The obsession continues.

[PowerTool]

Nice - like the shape of the yew one.

Andrew (who's been spring cleaning the workshop instead of turning)

 

[CHJ]

How long did it take you to turn these ones then. :?:

Today, just under an hour with the chuck jaw changes etc. to finish turn and polish. (plus an estimated 3/4-1 hr for the pair when they were in the green) job to say exactly as I partially turned a couple of other pieces and setup a glue-up before lunch/Rugby.

Time to do a piece can vary enormously dependant on grain etc. sometimes they just flow, other times a whole session disappears with very little to show for it.

Love the Yew one.Hows that happened with the colours :?: :?:

Pale Sap and Dark Heart wood.

 

[CHJ]

Paul.J. , If you care to wait a couple of months or so, leave a piece of your wood to dry naturally (ends sealed), if it is Sycamore there is every chance that it will start to colour, taking on Fawn and Tan hues.
Commercial Sycamore has to be dried quickly in order to keep it pale.

If you look at the sycamore pieces in my turnings you can see them getting darker over time, See the these from Oct 01-06 from same tree as the ones from March 07

 

[Paul.J]

Thanks Chas.
I'm in no rush just wanted to try and idenify the species just so i know.
Have you noticed a smell when turning Sycamore,the only way i can describe it is like old engine oil but not so strong :!: :!: :!:
Paul.J.

 

[wood yew believe it !]

talking of smells paul, wait till you try some zebrano! stinks!!

 

[CHJ]

...snip...
Have you noticed a smell when turning Sycamore,the only way i can describe it is like old engine oil but not so strong :!: :!: :!:
Paul.J.

No the commercial thick slab and the 'green' that I have turned have been very bland.

The 'young' wood that I have self dried is not easy to turn when dry, end grain tears very readily, needs very sharp tools and approach.

 

[CHJ]

__________A break from gardening.

_________ _______ click on image for larger view
____________Yew & Laburnum(155mm

 

[Paul.J]

Very nice Chas
Nice gardening weather for a change.
Are the two pieces glued together or are they seperate.
Paul.J.

 

[CHJ]

They are glued Paul, would have preferred a plain dark wood (walnut or similar) for the base but my remit is to only use woods from given source, and have not found walnut on the property yet.

May put it back on lathe and narrow the foot waist somewhat, although it does not look so heavy when viewed in differing lights.

 

[Paul.J]

Chas.
This shape looks like an inverted mushroom to me.Looks good.
Paul.J.

 

[CHJ]

__________Todays quota.

_________ _________ ___click on images for larger view
_____________Spalted Ash (143mm)__________________Cherry (80-94mm)

 

[Paul.J]

Very nice Chas.
I like the spaltd Ash,and the varying shapes and sizes of the bowls.
Paul.J.

 

[CHJ]

Thanks Paul, The Cherry is the remanents from a small tree, I have about 20 more of this batch to complete and enough wood in log form for about 30+ more awaiting attention as and when required. Because of the small diameter of the stock the internal grain patterns are quite striking.

Hope to be starting on some larger Cherry pieces in the near future, fingers crossed that I can dry it without too many splits.

 

[Paul.J]

Chas.
You haven't split any of those pieces have you.Are they all turned end grain :?: and have they been dried using meths :?:
Paul.J.

 

[CHJ]

The Ash is end grain, straight from a dried log.
The Cherry is split down the core, rough turned and meths dried.

some of the cherry after drying can be seen here.

Just the two in the front out of 28 pieces had small splits.

 

[PowerTool]

Very nice - like the colour of the cherry.Never had any spalted ash - was it a local find ?

Andrew

 

[CHJ]

Never had any spalted ash - was it a local find ?
Andrew

Yes, just some I rescued from a local wood pile late 2005 when asked if it was any good for turning, a good ton+ was burnt that winter.

 

[ctb]

CHJ I know from reading your threads and those of others on this forum, that you are a great exponent of meths drying, have you ever tried the australian technique of 50/50 detergent / water, apparently you soak the timer in this 50/50 solution, using non coloured detergent / washing up liquid, and by a process of osmosis the water in the timer is replaced by the detergent, thus giving the cells substance and strength, with little or no cracks as a result.

Have not tried it myself, so I cannot comment on it's successfulness

 

[CHJ]

CHJ I know from reading your threads and those of others on this forum, that you are a great exponent of meths drying, have you ever tried the australian technique of 50/50 detergent / water, apparently you soak the timer in this 50/50 solution, using non coloured detergent / washing up liquid, and by a process of osmosis the water in the timer is replaced by the detergent, thus giving the cells substance and strength, with little or no cracks as a result.

Have not tried it myself, so I cannot comment on it's successfulness

No, have never tried that method, the Alcohol method was developed as a result of determining that it was the alcohol used as sufecants in the soap/detergent that was aiding the drying.

On the basis that temperatures are considerably higher in most of Aus, I suspect timescales would be a lot longer here.

A company in Peru specialising in dense exotic hardwood products boils all their timber prior to finish turning.
If you have a browse of the site and see some of Jim Kings stuff you may wish to emigrate.

 

[Paul.J]

Chas wrote
Just the two in the front out of 28 pieces had small splits
That's a pretty good result Chas.
Were these,or all your pieces freshly green and soaked or are they left a while before soaking :?:
Paul.J.