turning wood source

Where are you located? If you are near me you could go with me today and help me with a tree I found lying beside the street for some free wood. The people were happy to give it to me because I will turn them a free bowl from it. Glenn Hodges Nashville, Georgia

wrote: I'm just north of Dallas, so thanks anyway. ^^^^^^^^^^ But, the message buried in Glen Hodges' response is: look along the roadside for trees coming down, and listen for the sound of chainsaws in the distance.

the way to get great wood is to call one of the landscape or tree services from the yellow pages that clear lots or trim trees. Tell them that the next time they cut down a pecan, a pear--or what ever you want, that you'll give them $50 if they will call you to come get it. They will leap at it. I get more than I can handle that way.

Then you have to spend a lot of time learning how to deal with green wood. :-) But it sure is nicer to turn.

Where just north of Dallas? There are quite a bit of arborists around here, but it is pretty hard to find stock that thick from the normal "flat" wood sources. Email me and we can hook up, I am in Plano Steve Worcester

Buzz

Have you been to CurlyWoods in McKinney. I have only been to Michael's place once and was impressed with the assortment and sizes that I saw and that was at the old location in Prosper.

I did get some wood and was very pleased with what I have made so far with it.

Check out the site at

The thunderstorms rolling through northern Indiana this spring have been--pardon the pun-- a windfall for turners. I thought I had a 20' long section of black walnut, about 18" in diameter with lots of heartwood, but someone beat me to it. He cut it up and split it into firewood. Brought tears to my eyes. But I've gotten some beech, maple, and a few pieces of hickory and oak. More wood than I'll be able to turn in a year, actually.

Watch the weather, Buzz. When it blows there will be turning stock.

Max

without a chainsaw it will be difficult. I finally got an electric chainsaw for christmas but now a gas chainsaw. I use the electric for shaping chunks before mounting at home.

comercial sources will be expensive but a couple I like to check

I finally found a family run tree service company and they have let me just take a couple logs from their piles. Giving them a bowl helps but you can never tell what your going to find.

Also check any local recycle centers where people can take stuff they cut down themselves. I took a piece of a large maple that was 25+ inches in diameter a couple weeks ago and I plan to go back. I doubt any of the maple will still be there but you never know.

Also c>I am searching for a source for large blocks for turning. All I can

====================================== The first weekend you get a chance, take a ride over northwest of Fort Worth. There were some big mesquites along the old Jacksboro highway a few years back. Most of the ranchers out that way think they're nuisance trees and may be happy to have you cut a few of them down (if you'll promise to clean up your mess afterward). Just remember that mesquite is quite a bit more dense than oak, so it won't take a lot to have your pick up riding down on the axles.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

I suggest you include your email address or at least let someone know what part of the country you're in and what species of wood you want. I have access to a sawmill where I have some stock alreray cut to

for wood of that modest size, many of us use trees - small 12 inch branches, trunks from smaller trees that were removed, etc. For a vase, that leaves you with the pith in the middle which you mostly remove.