What would you do with this?

[stuckinthemud]

Conifer. I often use round wood, cleaving it and sealing the end few inches of every log, but Storm Darrah brought down a friend’s conifer and she offered me these lumps. Now, the timbers I always use are hardwoods, I have nil experience with conifer. Just to add to the mix, I have inherited a lathe but have about as much experience with lathes as I do with conifer. My woodwork areas of interest until now have been carving and archery. What would you do with these? They are freshly felled, soaking wet, and full of sticky sap. Presumably they are going to split even if I paint the ends, should I just seal them or is it better to slice into blanks? If blanks, then what would be a good pattern to use?

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

Leave as they are for a few years, then think about cutting into blanks. Which are then left for
A year an inch of thickness
Cut into blanks now chances are that it will warp.

 

[Jameshow]

Od

Leave as they are for a few years, then think about cutting into blanks. Which are then left for
A year an inch of thickness
Cut into blanks now chances are that it will warp.

still seal ends unless you want firewood!

 

[Stigmorgan]

You could split it lengthways removing the centre and seal the ends

 

[okeydokey]

If you have just inherited a lathe but have yet to use it I suggest you decline the kind offer of this wood its more problematical than its worth as its very wet, sappy and maybe messy to turn as is.
Why not buy a bowl blank or a square section to make round e.g rolling pin/spindle or whatever takes you fancy it will be cleaner job?

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Conifer... What would you do with these? They are freshly felled, soaking wet, and full of sticky sap.

Cut to length, split, dry, burn. Slainte.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Cut to length, split, dry, burn. Slainte.

But not in your log burner as the vaporized sap will condense in your flue and gum that up.

 

[kinverkid]

Can't find a photo of the finished piece. This is a bowl I turned from the root ball of my neighbour's conifer. It did turn out quite interesting as I remember. They have it at their house now.

 

[Cobbs]

But not in your log burner as the vaporized sap will condense in your flue and gum that up.

That's why you dry it first, to get rid of the sap. If you mean the resin will condense, not if it's burnt properly.

 

[niall Y]

But not in your log burner as the vaporized sap will condense in your flue and gum that up.

And then catch fire.
I avoid burning pine of any sort on my main fire, It has to be hardwood every time .I risk it on the workshop stove where it is much easier to keep the flue cleaned.

 

[stuckinthemud]

Thanks all, I’ll leave it dry for a few days then seal it up and add to the log pile

 

[Cobbs]

If any softwood is properly dried, it will not cause problems with a flue, as long as the flue is kept hot enough in use and is well maintained, being properly cleaned at least once a year. Weight for weight (dry) all wood has a very similar calorific value. Some soft woods hold more water than some hardwood, but if you've ever cut fresh Elm for instance, you'll know how ruddy wet that is when it's fresh.

 

[Cooper]

I rescued a few logs when a neighbour had a similar tree felled. I split them down the length and turned them into bowls with quite thick walls, about 1cm. I really enjoyed it. The wood is so fragrant, a hint of rose water. I can’t remember if I popped them in the microwave for few seconds to dry them out . They weren’t my finest accomplishments but a lot of fun and my neighbour was delighted by a souvenir. Nothing ventured nothing gained.