I am trying to learn to turn Bowls and needing some free Green Wood to practice with.
Last April a storm blew down several trees on my sister in laws farm. I ask If they still had any trees down that I could cut for turning wood sure take all you want I think there is a Sycamore down across the road If you want something beside Oak.
Well I got my ancient Homelite with a 16 in. bar and drove over to where the Sycamore was – it had been growing in a spring and the root ball was Giant I could see it above the weeds that hid the tree- at the base the trunk was at at least 3 1/2 feet thick.
I started about 25-30 ft. up the tree and cut 5 – 12in. long sections and ripped 4 1/2 thick slabs and cut out the heart . I started to cut another section and the old Homelite through in the towel. I fought that dam old saw all day and was glad that It quit running, It just about had wore me out , it wasn’t went for that big a tree.
Well I got mad + got a wild hair up my you know what and went to town and bought a 359 Husqvarna 20 in. bar 3.9hp. .
I love it- its a wood eaten dude I could not belive the deference- Makes me wonder what one of their Big saws are like .
Sunday I cut and ripped 15 bigger sections in 2 hours.
I have Sycamore bowl blanks running out my ears I have about 1/2 cut into 10 and a few 8 in. rounds.
I have them stacked up in my shop and wondering If that will be OK or should I put them in garbage bags ?
I am worried about drying to fast they are dripping wet .
Thanks Ron
Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins
Replies
Ron-- one of the best ways to dry bowl blanks is to rough turn them to about 1 to 1-1/2" wall thickness, put the blank with the shavings in a paper bag, and let it sit for 6 months or longer, then return to final form.I realize you have a lot of blanks, and their endgrain should be sealed ASAP to minimize checking. Another technique is to leave the log blanks 6-8" longer than the bowl diameter before sealing. That should leave unchecked wood when you get around to trimming the blanks prior to turning.I hope this helps, and have fun with your turning.
sycamore checks very easy. be sure to slow the drying down by end coating and covering it with a few paper bags or something of that nature.
My 25 year old Husqvarna, like my old Parks planer, just keeps goin and goin and goin.........
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
A 16" chainsaw is really a homeowner "clean up a little brush and small trees" or "buck up a little firewood" tool. Not bad but limited. Your 20" Husky ought to work like a mad ba**ard for a long time. My 20' Stiehl does everything I need it to and has for some years. Congratulations on your new tool - enjoy it and BE CAREFUL!
Chad - that was Ron that had the 16". I have a 24" and a 20" bar for mine. Don't remember the model number but it has seen probably 100 cords of firewood. Great little machine.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
Thanks for the drying info. on Sycamore everyone.
You know that OLD 16in. Homelite cut an unbelievable amount of fire wood in the past 15 years I owned it + my brother was throwing it away thinking the case was leaking and offered it to me. I took it to a repair shop and it was just a bad fuel line + put new points and condenser. That was the only thing done to it except a new spark plug and a chain when needed.
But as you say you can not compare it to the Husqvarna 20 in. its just devourers wood. Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins
My dad had a business repairing small engines and sharpening saws, etc. Remarkable how many people throw away a chain saw that has a problem, thinking it's unrepairable. There's not that much to them! as you say, a spark plug, a piston, a gas tank...My dad got more chain saws from people who chucked them, he fixed them up and sold them. I told him he should have been a dealer, too, he could've gotten paid both ways...
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled