Black Cypress

Ralph, I don't have any experience with "Black Cypress" but, I have recently turned 12 - 14 pieces from "plain old" Cypress. The bark on the wood I turned held very well. I'm just beginning to experiment with natural edge and Cypress seems to be quite conducive.

Please post pictures as I'm intrigued.

Rick

Thanks for your input Rick. This wood is really wet, just cut a week ago so it will be awhile before I get down to rough turning some natural edge pieces. Perhaps others will have more input re the bark on this specific species before I get brave enough to try it. I have turned Italian Cypress before but it didn't look anything like the black. The bark just doesn't look like it will hold, if that makes any sense. I am hoping for some good news.

Thanks again......Ralph

Hi Ralph

Ralph no Cypress turner here, but I was interested in what tree the Black Cypress was, after some digging, I found that American Cypress, goes by a whole sluw of common names, Black Cypress being one of them. I do have a link to some info if interested, also Ricks "plain old Cypress" could well be what you have there.

http://t> Anyone have any information relative to wood characteristics of Black

Ralph It makes sense that the bark looks like it may not stay on. But keeping the bark on for a natural edge is a bit of a crap shoot anyway and the drier the wood the less chance of keeping it, most of the time. Occasionally I piece of wood will dry so that the bark feels cemented on but that is extremely rare in my experience. I would rough these out now. I am not a cypress turner (I could send you my address :-) ) but the fun part of turning is roughing wet wood and stnding in the "rain" while you do it. By the way, orient the wood carefully for turning. You will not only have the usual lengthwise distortion but also stress distortion from the reaction wood of a limb.

Ive been told that the sweet odour of this tree, coming from the naturally occuring insect repellent named cypressine, is toxis. Air filters should be used. Any confirmation on this issue? Norm

Thanks Darrell, I appreciate your feedback. You are right about turning NE bowls w/bark when green. This is something I always do but was holding off on turning it immediately as I have some other wet burl wood needing attention first. This bark just seems like it will come off easily, it has that peel off look(?). I will turn one or two next week and see what it looks like when turned. And thanks for the tip on the orientation, very important.

Norm, I hadn't heard about the possibility that the wood was toxic but perhaps someone will respond with more information. I will check on Google later on today as there are many lists out there on wood toxicity. Right now getting ready to travel to visit my daughter.

Thanks again......Ralph

Hi Ralph

Here's a "toxic wood link" seems Bald cypress dust might become a respiratory sensitizer, but rarely.

messagenews:uU%uh.4908$Y6.1478@edtnps89...

Ralph I should have mentioned this before. Here is a fun shape with branch wood. The wet cypress should gve some great movement to the piece. The tamarac I used was too dry.

Thanks for the links Leo re wood toxicity and black locust, very interesting. I think next week I will turn a couple pieces and see what happens. I'll let you know what I find out.

Norm, thanks for the link, an interesting website, I enjoyed browsing the information......Ralph

Hi everyone,

I rough turned one of those Black Locust turning blocks today. The little bit of the bark came off one are but I was able to glue some bark back on, looks OK. Not sure how well the bark will remain once turned to final thickness. I normally allow NE bowls to be slightly wet when final turning as some bark gets very brittle when real dry. I should be able to tell how much movement is in the wood before then.

This is a link to the bowl I turned just so you can see what I have been talking about. This bowl is @15 inches diameter. Thanks again everyone for your help......Ralph

Hi Ralph

Yes I can see why you'd like to keep the bark on, that looks really nice and old, should look very sharp after the wood has had some time to mature color wise.

As for keeping the bark on, I have successfully used CA glue, just carefully applied to the bark/wood seam.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

link:

That looks good Ralph. Let us know how well it dries.