Wild cherry

[Jonzjob]

Today one of my neighbours gave me some wild cherry logs.

3 pieces about 3 foot long 6" diameter and a couple of other smaller bits.

They were cut about a year ago and have spent the hot summer and cold winter in the open on the side of the Black Mountains just North of us.

My question is that I realise that they are still too wet to turn really without splitting, so is it best for me to cut off the split ends and seal them with parafin wax or is it better to cut them into blanks and seal them?

Also, is it best to store them in my workshop and for how long?

In the past I have just stacked bits like this outside the workshop and they have taken their chance, but I think that these bits could be a bit special and I would like to get as much from them as possible

 

[Bodrighy]

Ideally cut the split ends off keeping them as long as possible, coat the ends and cross your fingers. Alternatively use them now and turn thin. Cherry can be a swine for splitting but can also be turned wet as long as it is even and thin though you will probably get distortion so don't bother with boxes.

Pete

 

[Ad de Crom]

John, I had and have bad experience with cherry.
6 years ago I got a cherry tree, wich I cut up into manageable pieces, and layed them into my wood shed sealed.
After two years most of the pieces were badly cracked.
Everyone know fruitwood is always tricky wood for turnings, and I think the best you can do is to cut up in halfround pieces for bowls.
Ad

 

[cornucopia]

I've had loads of cherry over the years and i always leave it in the logs unsealed outside then either rough out bowls from it or turn thin hollow forms with it- every now and then one cracks but on the whole there fine

 

[Paul.J]

With logs that size John i would leave the split ends on as they are,until you are ready to use them,else they will just split again when you cut them off.
When you do cut them,in halves say for use make sure you take the pith well out.

 

[OldWood]

Paul - can you explain why the pith needs to be taken out and, without having seen it, what does it look like, and how do you do it?

I've got various bit's of cherry and apple - on the fruit wood basis, should apple be treated the same ?

Rob

 

[cornucopia]

the pith is the centre of the growth rings (not necessarily the centre of the actual log) allot of streess is based around the pith and so by removing the pith from your final timber project the chance's of splitting are greatly reduced.
have you ever seen a board where its been planked through and the widest board always has a shake/fault in the centre and is always the worst cupped?

 

[Jonzjob]

Thanks guys for all of the gen. I have some other cherry that another neighbour gave me about 18 months ago and it has some splits but I haven't had a close look at it yet.

Cornucopia, I know that you are just waiting for this, but?

You wouldn't be taking the 'pith' here would you??

Well, I'd hate to disapoint you

 

[Paul.J]

As George says really Rob.
But i have been cutting more either side of the pith when using fruit woods as they are a bugger to dry without splitting,so just trying it with more cut away.
So far all the large lumps of Cherry i have cut up look ok.
The pith you will see when you cut down the grain,on lighter woods.It is a darker wood,sometimes black in the very middle.
This is only removed when you split your logs and store them.
HTH.