Update on Lilac

"Tom Dougall" wrote in news:TRFti.2831$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net:

How did the barbecue taste? ;-)

Patriarch

I have some small pieces (under 3/4 square) that come out fine. A friend has a chunk that is better then 2x2, how he did it would be a good question

Turn it very thin very quickly after it is cut. I have actually been able to make hollow vessels out of the wild grape vine that grows around here. My largest was about 4" in diameter when I turned it, 2 weeks later after it dried it was about 3".

When that stuff is cut during the growing season water pours out of it. The pieces I have let sit in my woodpile have tremendous cracks, they usually get one giant crack that opens up about 90 to 120 degrees. I use this wood for small finials and such because I like the color. I keep trying to get my hands on some larger lilac but I keep missing out.

Tom Dougall wrote: : After getting the lilac home I waxed the ends straight away. Only 3 weeks : later it split so badly that it could be used only for the barbecue. So as : far as I am concerned lilac is useless for turning and I won't attempt to : use it again.

I had some that did the dsame thing -- basically the stuff shattered. I wasn't too upset -- I roughed out a vase, and the lilac smell was so strong (and this was OUTside) I thought I'd been dropped in a perfume vat.

-- Andy Barss