Rats...

[gus3049]

.. its all my fault. I was trying to get as big a bowl as possible out of this Robinia and included too much sapwood. A small section has shrunk much more than the surrounding heartwood. It goes half way down the side so I can't just shorten it a bit!

Anything to be done?? Just down to experience?

Annoying as this bowl would have been quite nice I think.

 

[Pvt_Ryan]

Burn the shrunk area and make a feature.

 

[Jonzjob]

Turn it thinner :-" :-" :-"

I like the grain in it. Don't know the wood though? It looks interesting and must be very fast growing unless your large bowl is tiny #-o #-o

 

[gus3049]

Gawd, I could try that!!! Its already only about 2 to 3mm. The shrunken bit is 1mm!! That should test if it cracks!

I'm surprised you don't have the damn tree everywhere down there. Robinia (also known as black tulip or some such) is virtually a weed here. Grows at an enormous rate. The bowl is getting on for 200mm which gives an idea of the growth rings!! The sapwood tends to be rather yellow but the heartwood is interesting - a sort of yellowish brown. I have yet to see any mature wood!!!

We cut down the one that was providing rather too much shade and I have rather a lot of the stuff. I think there are about 25 roughs done. All good size. And only one small crack so far. We only cut it down about a month ago and its drying very quickly - surprised its not cracking more, All the blanks are filled with shavings and wrapped but it still insists on being dry.

I'll let you know if it survives!

 

[gus3049]

Turn it thinner :-" :-" :-"

I like the grain in it. Don't know the wood though? It looks interesting and must be very fast growing unless your large bowl is tiny #-o #-o

Well its thinner! Also a bit shorter.

By the time I'd managed to remove the offending sapwood the edge was just too thin to survive I think. So a quick snip and its fine. I must now apply a little patience and let it dry out completely before putting some finish on.

So ta muchly for the suggestion. It seems obvious when you think about it - aha, maybe this could be the problem?

 

[johnny.t.]

Good save Gordon That stuff is good at moving unless its really dry, I once made a nice big chunky beer drinking goblet from a piece after a couple of weeks the stem bent!! As its so thin you may get some interesting warping as it fully dries out, not always a bad thing, it can look really good 8)

JT

 

[duncanh]

That's the beauty of turning green wood - you can turn round but it'll choose the final shape unless you're willing to part turn and then return to it when it's dry.

 

[Bodrighy]

Of course if you are feeling really clever....

 

[gus3049]

Burn the shrunk area and make a feature.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am a bit nervous of trying to burn things at the mo, managed to set light to the chimney recently. I get a bit enthusiastic about things!

 

[gus3049]

Of course if you are feeling really clever....

er.........yes?.........er...........what?

 

[gus3049]

Of course if you are feeling really clever....

oops, didn't press the link!!! Twit.

Maybe later. 8)

 

[Jonzjob]

I hope that you had a certificate to show yer Chimney were swept? The pompiers do like to see a certificate :twisted: :twisted:

 

[gus3049]

I hope that you had a certificate to show yer Chimney were swept? The pompiers do like to see a certificate :twisted: :twisted:

I'll have you know that we have a proper fire designed by those clever Scandenavian chaps. Burns so clean that after four years of hard burning managed a whole cupful of soot when it was swept!!

The pompiers couldn't believe how clean the lining was. What I had managed to do was set fire to the old tar outside the lining! It was a bit cold and the fire really does go a bit if its opened up. I only noticed it when bright red bits started dropping through a small vent. Bit worried I was but by the time they got here it was just about out.

Better safe than sorry though - and of course, I had bought one of their damn calendars so that was all right then.

 

[gus3049]

Good save Gordon That stuff is good at moving unless its really dry, I once made a nice big chunky beer drinking goblet from a piece after a couple of weeks the stem bent!! As its so thin you may get some interesting warping as it fully dries out, not always a bad thing, it can look really good 8)

JT

Hmmmm, well I'm still waiting

This Robinia stuff is wierd. I did this months entry in it as well as the 'rescued' bowl. The tree is only two months from the ground. This bowl now has a finish on it, no sign of any reaction with sap ( not much but heartwood left) AND none of the rather hoped for moving around. its as round as the day it was turned. It rings when the bowl is tapped - the sides are only just over 1mm thick. The top of the candlestick HAS moved fractionally but that's it.

Shame in a way but useful in others I guess.

I've just noticed a bit of pith that I would probably not include with all the extra experience that a month has made!!