Sawing a log guidance please

[OldWood]

I collect odd bits of wood and have two at the moment that I'm not sure how to process for the best.

The type of wood isn't important as any answer will apply to all woods, but one is maple and the other almond.
The almond is a crotch - how do I cut that to get the best out of it?
The maple is a some 300mm in diameter and approaching a metre long, and has a bough point about half way; again do I cut this so that the grain at this point is across the diameter of the bowl or along the axis? Or do I just cut that section out?

And as a follow up question, what moisture content is it safe to start turning at - the maple is currently reading ~20%.

Thanks
Rob

 

[Leo]

This may help you..............http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhbcNfrnWs the first two cuts take away the pith which will always crack. You could cut the bough section out, but it can look nice, in a bowl if placed well in it, it could also cause acrack. As for how wet is safe, as wet as you like, but wear you wellies !!!!IMHO

 

[wabbitpoo]

In that video (thanks, by the way) if my lathe cant cope with such a big blank, whats the best way of using that amount of timber? ie how to cut so you get more than the two blanks he gets?

 

[Leo]

The idea is to get rid of the centre, pith, so, you could ( looking at the end grain ) cut it into 1/4s, then take off the pointed piece, the centre, this will also give you a flat surface to work with and you are also half way (maybe 1/8 of the way ) to a bowl shape. The thin end being the bottom of the bowl.

You need to cut the wood length to roughly the same as the width of the log, this gives you the basic size available from the piece, or in the case above ( ie. 1/4 cut ) half the width.

You can cut in half as per the vid. lay the flat face down and cut it into 4 pieces like a cross + cut. A safer method as the wood is laying flat surface down.

Wish I could find a diagram, someone may have one for you, who haven't spotted the thread yet. Hope so.

Good luck.

Leo