1. Home
  2. Woodturning Crafts
  3. Apple Root

Apple Root

I pulled the last of an Apple Tree out of the ground today, and have been looking at turning it. I have not cleaned it off yet, so I don't know if the root ball is intact or has rotted out like most of the rest of the tree. It's about 10" in diameter.

The soil was a mix of top soil and heavy clay. Would it be worth putting it in a bath (not the bath tub, just a small pool) for a while to loosen and wash off the clay? I've seen a pressure washer suggested a few times, but do not have one.

This will be my first time working with a root ball, what should I be looking for? Do I need to dry it?

If I try to turn a large piece, will 600 RPM (the slowest my lathe goes) be slow enough?

Puckdropper

Reply to
Puckdropper
Loading thread data ...

If it's anything like trunk wood, drying after turning green will be unpredictable, as my firewood pile will attest. Graham

Reply to
graham

Root stock does not turn any differently than wood higher up the tree. It does have more chance for a wonderfully convoluted grain, voids, inclusions, etc. All of which make for an interesting piece.

If it were me, I would wash it off with a garden hose, getting most of the dirt gone. Then cut a manageable blank and see what unfolds. The ones I have turned have been very rewarding. Just do not get in a hurry and keep reading the wood.

Reply to
Dr. Deb

Trim the root ball to manageable size and take it to a car wash and pressure-spray it without the soap.

Reply to
Whirled Peas

Whirled Peas wrote in news:nrhnbd$v8g$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

What I wound up doing was trimming the root ball to manageable size, discarding the excessively hollow sections and putting it in a child's swimming pool full of water with a pump running. This is serving to clean the clay from the root ball and hopefully prevent cracking. I guess when I take it out I'll have to cover it with a cloth or piece of plastic to try to keep it from drying too quickly.

It sure does not take to splitting--at all! I tried a wedge and sledge and it only worked after I had cut most the way through. (My saw would not go the whole way.)

Puckdropper

Reply to
Puckdropper

Or just leave it in the water until you are ready to deal with it. As long as the water goes "stagnate" the things that eat the wood will die and you can actually store it long term that way

Reply to
Ralph E Lindberg

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.