any problems with turning american sycamore?

If sycamore is the same as a buttonwood tree, which I think it is, the tree with the always shedding bark, big leaves I have turned it a lot recently. It turns like a dream green, has a nice peach color with many red specks and is a pleasure to work with. The bowls I have turned have very little warping (with the exception of a very paper thin one I turned) and no checking problems. I think you'll enjoy it. Also, no heath problems associated with it by myself but I do always wear a dust mask. Happy turnin'

STEMO

Tom,

The sycamore I turned was very prone to warping. Nevertheless, I really liked it and am keeping my eyes open for more.

Disclaimer, what I got was fresh cut from someone's front yard and it had huge growth rings from constant lawn watering and feeding. It had the most shrinkage toward the center of the tree and less to the outside. A ten percent wall thickness for roughing a hollow form was entirely inadequate.

As Sycamore is closely related to maple I would not worry too much about toxicity, just use common sense protection.

David

Tom J>

Hi, I'm still new to turning, but American sycamore is the only thing I've turned so far. I came across a downed tree late this summer and cut it into useable turning chunks/firewood. I will say after several hours chainsawing, I got a rash on my arms, and down my side similar to poison ivy, just not as bad. No respiratory problems noticed. I have handled/turned the wood since I cut it up without any rashes. As far as turning, I thought it was fairly easy green, but, as stated, I'm new to turning and have nothing to compare it to. Hope this helps! -dave

American Sycamore (Platanus Occidentalis, aka Planetree) is a good turning wood. In the UK, it is called maple (but is unrelated to what we call maple (Acer)) and used extensively for treen. Sycamore has the unique quality of being able to handle repeated saturations with water and not check. That's why it is used so often for wooden spoons. I don't know if it was used to make buttons, but its water qualities would mean you could leave the buttons attached when washing shirts. Like Stemo says, it turns very well when green. Dan

Well, maybe not. See Acer pseudoplatanus.

occidentalis, as noted is the American "sycamore," though I imagineit's like our robin, named after the British Isles type by homesicksettlers. The "button" in buttonwood that I know comes from the shape ofthe seeds.

If you like Latin binomial nomenclature, look up the American robin....

Interesting. I wonder how common that tree is? No wonder the settlers were confused. Apparently, botanists agree from their use of 'pseudo' on the name. Dan

Did you look up the robin? Kids always loved that genus.

Just so happens that I brought back to florida from illinois a large batch of sycamore for turning as over the years had seen numerous items turned from the stuff. I wrapped most of up in plastic to cure until next year. Don't know if that is the correct way to do but i've had success with other wood doing this. Save back a piece for some green wood turning and experienced mild skin irritation but nothing severe. The wood seemed to turn well but fractures severely. Be careful that the piece doesn't break in half while turning. After I turned down a piece I un-clamped it from between the headstock and the live center and it fell into two pieces. Fractured completely through the piece. Don't know if this is indicative of all sycamore or just the piece I'm working with. I hope this is some help