Howdy....I'm getting a lathe in a week or so and have no idea of where to get blanks to turn from.
I mainly want to turn lamp bases and bowls. I live in southern calif and would like to be able to go pick out the wood rather than have it shipped and not be happy with what they picked out and shipped.
Does anyone know where I can buy the wood already dried and ready to turn?
Thanks Patrick Riverside, Ca.
Patrick, Go to lumber suppliers in your area that handle hardwoods and exotics, that is, not places like Home Depot etc.
If you are a newbie turner I would suggest that you look around for trees that are being removed, fallen by storms, at dumps, tree-trimming companies, lumber mill operations and practice with them. It is a lot cheaper and you can turn green wood which is a lot more fun IMO than dry. You can then learn the sequence of roughing green bowls, drying and finish turning. Buying blanks can be expensive if you are going to practice. Billh
Patrick, Bill hit the nail on the head. Look for local wood that has been recently fallen. It's cheap, fun and productive.
--Jim M
The sugestion I would make is look for a turning club in your area, there would be a lot of helpful people there. Also check with your local collage or high school to see if they have any classes. I live in orange county and took several turning classes from Cerritos collage. They were excellent classes. The begining class mainly used 2x2 material about 12" long. You could buy that or rip a 2x4 down the middle to practice. Also a book woodturning a foundation course by Keith Rowley would be helpfull. I relize you were looking for wood but the above sugestions can put you in contact with people that could be very helpfull.
Patrick
Go out to the firewood pile at your friends' houses - get what you can get and just turn it - do not buy wood - not yet anyway!
You will want to spend you money on other things like tools, individual instruction and other necessities!
Ray
Turn green my son, I mean turn green wood, much more forgiving, and great to see ribbons of shavings peeling from he end of your gouge. And you can get the green logs for free from your local arborist, or from a wood pile. Rough turn a bowl, let it dry for a couple months then finish turn. Or what also fun is turn a natural edge bowl green to the final shape, and let move on you, you'll get some pretty cool shapes after drying. Pick up a copy of Del Stubbs video you'll learn tons of basic techniques.
Spy in Hawaii
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required