming down, it was a very rotten willow, there wasn't a lot of decent stuff but I got chatting to the guys and said that if it makes life easier for them they could tip the chipping in school under a big shade sale we have, they jumped at the chance, I couldn't resist temptation and picked out a few bits that didn't have any rot in them
View attachment 156288View attachment 156289View attachment 156290View attachment 156291View attachment 156292View attachment 156293

Back to my site walkabout I noticed that 2 palms we have near our main building have not come through the winter very well, I suspect they will not revive this spring so may end up cutting them down they are probably not much more than 150mm at the base and 100mm near the top so almost completely useable, anyone tried to turn this stuff before? I'm expecting it to be very very soft
View attachment 156294

I guess you 'wood' need a palm sander!

 

[Stigmorgan]

@Stigmorgan just the odd bit of willow then eh?

Not loads, mostly small stuff from branches etc, I've had some oak that showered everything and turned everything including my hands black

 

[Pabs]

Hunk of Elm. Have no idea what to do with it.

edit it is seasoned, 7 years.

 

[Lefley]

Hunk of Elm. Have no idea what to do with it.
View attachment 156729
edit it is seasoned, 7 years.

Wood dries at 1 inch per year, plus one year I have heard. So a 7 inch thick chunks air dries or shall I say comes to equilibrium to the environment it's in in about 8 years.

 

[alex robinson]

Wood dries at 1 inch per year, plus one year I have heard. So a 7 inch thick chunks air dries or shall I say comes to equilibrium to the environment it's in in about 8 years.

Not sure how good that rule of thumb is for anything apart from standard planks. End grain slices will dry much fast, so that should definitely be stable. I think over about 5 inches stuff gets very slow. A 7 inch thick plank would be almost impossible to air dry reliably.

 

[DavidConnelly]

Hunk of Elm. Have no idea what to do with it.
View attachment 156729
edit it is seasoned, 7 years.

Just sold one like that for £250. I bought a compressor.
The buyer is making a trendy looking sink for a client.

 

[MF1000]

Just milled flat a piece of burr maple

still at 80 grit and after a quick wipe with white spirit to reveal the burrs etc

 

[MF1000]

Hunk of Elm. Have no idea what to do with it.
View attachment 156729
edit it is seasoned, 7 years.

I would cut two cookie slabs from it ….matching coffee tables after milking them flat & hours if surface prep etc

 

[Pabs]

@MF1000 thanks that's a pretty nice idea.