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(Q) Turning very dry, spalted wood

Greetings,

I have been exclusively turning green wood, but ran across an interesting piece of very dry spalted dogwood. Attempts to turn it have been somewhat less than impressive. The wood is very dry, somewhat soft, and possibly deteriorated in a few areas. Turning the OD results in some tearout, but most of this can be sanded away. But I am attempting to turn a cup with the endgrain at the ends, and cannot get a smooth cut for hollowing purposes. It sort of lumps the grain together into dozens of bumpy masses, but doesn't really cut - at least not like green wood does. Sharpening the tools doesn't really help.

Any ideas on how to cut this stuff, or is it a lost cause? Would soaking this blank in soapy water help?

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.
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Actually, it's beech, not dogwood - don't know why I said that. :-\

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.

Lots of ways to try, but first, make sure you're cutting bottom up.

If the depth is not too great relative to the diameter, you should be able to work a bowl gouge or fingernail spindle inside it. To begin the finishing cuts on the bottom you may find your tool handle far to the right of centerline at the start. Just follow the curl, moving off the nose to the wing as you start up the side.

Best tool for this is the right-angle gouge - a ring tool like the Termite. Worst, but still workable is a scraper. If you're going to scrape the bottom, clean the sharpening burr from the tool and turn a smooth one with a burnisher. Start center, nose down, roll into the scrape to get a bit of shear as you pull the tool outward.

I wouldn't try to soften the wood with anyth>

Reply to
George

Thanks, I'll try again. The problem is, this wood doesn't want to cut and curl, it wants to chip out.

I've looked at the Termite, but wasn't sure it was worth a try. Also looked at the Sorby Hollowmaster. Is this the same as the Sorby RS-2000? Is it worth considering?

Peck out - *that's* the phrase I was looking for...

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.

That's a scraper. No worse, no better than any other for punky wood. Kids bought me the handle and hooker tool a few years back. Still tell people about the year they got dad a "hundred dollar hooker" for fathers' day.

The Termite is a gouge edge perpendicular to the handle, and cuts end grain beautifully. About all I use it for, though. Some of the newer hollowing tools like the Proforme use the same principle, but with a chip limiter. Might due, haven't tried 'em.

Reply to
George

Reply to
Edward

Thanks, the turning went OK, but I should have worked on the shape a little more. And it was quite difficult to cut, sand, and finish. The blank was almost weightless - I didn't think it would stay together on the lathe, but it did.

But I have to ask, however. Why are you turning styrofoam??

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.

Thanks for the info, Tony.

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.

Thanks for the info, Edward.

Greg G.

Reply to
Greg G.

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