Were do you get your logs from

[Gitface]

Hi all

Well I was looking round to see if I could locate some tree surgeons as a source of wood to turn for when I get my lathe and was also looking on ebay as well.

I was also going to contact the local council but sadly I think that the supply logs might by reduced after finding this

The poor wood

From ebay there are a few in my area that sell firewood (I did a search for logs) that seem to sell a 1 ton builders sack or trailer full of chopped logs for about 35 quid and was thinking that I can't see a problem with them being unchopped. Does this seem a good price.

Also there is a chap who will deliver a transit van full to my door step of unchopped logs for about 100 quid.

Were do you get your wood from and roughly pay.

Cheers.

Mark.............

 

[penman]

I use mostly Stiles and Bates for any special bits of wood that I need and just search around localy for anything else

Malcolm

 

[Vulthoom]

We are lucky enough to live in a non-smokeless zone and have an
open fire so have the luxury of digging through the log bin for interesting bits.

Bowl blanks I get from ebay as there are no local sources - if you buy
in bulk they can work out very reasonable compared to the outrageous
prices for single blanks :shock:

My advice - buy a woodburning stove...

 

[Bodrighy]

Firewood (we have a wood burner), the beach, local woods (with owners permission) Freecycle, tree surgeons, other turners and woodworkers, occasionally (very occasionally) from dealers. and then usually from their scrap bin. Any where that is free I am afraid. The trick is t relise that almost any wood can be turned into something if you think about it.

Pete

 

[wizer]

I've been scouting out contacts for cheap or free wood. Living in suburbia, there aren't many tree surgeons or land owners.

 

[big soft moose]

i do storm clearance as part of my job , so i not only get the wood free but i am being paid for my time in cutting it up and taking it away (how's that for a drive by gloat)

 

[PowerTool]

Great piece of advice I read somewhere (possibly from Tam on here ?) is when you start finding wood for turning,cut it in half - use half of it,put half away to dry;this way,you get the fun of making something,along with building up a stock of seasoned timber for later.

Andrew

 

[Alie Barnes]

i work in a country park so have access to lots of wood.

 

[Gitface]

Bodrighy I know what you mean about any wood can be turned, I've been eyeing up an old fence post that just laying around in the garge for my first turnings, once I've checked that there are no nails.

Will be interesting to see how they come out.

Theres a large counrty estate near one of my mates, so I was going to contact them as they own a lot of woods in the area.

Andrew I'll take your advice on board about using half saving half. The problems going to be storing it. Going to check the pit in the garage to see how damp it gets and see if I can stop it geting so bad. Since we don't use it now to work on cars it would make an ideal space.

Cheers all.

Mark...........

 

[Bodrighy]

Bodrighy I know what you mean about any wood can be turned, I've been eyeing up an old fence post that just laying around in the garge for my first turnings, once I've checked that there are no nails.

Cheers all.

Mark...........

Fence posts are usually pine. Be careful if it is treated because the stuff used can be toxic. It can produce some very effectice stuff though. If there are nails then there may be rust marks in the wood. If you have a magnet use this to try and find them as you go along.
These were made from old posts, the first treated the second untreated.


Happy turning.

Pete

 

[PowerTool]

The problems going to be storing it

You're not kidding! - I've got 5 drying racks of various sizes around the garden,an 8' x 12' timber store on the end of the workshop,most of a lime tree on the patio,most of a laburnum tree in the garage (damn you,e-bay,damn you,I say..) and what used to be the dining room half-full of timber bought kiln-dried.
And i've recently cleared out half the airing cupboard out,and filled it with nearly-dry timber to finish it off.
(Good job I'm already divorced;if not,I soon would be... :lol: )

Andrew

P.S. - Pete,I know I will have seen the goblets before,but they are both really nice in shape,style and finish

 

[TEP]

Great idea Andrew, about getting divorced so you have some spare rooms to store timber. Trouble is I need someone to look after me dog when I'm not around. :twisted:

 

[Lightweeder]

I'm new to all of this, but have all sorts of ways of getting wood. I'm friendly with the local timber reclamation guys and have turned firewood to great effect, but is it really OK to use softwood and greenwood? Also, how do we know when wood is dry enough to use?

Tam - I want to try the offset work you used on that piece in your signature. Is it a simple matter of turning the two extremes and then moving the 'centre' point on both the head and tail stocks?

 

[TEP]

Hi LW. Don't do it like that.

Here is how I did that one.

I was invited down to PaulJ's bash in Birmingham last year and was supposed to turn one of these. Tried two of them and made a right a**e of them. No excuse, just big 'eaded.

Have decided when I did my avatar I was just lucky to get away with it, and it worked. Since then I have found out where I was going wrong. You don't make the ball at the chuck end, it is easier to turn it on a square, so the edges are between the jaws of the chuck. You need this so when you push it off centre you go back and forward in the same plane all the time. Otherwise the joins between the coves won't link up properly.

You don't use the tail stock, turn the goblet end first, as light as possible, then follow my last post.

 

[Bodrighy]

I'm new to all of this, but have all sorts of ways of getting wood. I'm friendly with the local timber reclamation guys and have turned firewood to great effect, but is it really OK to use softwood and greenwood? Also, how do we know when wood is dry enough to use?

If you look at Cornucopias work (George) you will see that he only uses green or wet wood. Softwood e.g. pine is fine as long as you remember that it takes a lot more work to get a good finish. Really it depends what you want to make. Are you a turner who decides what he wants to make and then gets the wood for it or, like me and many others, gets the wood and decides what he can make from it?

Pete

 

[Lightweeder]

Hi LW. Don't do it like that.

Here is how I did that one.

I was invited down to PaulJ's bash in Birmingham last year and was supposed to turn one of these. Tried two of them and made a right a**e of them. No excuse, just big 'eaded.

Have decided when I did my avatar I was just lucky to get away with it, and it worked. Since then I have found out where I was going wrong. You don't make the ball at the chuck end, it is easier to turn it on a square, so the edges are between the jaws of the chuck. You need this so when you push it off centre you go back and forward in the same plane all the time. Otherwise the joins between the coves won't link up properly.

You don't use the tail stock, turn the goblet end first, as light as possible, then follow my last post.

Tam - you make it sound easy but I'm sure its not, and this is truly beautiful. I was at the Harrogate show in November and watched someone attempt this, and fall on his face, but I was so taken with it I've meant to try it ever since - and then I saw yours. I've been at the lathe this pm (before I read your post) and have tried it just moving both ends the same amount. It's, how shall I say, interesting. No idea how it'll turn out, but I might have to take it off the head stock and put it in the chuck. I'll let you know how I get on, but thanks a lot for your time.

Tam - having re-read your post, how on earth do you move your work off centre in the chuck if it's squared off?

 

[Jenx]

piccys, LW... remember the piccy's !
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Good luck with getting it to completion... slowly,gently, catchie-monkey, as they say !

8) :wink:

 

[Lightweeder]

I'm new to all of this, but have all sorts of ways of getting wood. I'm friendly with the local timber reclamation guys and have turned firewood to great effect, but is it really OK to use softwood and greenwood? Also, how do we know when wood is dry enough to use?

If you look at Cornucopias work (George) you will see that he only uses green or wet wood. Softwood e.g. pine is fine as long as you remember that it takes a lot more work to get a good finish. Really it depends what you want to make. Are you a turner who decides what he wants to make and then gets the wood for it or, like me and many others, gets the wood and decides what he can make from it?

Pete

Bodrighy - I'm afraid I mostly fit my job to the wood I've got, at the moment. I'm just learning techniques and keeping most of what I make for who knows what reason. I've got a farmer friend who lets a tree surgeon dump wood on his land. I can help myself to that, but I'm a bit concerned about how it'll weather when it seasons and dries out.

This forum is a great find for me. I'm on my own at this (as I guess most of us are) and it's good to know there are so many of us.

 

[Jenx]

Thats what it is all about , Lightweeder ... collecive pool of knowledge, all learn together, share in the successes and enjoy the fun of the failures too.
Its been said before - people who you've never met, will go out of their way to help and assist....
it's a little bit unique in that sense... pity more of the world doesn't work the same way, but thats another matter entirely ! :wink: ....

No question is ever considered as pointless or daft, and if we were all born knowing everything we'd ever need to know, the world would be one dull and uninteresting place

"Ask, and ye tend to receive", responses quickly, and of the highest quality.
Thats what its all about, definately ! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[Vulthoom]

Thats what it is all about , Lightweeder ... collecive pool of knowledge, all learn together, share in the successes and enjoy the fun of the failures too.
Its been said before - people who you've never met, will go out of their way to help and assist....
it's a little bit unique in that sense... pity more of the world doesn't work the same way, but thats another matter entirely ! :wink: ....

No question is ever considered as pointless or daft, and if we were all born knowing everything we'd ever need to know, the world would be one dull and uninteresting place

"Ask, and ye tend to receive", responses quickly, and of the highest quality.
Thats what its all about, definately ! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Excellent sentiments.
This should be our "mission statement"