Planning ahead, getting wood...

Silvan wrote: (clip) I can't make much out of it because I don't have a bandsaw, no patience to resaw by hand, and my table saw would fall over dead after just a couple of cuts (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You can't turn wood that you can't fit on the lathe. You will need to buy a small chainsaw (perhaps electric), or a Sawsall, or something. In the meantime, I would handsaw the wood. A few minutes with a crosscut saw or a bow saw will give you hours of pleasure at the lathe.

You must realize that the cost of the lathe is just the beginning. You will need tools. You will probably end up buying a chuck. So, in this list, include a usable electric saw as well.

Oh, cutting it to length is no problem. I made some flag stand bases out of the stuff, and I cross-cut it with a bow saw. Worked out fine. I just can't make lumber out of it because I don't have a reasonable way to rip it into thinner slices.

They're 5" square, and the mini JET is supposed to be able to handle stock up to 10" in diameter, so they should fit onto the machine comfortably. Unless I misunderstand something anyway...

My question isn't so much one of the mechanics of getting it onto the lathe, but of the suitability of the material. I'm concerned that they make dunnage out of this stuff because oak heartwood has bad qualities.

I can practice on it if nothing else. I'll need lots of practice. If I can make *pretty* stuff out of it that will stand up over time, all the better.

Even if it fits on the lathe, a red oak blank that large is gonna be pretty tough turning on a Jet Mini. (Been there, done that!) You would probably be better off practicing on some other wood, like maple or cherry or ash.

Barry

PS I was born a Turner

Too stout, huh?

Ah well, I can figure it out when I actually *have* a lathe I guess. :)

I'll spend the time between now and then dreaming, and learning how to sharpen up these lathe tools.

Silvan (cool name, appropriate for a woodworker)--

If you start out by turning every kind of wood that you can get your hands on (a great idea), you may find that turning green wood is the most fun. Not necessarily freshly cut, but just not air-dried for too long. With a sharp gouge and the right technique, the shavings FLY off in long ribbons, and you get very little dust.

The apple should be OK, don't worry too much about internal stresses--just turn something out of it, and see what happens. "It's just a piece of wood" David Ellsworth told our local AAW chapter when he did a demo/lecture for us recently.

Got any Box Elder in your neck of the woods? It's great for newbie turners, and sometimes very pretty too.

A lot of the stuff I turn is made from limbs 2-6" diameter--vases, goblets, candlesticks--with the pith running right through center of the turning, and natural-edge rims. Take a look at my website, might offer some inspiration.

Ken Grunke

You're the first one to notice, I think. Long story how I came to use that name, but it fits on many levels.

That sounds like a definite plan then. I'm already wishing I hadn't decided to cut down that choke cherry when I got rid of all that brush a bit back. It was 4" in diameter at the base. I could have turned it! :)

(Ah, but first I do need to get that lathe... Maybe for my first project, I can turn the Christmas tree... ;)

And how... Until now, I never thought I'd ever have an interest in doing anything resembling a bowl.

Wow, that's some beautiful stuff!

Pallet skids would be unsuitable, but if you really have dunnage, which is to say packing and bracing, it should be relatively free of grit which would destroy your tools. Most of what you have is probably boxed hearts, which means they'll have radial checks. When turning with included air, there is a tendency to chip the leading edge of the wood, so you'll want to keep your edge almost vertical as you cut, resting it on the toolrest, not steadying it on the work, where it'll dive and chip.

On the upside, if you choose pieces without radial checking, you'll have some lovely patterns around the heart.

First faceplate projects for included checks should be something like holders for votive lights. The cup should have a bit of air around it, but the light showing around and through the checks makes a pretty item. Obviously these are burnished wood only, as any finish would melt and run. Dry red oak should burnish to a good shine.

I'm a truck driver, incidentally. Yes, I know what dunnage is. :)

Some, yes. Some a lot worse than others. That's one of my concerns. A piece that isn't or is not too badly checked cracking apart into little curvy triangular slivers after it dries for a few months.

OK, so checking is the main issue with heartwood? I will begin collecting every piece of dunnage that comes my way, with a special eye for those with little or no checking then. :)

Now, how about prunings? I probably need to go around and take down anything that might cause a problem if we have ice this winter, so how should I prepare this wood for eventual turning? Wax the ends, debark, and stick in my shed to dry? Or should I just stick'em in there and worry about the rest later?

Sounds lovely! I have a lot of territory to explore, and I think this will be a great way to use all kinds of wood I can't make anything else out of. I haven't bought wood in years, and I like it that way. Even if I could afford to buy it, making use of what comes my way is part of my fun.

I have it on good authority that Santa SWMBO just ordered the JET mini, so all of this pontificating ain't for nothin'. I don't get to open the box until the big day though. I hope I don't have to shovel too much snow to get it out to my shop. :)

I'm stoked!

Leave the bark on any prunings and store them out of the weather if you want no rot, or on the ground in the weather if you do. Note that the rot happens in damp, so if you want it all around the piece, you're advised to roll it periodically. With "free" wood I don't coat, because there's plenty more if it degrades improperly, and wood left in the round is going to crack no matter what. If you remove the heart by cutting up the middle of larger pieces, you can coat with water emulsion waxes or latex, and do some good.

Don't know where you are, but 200-300" average snowfall doesn't keep me from digging out when I want to turn.

Thanks for the advice. I'll start harvesting forthwith.

Virginia. Nowhere near that much snow. I don't have any heat whatsoever in the shop though. I keep meaning to do something about that. Maybe this is the motivation I need. :)

Silvan wrote: (clip) I just can't make lumber out of it because I don't have a reasonable way to rip it into thinner slices. They're 5" square, and the mini JET is supposed to be able to handle stock up to 10" in diameter, so they should fit onto the machine comfortably (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^ I'm sorry. I guess I didn't understand your question. But, just to be clear, it is not necessary to convert your wood into lumber by resawing before turning it. Of course, if a 5"x5" piece is much fatter than your proposed turning, ripping it to save wood, and roughing time would be worthwhile. However, when you are learning to turn, even the time spent roughing down from 5" to 2" on the lathe is not really wasted. You will get a lot of practice. It is a lot better to make your mistakes and do your learning on the wood you are roughing off, than to get catches just as you think you are finishing a piece. Been there--done that.

Sigh... I love chokecherry and have a standing order with everyone I know who has a tree... "if you want it cut down, call me first"

Try to find local instruuction.. I took a bowl turning course last spring that was great.

Buy a chainsaw.

Watch the yard sales and dumpsters for old inline skates...

djb

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I took that one down, but there are several more in various places. Birds keep planting them. I think I'll let them grow a few years. Maybe by the time they're big enough, I'll be ready to turn them.

I already am... :)

Willow? I have to prune my willow soon, but I figured the wood wouldn't be any good.

Probably not, but I actually *like* doing things the hard way. I took down a row of pine trees with bow saws, a machete, and an axe pretty much just because I wanted to. Everybody was trying to lend me chainsaws.

I guess I just like old technology.

Whatever for?

Steady rests... I picked up one pair of skates for $5 and another for free. The wheels are about to become a pair of rests for supporting hollow vessels and thin turnings for Christmas ornaments.

Here's one set of plans...

djb