what kind of wood is this?

I can't help you with that, but it certainly looks interesting. Might look even more interesting with a finish on it.

opps.. should have been 50%... I should know not to try operating a keyboard before the 2nd or 3 cup of coffee..

He sanded it with 12, 220 and 320.. it's like glass now..

We decided not to stain it and will put a couple of coats of rubbing poly on it.. should be a really nice 1st turning that he'll keep for a while..

The trick is not in getting them interested, it's in getting to use the lathe again after they're hooked. I used to feel like a "pusher" when I started turning with the kids at school. The lathe was seldom unused on any day or class period after that.

It would help with wood ID to know where you are. Doesn't remind me of anything delivered to my northern Michigan woodpile, though it might be an exotic. Lots of oddball stuff in the cities.

George.. not a problem I almost wish it was! Since I put him on the lathe the other night, I have to pry him off of it when I have time to turn.. lol

I'm in Central California, near Fresno.. I updated my web site this morning, maybe more (and maybe a little better) pictures would help?

Looks like pine to me. Big genus, and with the climate in the valley, you can grow a lot of exotics.

When I was stationed up north at Beale, there were all kinds of subtropical flora available at nurseries. County extension agent my first choice of expert, next, a nurseryman.

i don't know what myrtlewood bark looks like though. good luck, rich

I gotta go along with George... looks like pine. Most likely an exotic (non-native), unless it came from up in the hills/mtns - none of the natives grow down in the valley as far as I am aware. It's going to be tough identifying the exact species with just the wood (no needles/cones/etc).

Paul

This type of bark and rings is in the family of soft wood. Correct if I am wrong. The closest we have in Eastern Canada is a softwood tree named cypress at time its called Tamarack or Hackamatack. Once a year they shed their needles that look like those of white Pine. It was used to build wooden ships and masts. In California it could be called another name?

subtropical

There is a Western Larch, Larix occidentalis, cousin to our L laricina, but I think the wood is yellow/red like ours. Seems to be interchangeable with Douglas fir, out there, so that would be the same color.

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 13:25:04 -0500, "George" wrote: we do have a lot of different types of pine and fir in the area, and sequoia, of course.. lol

Almost 100% certain it's Jack Pine (Pinus Banksiana). Bark matches almost perfectly and from the book " provides mine timbers, railway ties, poles, pilings and lumber. Wood is heavy and close grained" Other candidate would be Pitch Pine (Pinus Rigida) which is very similar.

Peter.. do either of them have that white, milky looking pattern in the grain?

I turned a mini-goblet and coaster out of it today and it's very pretty wood..

Mike.. we went through the pile IMMEDIATELY!

found 3 more usable pieces.. great grain for boxes and small bowls.. (that incense burner in the orig pic is about 16" tall)