How to cut a log for the best look??

Im pretty new to turning - been doing it for a few months. Took 1 class at woodcraft and got hooked. Mostly turning green wood donated by my neighbor (hes a landscaper - anytime he takes a tree down - he gives me as many logs as I want). So I have a bunch of logs stacked up a sealed waiting to be turned. So far Ive turned about a dozen or so bowls - the normal procedure I use is pretty much off of Darrell's page. Cut them in 1/2 - trim the corners and turn. He took down a Bradford pear the other day and I got a few nice size logs from it. all between 25 and 30" diameter - turned 2 bowls so far from 1 of the logs - I love the wood - turns really nice.

Anyways - I have this 1 log that is basically an intersection of 4 branches. Im guessing its the top of the main truck. Picture a Y w/ 2 more arms 1 coming at you and 1 going into the screen - thats pretty much what it looks like. I guess you could call it a crotch?? What would be the best way to cut/mount/use this log to get the best/nicest/coolest looking grain pattern.

Also - I normally don't rough turn - then dry - the final turn them - I usually just final turn them green. Ive only had the oak crack on me - but you do get some really funky shapes that way - makes it very interesting for people that don't turn to figure out how you did it =)

So I will do the same for this piece.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

-Rob

Yup.

From my experience, it's best to turn the bowl facing the other way - what becomes the bottom of the bowl should come from the wood closest to the center, with the edge of the bowl coming from the bark. That way you don't end up throwing away all the wiggly grain, which is near the center.

Here's one turned that way...

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then, I've only ever worked with two-way forks, not four-wayforks. I would think you've got two options: First, turn a bowl withits axis parallel to the trunk, with the four branches making theedges (I'd think you'd have problems with splitting if you did this).Second, cut the crotch in quarters, cutting through the piths of thebranches (i.e. a big X as seen from above), leaving you four crotchesto turn.